CA2090043C - Condenser coil arrangement for refrigeration system - Google Patents
Condenser coil arrangement for refrigeration systemInfo
- Publication number
- CA2090043C CA2090043C CA002090043A CA2090043A CA2090043C CA 2090043 C CA2090043 C CA 2090043C CA 002090043 A CA002090043 A CA 002090043A CA 2090043 A CA2090043 A CA 2090043A CA 2090043 C CA2090043 C CA 2090043C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- condenser
- housing
- coils
- airflow
- air
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 238000005057 refrigeration Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 6
- 241001125671 Eretmochelys imbricata Species 0.000 abstract 1
- 239000003507 refrigerant Substances 0.000 description 8
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000004378 air conditioning Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 3
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 230000004075 alteration Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 2
- ZUXNHFFVQWADJL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 3,4,5-trimethoxy-n-(2-methoxyethyl)-n-(4-phenyl-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)benzamide Chemical compound N=1C(C=2C=CC=CC=2)=CSC=1N(CCOC)C(=O)C1=CC(OC)=C(OC)C(OC)=C1 ZUXNHFFVQWADJL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002452 interceptive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008016 vaporization Effects 0.000 description 1
Landscapes
- Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)
- Air-Conditioning Room Units, And Self-Contained Units In General (AREA)
Abstract
Title IMPROVED CONDENSER COIL ARRANGEMENT
FOR REFRIGERATION SYSTEM
Inventor MICHAEL D. CAREY
WILLIAM A. SMILEY III
GERALD A. JANSKY
Abstract A condenser for a refrigeration system comprising a housing including first and second air inlets, four condenser coils in the housing, and means for circulating air, where three of the four coils are provided by air by either of the first or second air inlets, the inlets located on opposite sides of the housing.
FOR REFRIGERATION SYSTEM
Inventor MICHAEL D. CAREY
WILLIAM A. SMILEY III
GERALD A. JANSKY
Abstract A condenser for a refrigeration system comprising a housing including first and second air inlets, four condenser coils in the housing, and means for circulating air, where three of the four coils are provided by air by either of the first or second air inlets, the inlets located on opposite sides of the housing.
Description
209~3 D E S C R I P T I O N
, Title IMPROVED CONDENSER COIL ARRANGEMENT
FOR REFRIGERATION SYSTEM ~:
Back~round of the Invention . "':' The present invention is directed to a condenser for an air conditioning system, and more particularly, to an optimal condenser coil arrange~ent which provides high ~ ~
condenser airflow efficiency even when either of two air inle~s ~-is completely obstructed.
Previous condenser have had various coil arrsngement when viewed from a longitudinal end of the ;~
contenser housing. Typically air inlets are provided on either -~`
side of the condenser housings with coils located within and ,`-fans located on top of the housing so that air enters from the sides, passes over condenser coils and exits upwardly through the fans. Previous condenser coil arrangements have suffered -~
airflow efficiency losses approaching 50~ whenever either of the side air inlets is completely obstructed, and have suffered proportional airflow efficiency reduction when either of the ` ~ e ~ ' ' ! side inlets is~partially obstructet.~
. `'~ " ' ` ' ' ,~
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~ ,'`, -2 ~
For instance, in a "U" shaped coil arrangement such as shown in U.S. Patent Nu~ber 3,857,253, air enters from either side of the condenser housang either directly through the upright legs of the "U" or through air inlets located below the legs of the "U". After entering the air inlets, the air makes an abrupt 90 degree turn and passes through a condenser coil forming the base of the "U". This abrupt 90 degree turn results in an uneven air distribution and variable face velocity across the condenser forming the base of the "U". The bulk of the airflow is concentrated at the central portion of the "U"'s base. Should an obstruction such as a wall or ;
another condenser be placed parallel to either side of the :~ condenser so as to block the air inlets on that side, the loss of airflow coupled with the inefficiencies of the abrupt 90 degree turn result in an overall reduction in airflow efficiency approaching 50~i.
Another condenser coil arrangement can be seen in -applicant's publication "Air Cooled Condensers, 20-120 Tonsn.
This publication shows a ~'vn arrangement where air enters from either side, passes through one or the other of the legs of the ~vn, ant exits in an upward direction. The legs of the "V~ ~
extend essentially from the top to the bottom of the condenser ~ I
- housing. If an obstruction blocks either air inlet, air does not flow through that particular leg of the "V". Consequently, airflow efficiency is reduced by 50~i if the obstruction completely blocks the inlet, and is reduced in proportion to the obstruction's distance from the air inlet if the obstruction does not completely block the inlet.
A third condenser coll arrangement presently utilized is a "deep W" which includes a pair of "V" coils forming a "deep W" extending from the housing top to the housing bottom. The outside legs of the "deep W" are similar - 2 ~ 3 to the "V" arrangement in that airflow enters from the sides of the housing, ~asses over the coils and exits in an upward direction through the condenser fans. The inner legs of the "deep W" differ in that airflow enters from at least one of the -longitudinal ends of the condenser housing through the relatively small triangular area formed between the housing base and the inner legs of the "deep wn. This relatively small triangular area has limited airflow efficiency across the condenser coils forming the inner legs of the "deep W"
arrangement. If an obstruction blocks or retards airflow from either of the side inlets across one of the exterior legs of the "deep un, airflow efficiencies can approach 50~ reduction `~ when the inefficient airflow across the inner legs of the "deep Un is also accounted for.
~ 15 The primary solution taken previously to preventing 1 reduced airflow efficiencies is to ensure a minimum clearance around the condenser housings. This clearance is recommended ', to be at least 6 feet. Often this is not feasible in view of , the typical location of a condenser housing on a roof top. -~
Sound barriers, decorative sight barriers, pit locations, walls, other condenser housings, or air downflow geometries often prevent optimal location and clearance around the condenser housings.
SummarY of the Invention i-~
It is an object, feature and advantage of the present invention to provide a condenser coil arrangement which solves the problems of the previous condenser coil arrangements.
, ' ~"' - "
~ , '~'`"''" ''''' 2 nv ~ 3 ~The present invention provides a condenser coil Iarrangement providing reasonable airflow efficiencies when an ¦air inlet is blocked. The condenser coil arrangement can reduce minimum clearance requirements around the condenser housing. The present invention can eliminate abrupt 90 degree airflow turns within the condenser hoùsing. Also, constant face velocity across the condenser coils is possible. Further areas of poor airflow caused by locating condenser coils in physical proximity can be eliminated. The lower pinched "V" can be eliminated.
Also, the conde~ser coil arrangement can provide a 75% airflow efficiency across the condenser coils even when 50% of the air inlets are ~locked.
Accordlng to the present lnventlon, there ls provlded a condenser for a refrlgeratlon system comprlslng a houslng lncludlng flrst and second alr lnlets~ four condenser colls located in sald housing; and means for clrculatlng alr whereln three of the four colls are provlded wlth alr by either of sald flrst or second air lnlets whereln the alr lnlets are located on ,, oppos~ng sldes of the houslng.
: ` ' ' ' :~ ~:
:
".
':
5 20~0~3 ;~: ~
Brief DescriptiQ~ of the Drawings Figure 1 shows a refrigeration system to which the present invention applies.
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an ~ir cooled chiller unit inciuding a condenser housing incorporating the present invention.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal view of the chiller unit ~;
of Figure 2 showing the present invention. ~,~
Figure 4 is an operational view of the coil " arrangement of Figure 3 showing normal operation.
Figure 5 is an operational view of the coil ;~ arrangement of Figure 3 showing obstructed operation. ~
Figure 6 is a block diagram of the modified ~wn "~" ~ .
~; 15 condenser coil arrangement of the present invention.
Detailed ~esc~iptio~ of the Invention . ~
Figure 1 shows an air conditioning system 10 to ` `;i which the present invention applies. The air conditioning ~ -system 10 includes a chiller 12 which is typically located on the outside of a building and cools water transported to and ~ `.
from the chiller 12 by a conventional water transport system 14.; The chiller 12 includes an evaporator 16 which excepts c~
heat from the chilled water transport system 14 vaporizing i~ `
liquid refrigerant in the process. A conduit 18 directs ~he vaporized refrigerant to a compressor 20 which compresses the vaporized refrigerant thereby lowering its condensing temperature. Another conduit 22 directs the compressed -~
refrigerant to a condenser 24 where a plurality of condenser ;
, ..
: ,~'''''',`'' 6 2 ~ 4 3 fans provide airflow to transfer heat from the compressed refrigerant to the air passing over the condenser and thereby condense the compressed refrigerant into a liquid. Conduit 28 directs the liquid refrigerant to an expansion valve 30 which restricts the passage of liquid refrigerant back to the evaporator by means of a conduit 32 in accordance with conventional system design.
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the chiller 12 including the evaporator 16, the compressor 20, and the condenser fans 26. Figure 2 also shows the housing 34 of the condenser 20 including the housing top 36, a first longitudinal end 38, a first side 40 including an air inlet 42 and a condenser coil 44. A second side 46 is not shown but includes a second air inlet 48 and a condenser coil 50. The condenser housing includes a second longitudinal end 52 and a base 53.
Figure 3 shows a view of the chiller 12 from the first longitudinal end 38 in a preferred embodiment which ;~ -includes a pair of compressors 20, connected in parallel or in separate circuits, and an evaporator 16. Air inlets 42 and 48 are shown respectively on condenser housing sides 46 and 40 and ~, are respectively located below condenser air inlets 44 and 50.
~ Two rows of condenser fans 26 are located on the housing top ~;~
¦~ 36. This figure, as well as Figure 6, shows the modified "W" ;-condenser coil arrangement of the present invention. This modified NU" arrangement includes four condenser coils 54, 56, ~ 58 and 60 substantially arranged in àn upper portion 61 of the t~ condenser housing 34 and not located in a lower portion 63 of the condenser housing 34. The modified "U" arrangement differs from the previous "deep Wn arrangement in a number of ways including the Eact that thu exterlor CoilG 54, 60 forml=g the : ~
7 2~90~4~ ~ ~
. ~,~
, exterior legs 80 of the modified ~" are substantially .
¦ perpendicular~ and that all of the coils 54, 56, 58, 60 of the modified "W" extend from the housing top 36 to a support 62 ~:
approximately half way between the top 36 and the base 53, this support 62 presenting a line of demarcation between the upper ~ ~ :
housing portlon 61 and the lower housing portion 63. This is - unlike the "deep W" where the legs of the "deep W" extend ;~
substantially from the top 36 to the base 53 of the housing :: essentially including both the upper and lower housing : :
~ 10 portions.
¦ In the modified "W" arrangement of present :~
invention a first condenser coil 54 forms an exterior leg 80 of ~` the modified nw~ and is substantially perpendicular to the base ''''!,'',:
¦ ~ 53 of the housing 12. The condenser coil 54 forms a part of : 15 the first side 40 of the housing 12 thereby lending support to ~`1`~ that side 40. The condenser coil 54 receives airflow through :~
¦ ~ the condenser air inlet 42. Similarly, a fourth condenser coil :: 60 is substantially perpendicular to the base 53 and forms an exterior leg 80 of the modiied ~un and lends support to the second side wall 46. This condenser coil 60 receives airflow through the inlet 50.
The second and third condenser coils 56 and 58 form .
the inner legs 82 of the modified nw~ condenser coil ``
,: ~ arrangement. Each of these coils 56, 58 is separated from the -;.
: 25 respective exterior coils 54, 60 by a space 64, 66. The dimension of this spsce 64, 66 is directly proportional both to the rate of condenser airflow and to the height of the exterior :
coils 54, 60. The space 64, 66 has a minimum dimension to ~;~ prevent impinging airflows from the lower portion of the condensers 56, 58 from impinging on and interfering with ''', i~
.'`~. ' ,.
, :,' ,,,,~,"j~,.~,.
:
209~0A3 airflow from the lower port$on 70 of the condenser coils 54, 60. The condenser coils 56, 58 are also slanted towards each other such that a top portion 72 of each coil 56, 58 is in closer proximity than the botto~ portion 68 of each coil 56, 58. The top portion 72 of these coils 56, 58 can connect, if desired, because the airflow through the top portion 72 of these coils 56, 58 is separating rather than impinging.
The tilt angle A of the coils 56, 58 relative to the support structure 62 or the base 54 is approximately 60 degrees but can range between 45 and 75 degrees if desired.
This angle allows airflow from either air inlet 42, 48 to enter and flow direetly to the opposite eoil 56, 58 as shown by arrows 74, or to gradually turn and enter the eloser eoil 56, 58 as shown by arrow 76. Atditionally, the eondenser housing ~
is bilaterally symmetrieal about a line 78 with the exeeption ~;
of the evaporator 16.
The advantage of the modified nw~ design is that if airflow from either side 40 or 46 is pastially or eompletely obstrueted, eaeh of the seeond and third eoils 56, 58 will eontinue to operate at full effieieney with airflow from either `
sir inlet 42, 48. Additionally, the u~obstrueted air inlet 44, ; 50 will allow either exterior eoil 54 or exterior eoil 60 to also continue to operate at full efficieney. This means that even though an obstruetion bloeks 50~ of the air inlets, the eondenser eoils 54, 56, 58, 60 will eontinue to operate at at :~ `
Ieast 75% effieiency.
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate th~s where a comparison i~ of an unobstrueted eondenser in accordanee with the present invention is made to an obstrueted eondenser also in aecordance -.
with the present invention. Figure 4 shows normal, ,~ ' ''';~' . ~
~, : ~:
5,. -~
9 2 0 9 0 0 1 3 ~ ~ ~
~ ~, unobstructed operation. In Figure 5 an obstruction such as a wall is placed in close proximity to a first side 40 of the chiller housing 12 partially or completely obstructing airflow. ~ -Airflow from the air inlet 48 supplies air to the inner S condenser coils 56 and 58 while air inlet 50 supplies air to the coil 60. If the obstruction is only partial as shown in Figure 5 some airflow will enter coil 54 by means of air inlet 44 thus providing approximately 80~ airflow efficiency where `
previous coil arrangements might achieve only 50 to 60% airflow efficiency. If the obstruction is complete, condenser coils 56, 58 and 60 will continue to operate normally while no airflow will be possible through condenser coil 54. Thus, with 50% air inlet blockage, the condenser will continue to operate ~ :
at 75% efficiency. ;
The present invention provides a modified "U"
condenser coil arrangement where the inner coils are inwardly spaced from the exterior coils thereby eliminating an abrupt 90 degree airflow turn. Consequently airflow is consistent across -the inner coils and essentially has a constant face velocity. ~`
The arrangement also eliminates the lower pinched ~vn which is present in both the previous nv~ and in the ndeep Un : ;~
arrangements. This has the effect of eliminating an area of :,, poor airflow at the base of each nvn. This area of poor airflow essentially results from impinging airflows from each ;
leg of the ~vn where the air attempts to enter at the pinched ; l ~ nVn base. Spacing of the exterior coils from the interior coils in the form of a modified ~wn eliminates this problem. --~
` : `, ' ' ~'' ~:', ;:
~j ~ .. , -,.~, ~1 7i~ .'::
~'~
2~9~43 ' Although complete blockage of an air inlet is unusual in actual practice in that airflow is usually retarded in direct proportion to the proximity of the obstruction, complete blockage has been assumed in the examples described herein as it facilitates efficiency comparisons. Thus the invention has thus been described in terms of a modified "W"
arrangement where the obstruction of 50% of the air inlets provides at least a 75% airflow efficiency.
Although the preferred embodiment is described above, it is apparent that many alterations and modifications may be made without departing from the subJect invention. Such modifications could include the spacing between the exterior and interior coils as well as the slant of the interior coils.
Clearly the longitudinal distance of the coils can vary in -accordance with system design requirements. It is intended that all such alterations and modifications be considered to be within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims. -~ ' ~ .
;~
; ~ .
''.
: ' .
, Title IMPROVED CONDENSER COIL ARRANGEMENT
FOR REFRIGERATION SYSTEM ~:
Back~round of the Invention . "':' The present invention is directed to a condenser for an air conditioning system, and more particularly, to an optimal condenser coil arrange~ent which provides high ~ ~
condenser airflow efficiency even when either of two air inle~s ~-is completely obstructed.
Previous condenser have had various coil arrsngement when viewed from a longitudinal end of the ;~
contenser housing. Typically air inlets are provided on either -~`
side of the condenser housings with coils located within and ,`-fans located on top of the housing so that air enters from the sides, passes over condenser coils and exits upwardly through the fans. Previous condenser coil arrangements have suffered -~
airflow efficiency losses approaching 50~ whenever either of the side air inlets is completely obstructed, and have suffered proportional airflow efficiency reduction when either of the ` ~ e ~ ' ' ! side inlets is~partially obstructet.~
. `'~ " ' ` ' ' ,~
~, '-'`"'''''''`.
~ ,'`, -2 ~
For instance, in a "U" shaped coil arrangement such as shown in U.S. Patent Nu~ber 3,857,253, air enters from either side of the condenser housang either directly through the upright legs of the "U" or through air inlets located below the legs of the "U". After entering the air inlets, the air makes an abrupt 90 degree turn and passes through a condenser coil forming the base of the "U". This abrupt 90 degree turn results in an uneven air distribution and variable face velocity across the condenser forming the base of the "U". The bulk of the airflow is concentrated at the central portion of the "U"'s base. Should an obstruction such as a wall or ;
another condenser be placed parallel to either side of the :~ condenser so as to block the air inlets on that side, the loss of airflow coupled with the inefficiencies of the abrupt 90 degree turn result in an overall reduction in airflow efficiency approaching 50~i.
Another condenser coil arrangement can be seen in -applicant's publication "Air Cooled Condensers, 20-120 Tonsn.
This publication shows a ~'vn arrangement where air enters from either side, passes through one or the other of the legs of the ~vn, ant exits in an upward direction. The legs of the "V~ ~
extend essentially from the top to the bottom of the condenser ~ I
- housing. If an obstruction blocks either air inlet, air does not flow through that particular leg of the "V". Consequently, airflow efficiency is reduced by 50~i if the obstruction completely blocks the inlet, and is reduced in proportion to the obstruction's distance from the air inlet if the obstruction does not completely block the inlet.
A third condenser coll arrangement presently utilized is a "deep W" which includes a pair of "V" coils forming a "deep W" extending from the housing top to the housing bottom. The outside legs of the "deep W" are similar - 2 ~ 3 to the "V" arrangement in that airflow enters from the sides of the housing, ~asses over the coils and exits in an upward direction through the condenser fans. The inner legs of the "deep W" differ in that airflow enters from at least one of the -longitudinal ends of the condenser housing through the relatively small triangular area formed between the housing base and the inner legs of the "deep wn. This relatively small triangular area has limited airflow efficiency across the condenser coils forming the inner legs of the "deep W"
arrangement. If an obstruction blocks or retards airflow from either of the side inlets across one of the exterior legs of the "deep un, airflow efficiencies can approach 50~ reduction `~ when the inefficient airflow across the inner legs of the "deep Un is also accounted for.
~ 15 The primary solution taken previously to preventing 1 reduced airflow efficiencies is to ensure a minimum clearance around the condenser housings. This clearance is recommended ', to be at least 6 feet. Often this is not feasible in view of , the typical location of a condenser housing on a roof top. -~
Sound barriers, decorative sight barriers, pit locations, walls, other condenser housings, or air downflow geometries often prevent optimal location and clearance around the condenser housings.
SummarY of the Invention i-~
It is an object, feature and advantage of the present invention to provide a condenser coil arrangement which solves the problems of the previous condenser coil arrangements.
, ' ~"' - "
~ , '~'`"''" ''''' 2 nv ~ 3 ~The present invention provides a condenser coil Iarrangement providing reasonable airflow efficiencies when an ¦air inlet is blocked. The condenser coil arrangement can reduce minimum clearance requirements around the condenser housing. The present invention can eliminate abrupt 90 degree airflow turns within the condenser hoùsing. Also, constant face velocity across the condenser coils is possible. Further areas of poor airflow caused by locating condenser coils in physical proximity can be eliminated. The lower pinched "V" can be eliminated.
Also, the conde~ser coil arrangement can provide a 75% airflow efficiency across the condenser coils even when 50% of the air inlets are ~locked.
Accordlng to the present lnventlon, there ls provlded a condenser for a refrlgeratlon system comprlslng a houslng lncludlng flrst and second alr lnlets~ four condenser colls located in sald housing; and means for clrculatlng alr whereln three of the four colls are provlded wlth alr by either of sald flrst or second air lnlets whereln the alr lnlets are located on ,, oppos~ng sldes of the houslng.
: ` ' ' ' :~ ~:
:
".
':
5 20~0~3 ;~: ~
Brief DescriptiQ~ of the Drawings Figure 1 shows a refrigeration system to which the present invention applies.
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an ~ir cooled chiller unit inciuding a condenser housing incorporating the present invention.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal view of the chiller unit ~;
of Figure 2 showing the present invention. ~,~
Figure 4 is an operational view of the coil " arrangement of Figure 3 showing normal operation.
Figure 5 is an operational view of the coil ;~ arrangement of Figure 3 showing obstructed operation. ~
Figure 6 is a block diagram of the modified ~wn "~" ~ .
~; 15 condenser coil arrangement of the present invention.
Detailed ~esc~iptio~ of the Invention . ~
Figure 1 shows an air conditioning system 10 to ` `;i which the present invention applies. The air conditioning ~ -system 10 includes a chiller 12 which is typically located on the outside of a building and cools water transported to and ~ `.
from the chiller 12 by a conventional water transport system 14.; The chiller 12 includes an evaporator 16 which excepts c~
heat from the chilled water transport system 14 vaporizing i~ `
liquid refrigerant in the process. A conduit 18 directs ~he vaporized refrigerant to a compressor 20 which compresses the vaporized refrigerant thereby lowering its condensing temperature. Another conduit 22 directs the compressed -~
refrigerant to a condenser 24 where a plurality of condenser ;
, ..
: ,~'''''',`'' 6 2 ~ 4 3 fans provide airflow to transfer heat from the compressed refrigerant to the air passing over the condenser and thereby condense the compressed refrigerant into a liquid. Conduit 28 directs the liquid refrigerant to an expansion valve 30 which restricts the passage of liquid refrigerant back to the evaporator by means of a conduit 32 in accordance with conventional system design.
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the chiller 12 including the evaporator 16, the compressor 20, and the condenser fans 26. Figure 2 also shows the housing 34 of the condenser 20 including the housing top 36, a first longitudinal end 38, a first side 40 including an air inlet 42 and a condenser coil 44. A second side 46 is not shown but includes a second air inlet 48 and a condenser coil 50. The condenser housing includes a second longitudinal end 52 and a base 53.
Figure 3 shows a view of the chiller 12 from the first longitudinal end 38 in a preferred embodiment which ;~ -includes a pair of compressors 20, connected in parallel or in separate circuits, and an evaporator 16. Air inlets 42 and 48 are shown respectively on condenser housing sides 46 and 40 and ~, are respectively located below condenser air inlets 44 and 50.
~ Two rows of condenser fans 26 are located on the housing top ~;~
¦~ 36. This figure, as well as Figure 6, shows the modified "W" ;-condenser coil arrangement of the present invention. This modified NU" arrangement includes four condenser coils 54, 56, ~ 58 and 60 substantially arranged in àn upper portion 61 of the t~ condenser housing 34 and not located in a lower portion 63 of the condenser housing 34. The modified "U" arrangement differs from the previous "deep Wn arrangement in a number of ways including the Eact that thu exterlor CoilG 54, 60 forml=g the : ~
7 2~90~4~ ~ ~
. ~,~
, exterior legs 80 of the modified ~" are substantially .
¦ perpendicular~ and that all of the coils 54, 56, 58, 60 of the modified "W" extend from the housing top 36 to a support 62 ~:
approximately half way between the top 36 and the base 53, this support 62 presenting a line of demarcation between the upper ~ ~ :
housing portlon 61 and the lower housing portion 63. This is - unlike the "deep W" where the legs of the "deep W" extend ;~
substantially from the top 36 to the base 53 of the housing :: essentially including both the upper and lower housing : :
~ 10 portions.
¦ In the modified "W" arrangement of present :~
invention a first condenser coil 54 forms an exterior leg 80 of ~` the modified nw~ and is substantially perpendicular to the base ''''!,'',:
¦ ~ 53 of the housing 12. The condenser coil 54 forms a part of : 15 the first side 40 of the housing 12 thereby lending support to ~`1`~ that side 40. The condenser coil 54 receives airflow through :~
¦ ~ the condenser air inlet 42. Similarly, a fourth condenser coil :: 60 is substantially perpendicular to the base 53 and forms an exterior leg 80 of the modiied ~un and lends support to the second side wall 46. This condenser coil 60 receives airflow through the inlet 50.
The second and third condenser coils 56 and 58 form .
the inner legs 82 of the modified nw~ condenser coil ``
,: ~ arrangement. Each of these coils 56, 58 is separated from the -;.
: 25 respective exterior coils 54, 60 by a space 64, 66. The dimension of this spsce 64, 66 is directly proportional both to the rate of condenser airflow and to the height of the exterior :
coils 54, 60. The space 64, 66 has a minimum dimension to ~;~ prevent impinging airflows from the lower portion of the condensers 56, 58 from impinging on and interfering with ''', i~
.'`~. ' ,.
, :,' ,,,,~,"j~,.~,.
:
209~0A3 airflow from the lower port$on 70 of the condenser coils 54, 60. The condenser coils 56, 58 are also slanted towards each other such that a top portion 72 of each coil 56, 58 is in closer proximity than the botto~ portion 68 of each coil 56, 58. The top portion 72 of these coils 56, 58 can connect, if desired, because the airflow through the top portion 72 of these coils 56, 58 is separating rather than impinging.
The tilt angle A of the coils 56, 58 relative to the support structure 62 or the base 54 is approximately 60 degrees but can range between 45 and 75 degrees if desired.
This angle allows airflow from either air inlet 42, 48 to enter and flow direetly to the opposite eoil 56, 58 as shown by arrows 74, or to gradually turn and enter the eloser eoil 56, 58 as shown by arrow 76. Atditionally, the eondenser housing ~
is bilaterally symmetrieal about a line 78 with the exeeption ~;
of the evaporator 16.
The advantage of the modified nw~ design is that if airflow from either side 40 or 46 is pastially or eompletely obstrueted, eaeh of the seeond and third eoils 56, 58 will eontinue to operate at full effieieney with airflow from either `
sir inlet 42, 48. Additionally, the u~obstrueted air inlet 44, ; 50 will allow either exterior eoil 54 or exterior eoil 60 to also continue to operate at full efficieney. This means that even though an obstruetion bloeks 50~ of the air inlets, the eondenser eoils 54, 56, 58, 60 will eontinue to operate at at :~ `
Ieast 75% effieiency.
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate th~s where a comparison i~ of an unobstrueted eondenser in accordanee with the present invention is made to an obstrueted eondenser also in aecordance -.
with the present invention. Figure 4 shows normal, ,~ ' ''';~' . ~
~, : ~:
5,. -~
9 2 0 9 0 0 1 3 ~ ~ ~
~ ~, unobstructed operation. In Figure 5 an obstruction such as a wall is placed in close proximity to a first side 40 of the chiller housing 12 partially or completely obstructing airflow. ~ -Airflow from the air inlet 48 supplies air to the inner S condenser coils 56 and 58 while air inlet 50 supplies air to the coil 60. If the obstruction is only partial as shown in Figure 5 some airflow will enter coil 54 by means of air inlet 44 thus providing approximately 80~ airflow efficiency where `
previous coil arrangements might achieve only 50 to 60% airflow efficiency. If the obstruction is complete, condenser coils 56, 58 and 60 will continue to operate normally while no airflow will be possible through condenser coil 54. Thus, with 50% air inlet blockage, the condenser will continue to operate ~ :
at 75% efficiency. ;
The present invention provides a modified "U"
condenser coil arrangement where the inner coils are inwardly spaced from the exterior coils thereby eliminating an abrupt 90 degree airflow turn. Consequently airflow is consistent across -the inner coils and essentially has a constant face velocity. ~`
The arrangement also eliminates the lower pinched ~vn which is present in both the previous nv~ and in the ndeep Un : ;~
arrangements. This has the effect of eliminating an area of :,, poor airflow at the base of each nvn. This area of poor airflow essentially results from impinging airflows from each ;
leg of the ~vn where the air attempts to enter at the pinched ; l ~ nVn base. Spacing of the exterior coils from the interior coils in the form of a modified ~wn eliminates this problem. --~
` : `, ' ' ~'' ~:', ;:
~j ~ .. , -,.~, ~1 7i~ .'::
~'~
2~9~43 ' Although complete blockage of an air inlet is unusual in actual practice in that airflow is usually retarded in direct proportion to the proximity of the obstruction, complete blockage has been assumed in the examples described herein as it facilitates efficiency comparisons. Thus the invention has thus been described in terms of a modified "W"
arrangement where the obstruction of 50% of the air inlets provides at least a 75% airflow efficiency.
Although the preferred embodiment is described above, it is apparent that many alterations and modifications may be made without departing from the subJect invention. Such modifications could include the spacing between the exterior and interior coils as well as the slant of the interior coils.
Clearly the longitudinal distance of the coils can vary in -accordance with system design requirements. It is intended that all such alterations and modifications be considered to be within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims. -~ ' ~ .
;~
; ~ .
''.
: ' .
Claims (3)
1. The condenser for a refrigeration system comprising:
- a housing including first and second air inlets;
- four condenser coils located in said housing; and - means for circulating air wherein three of the four coils are provided with air by either of said first or second air inlets wherein the air inlets are located on opposing sides of the housing.
- a housing including first and second air inlets;
- four condenser coils located in said housing; and - means for circulating air wherein three of the four coils are provided with air by either of said first or second air inlets wherein the air inlets are located on opposing sides of the housing.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the air inlets are substantially parallel to two of the four condenser coils.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the housing includes an upper portion and a lower portion, and the four condenser coils are substantially located in the upper portion.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US07/653,836 | 1991-02-11 | ||
| US07/653,836 US5067560A (en) | 1991-02-11 | 1991-02-11 | Condenser coil arrangement for refrigeration system |
| CA002042309A CA2042309C (en) | 1991-02-11 | 1991-05-10 | Condenser coil arrangement for refrigeration system |
Related Parent Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002042309A Division CA2042309C (en) | 1991-02-11 | 1991-05-10 | Condenser coil arrangement for refrigeration system |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2090043A1 CA2090043A1 (en) | 1992-08-12 |
| CA2090043C true CA2090043C (en) | 1994-05-03 |
Family
ID=25674611
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002090043A Expired - Lifetime CA2090043C (en) | 1991-02-11 | 1991-05-10 | Condenser coil arrangement for refrigeration system |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2090043C (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB202105272D0 (en) * | 2021-04-13 | 2021-05-26 | Urban Cooling Ltd | A building including an air conditioning system |
-
1991
- 1991-05-10 CA CA002090043A patent/CA2090043C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2090043A1 (en) | 1992-08-12 |
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| MKEX | Expiry |