EP2636966A1

EP2636966A1 - Condensate collecting tank with a heating system

Info

Publication number: EP2636966A1
Application number: EP12199172.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dino Cappellari
Original assignee: VECAM-CO SpA
Current assignee: VECAMCO S.R.L.
Priority date: 2012-03-05
Filing date: 2012-12-21
Publication date: 2013-09-11
Also published as: ITVR20120036A1

Abstract

Condensate collection tank (1, 100), in particular for external units of air conditioning systems or heating pumps, or for moto-condensing units of any size comprising at least one tank (2, 20) for collecting discharge water and/or condensate produced by said external units of air conditioning systems or heating pumps, or moto-condensing units, the at least one tank (2, 20) comprising a bottom (5, 50) and lateral walls (6, 60), wherein the condensate collection tank (1, 100) comprises a heating system (4).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention regards a tank, provided with a heating system, able to collect the discharge water and/or the condensate of external units of air conditioning systems, heating pumps or similar appliances.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

The external units of the air conditioning systems or heating pumps, or the moto-condensing units, are often installed in the external portion of buildings.
Thus, they are subjected to different climatic conditions caused by changing seasons or different latitudes or longitudes in which the building on which they are applied is found.
Such external units produce, during use, discharge water or, generally, condensate which may be possibly collected in a condensate collection tank. However, in case of harsh weather such condensate may turn into ice and, thus, block the relative discharge pipe preventing the same from continuing performing the function thereof. Furthermore, should the water or the condensate turned into ice reach up to the compressor or the fan of the external unit, the latter may be subjected to considerable damage.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a condensate collection tank provided with a heating system for external units of air conditioning systems or heating pumps capable of overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a condensate collection tank provided with a heating system that is easily adaptable to the various types of previously existing exchanger or moto-condensing units.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a condensate collection tank provided with a heating system that is easy to provide and inexpensive.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that can be mounted both on newly installed units and previously existing appliances, as well as positioned on a wall and on the ground. According to an aspect of the present invention, these objects are obtained by a condensate collection tank provided with a heating system as specified in the independent claim 1.
The dependent claims refer to preferred and advantageous embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be clearer from the description of a condensate collection tank provided with a heating system, illustrated by way of example in the attached drawings wherein:

figure 1 is a front perspective view of the condensate collection tank according to the present invention;
figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the condensate collection tank of figure 1;
figure 3 is a view in longitudinal section of the condensate collection tank of figure 1 taken along the axis III-III;
figure 4 shows an enlarged detail of the section of figure 3;
figure 5 is a sectional cross view of the condensate collection tank of figure 1 taken along the axis V-V;
figure 6 is a front perspective view of a component of the condensate collection tank of the previous figures;
figure 7 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a condensate collection tank according to the present invention;
figure 8 is a rear perspective view of the condensate collection tank of figure 7.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION.

With reference to the attached figures, a condensate collection tank, in particular for external units of air conditioning systems or heating pumps, or for moto-condensing units of any size according to the present invention is illustrated with 1.
Tank 1 is able to collect the discharge water and/or the condensate of external units of air conditioning systems or heating pumps, or for moto-condensing units.
Tank 1 comprises at least one tank.
In an embodiment of the invention, the tank is of the double type in that it comprises an internal tank and an outer tank 3.
Tank 1 further comprises a heating system, generally indicated with 4. The heating system 4 determines the formation of a specifically heated area of the tank 1, with the aim of preventing the formation of ice under the external unit beneath which there is applied the condensate collection tank 1 according to the present invention.
The heating system 4 is positioned between the internal tank 2 and the outer tank 3.
The internal tank 2 and the outer tank 3 are inserted one into the other so as to determine an airtight sealing therebetween.
Thus, there is no risk of any water or condensate penetrating between the same, ending up at contact with the heating system 4.
The tank 2 and the outer tank 3 are both substantially basin-shaped.
The tank 2 has smaller dimensions than the outer tank 3, so as to allow the sealing insertion thereof into the outer tank 3.
Possible gaskets may be positioned in the contact points between the tank 2 and the outer tank 3 with the aim of providing a sealing insertion of the same. Possibly, the tank 2 and the outer tank 3 may have sealing means in the contact points thereof, with the aim of preventing the penetration of water, dust or other elements into the space enclosed with respect to each other. Such sealing means may comprise a silicone sealing or any other means suitable for the purpose.
The tank 1 further comprises a discharge hole 10. The tank 1 further comprises a discharge pipe 11 which is connected to the hole 10. The discharge pipe 11 allows discharging the water or the condensate collected in the condensate collection tank 1.
The hole 10 is a through hole and coincident both in the internal tank and in the outer tank 3.
The tank 2 comprises a bottom 5 and lateral walls 6. The outer tank 3 comprises a bottom 7 and lateral walls 8.
The lateral walls 6 of the tank 2 have a lateral extension 16.
The lateral extension 16 extends substantially horizontally, parallel to the ground.
The lateral extension 16 extends towards the external with respect to the bottom of the tank 2. The lateral extension 16 comprises an end portion 17 substantially curved downwards.
The lateral extension 16 and the end portion 17 allow the possible water or condensate which is collected in the tank 1, to flow out from the tank 1 moving away with respect to the heating system 4. The lateral walls 8 of the outer tank 3 have a lateral extension 18.
The lateral extension 18 has a development substantially analogous to that of the lateral extension 17 of the lateral walls 7 of the tank 2. The lateral extension 18 does not have a curved end portion but an end edge 18'.
The end edge 18' of the extension 18 ends up in abutment against the internal surface of the end portion 17 of the extension 16. Thus, the end portion 18' and the curved end portion 17 create an edge structure of the sealingly closed tank 1. Such sealing possibly occurs in absence of gaskets or sealing means.
The lateral extension 16, the end portion 17 and the end edge 18' of the extension 18 allow any water or condensate which is collected in the tank 1 to exit from the tank 1 moving away with respect to the heating system 4, without the same being able to penetrate between the tank 2 and the outer tank 3. When the tank 2 is inserted inside the outer tank 3, the bottom 5 of the tank 2 and the bottom 7 of the outer tank 3 are not at contact but they are distanced 9 with respect to each other.
The distance 9 substantially corresponds to the space occupied by the heating system 4.
In a version of the invention, when the tank 2 is inserted in the outer tank 3, the lateral walls 6 of the tank 2 and the lateral walls 8 of the outer tank 3 are not at contact but they have a given distance with respect to each other.
The bottom of the tank 2 has an upper surface 5', which comes to contact with the water or the condensate, and a lower surface 5" , opposite to the upper surface 5'.
The bottom 7 of the outer tank 3 has an internal surface 7', which is faced towards the lower surface 5" of the internal tank 2, and an external surface 7", opposite to the internal surface 7'.
The bottom 5 of the tank 2 may have an inclination towards the hole 10 with the aim of helping the sliding and the outflow of the water or the condensate towards the discharge pipe 11.
The bottom 7 of the outer tank 3 may be flat or inclined. In case of inclination, it may be of the same value with respect to the inclination of the bottom of the tank 2 or with a different inclination.
The tank 1 is made of plastic, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, a thermoformable material, metal or any other material suitable for the purpose.
The heating system 4, in a version of the invention, heats the bottom portion of the tank 1. In a further version, the heating system 4 is provided between the lateral wall 6 of the tank 2 and the lateral wall 8 of the outer tank 3, heating the lateral portion of the tank 1.
In a still further embodiment of the invention, the heating system 4 is provided between the bottom 5 of the tank 2 and the bottom 7 of the outer tank 3 and further between the lateral wall 6 of the tank 2 and the lateral wall of the outer tank 3, so as to heat the entire tank 1.
Furthermore, the heating system 4 may be positioned in the discharge pipe 11, with the aim of preventing the formation of ice in this piping.
Such version may be provided additionally or alternatively with respect to the previous ones. However, given that these tanks, and the external units beneath which they are applied, positioned outside, it is important to keep most of the tank itself heated, with the aim of preventing the formation of ice even only in some areas of the same. Thus, this allows guaranteeing the optimal operation of the devices in question.
The heating system 4 has a power suitable for the purposes, guaranteeing - as a result - the prevention of the formation of ice of the discharge water or of the condensate of the external units and simultaneously guaranteeing the maximum safety to the system.
In an embodiment of the invention, the heating system 4 has a power of 15 W/m. A higher or different power may be provided depending on the needs and the type of climate to which the tank 1 is subjected.
The heating system 4 is applied to the tank 2 or to the outer tank 3 and/or to the discharge pipe by bonding or through any other fixing means suitable for the purpose.
In a version of the invention, the heating system 4 comprises an electrical resistor 12 made of insulated wire. The electrical resistor 12 is typically coil-shaped.
In a version of the invention, the electrical resistor 12 or the heating system 4 is constrained to at least one aluminium sheet 13 or at least one medium made of material suitable for the propagation of heat.
The electrical resistor 12 or the heating system 4 may be bonded or constrained to the at least one aluminium sheet 13 or to the at least one medium made of material suitable for propagating heat through further means suitable for the purpose.
The at least one aluminium sheet 13 or the at least one medium made of material suitable for propagating heat is in turn adhesive, with the aim of providing the positioning thereof on the lower surface 5" of the bottom 5 of the tank 2 or on the internal surface 7' of the bottom 7 of the outer tank 3.
The at least one aluminium sheet 13 or the at least one medium made of material suitable for propagating heat may be positioned at the lower part, at the upper part or on both sides of the electrical resistor 12 or the heating system 4.
The at least one aluminium sheet 13 or the at least one medium made of material suitable for propagating heat may further have insulation means, for example in form of a film made of silicone or any other insulation material, with the aim of guaranteeing the insulation of the electrical resistor 12 with respect to the tank 2 and the outer tank 3 and/or the pipe 11 with the aim of guaranteeing their maximum safety.
In a version of the invention, the heating system 4 or the electrical resistor 12 may be applied to the at least one tank through bonding points or other point-like constraints, adhesive and/or mechanical systems.
The electrical resistor 12 or the heating system 4 are distributed substantially in a homogeneous manner along the bottom of the at least one condensate collection tank and/or along the lateral walls of the same. Thus, the heat generated thereby is distributed in the best possible way over the entire surface of the condensate collection tank interested by the electrical resistor 12 or by the heating system 4. This may be useful when the material of the condensate collection tank is not a good heat distributor. Thus, actually, substantially all the areas of the condensate collection tank are heated and thus prevent the formation of ice.
The electrical resistor 12 or, generally, the heating system 4 may have, at the discharge hole 10 and/or discharge pipe 11, an area 15 capable of providing more heat. In such area 15, for example, the electrical resistor 12 is spiral-shaped with a closer pitch with respect to the rest of the resistor itself, so as to concentrate the heat in the discharge area of the water or the condensate.
The heating system 4 may comprise other heating or anti-freeze means suitable for the purpose, without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.
The heating system 4 has different operating solutions.
In a version, the heating system 4 is directly connected to an external power socket. Thus, the heating system 4 has an operation of the manual type.
In a further version, the heating system 4 comprises an external thermostat and external probe. Thus the heating system 4 has a semi-automatic type of operation.
In a further version, the heating system 4 is directly connected to the signal or control for the actuation of the external unit. Thus, the heating system 4 has an operation of the automatic type. There may be possibly provided for timers capable of regulating the switching on and/or switching off of the heating system 4 automatically.
The operating mode may be evaluated and selected according to the type of device to which such condensate collection tank is applied, according to the needs of the user and possibly according to the laws addressing safety and power supply regarding the country in which such devices are applied. Another embodiment of the condensate collection tank according to the present invention is illustrated in figures 7 and 8.
In the description of this embodiment the same reference numbers of the previous embodiment are used for distinguishing the same parts or components.
In this embodiment, the present invention comprises a condensate collection tank 100, comprising a tank 20 provided with a bottom 50 and lateral walls 60, and comprising a heating system 4.
The tank 100 is not of the double type, like in the previous embodiment, but of the single type, thus provided with just one tank.
The bottom 50 of the tank 20 has an upper surface 50' in which the water or the condensate is collected and a lower surface 50", opposite to the upper surface 50'.
The heating system 4 is positioned on the upper surface 50' or on the lower surface 50" of the bottom 50.
The heating system 4 has insulation means, for example in the form of a film made of silicone or any other insulation material, with the aim of insulating the heating system 4 itself from water or from the condensate that is deposited thereon or from the surrounding environment.
The condensate collection tank 1, 100 may be fixed to the lower portion of the external unit to which it should be applied. Such fixing occurs by means of suitable supports or brackets suitable for the purpose.
The condensate collection tank 1, 100 has various sizes so as to be suitable for use with different types of external units available in the market, for residential and non-residential purposes.
The condensate collection tank 1, 100 does not reveal problems related to formation of rust and it is resistant to corrosion by the external agents. The condensate collection tank 1, 100 allows the distribution of heat in at least part of the tank itself and/or in the discharge pipe 11 thereof.
The characteristics described regarding a version or embodiment of the invention may be combined with the characteristics of a further version or embodiment, without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.
The present invention thus conceived can be subjected to numerous modifications and variants all falling within the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

Condensate collection tank (1, 100), in particular for outside units of air conditioning systems or heat pumps, or for air cooled condensing units comprising at least a tank (2, 20) for collecting drain water and/or condensate produced by said outside units of air conditioning systems or heat pumps, or air cooled condensing units, said at least one tank (2, 20) comprising a bottom (5, 50) and side walls (6, 60) characterised by comprising a heating system (4).
Condensate collecting tank according to claim 1, wherein said heating system (4) comprises an electric resistance (12) made of insulated wire or other heating or anti-freezing means suitable for the purpose.
Condensate collecting tank according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said heating system (4) is constrained to at least one aluminium sheet (13) or to at least a support made of a material suitable for heat propagation.
Condensate collecting tank according to any one of the previous claims, comprising an outer tank (3), wherein said at least one tank (2, 20) is introduced in said outer tank (3) and wherein said heating system (4) is arranged between said at least one tank (2, 20) and said outer tank (3).
Condensate collecting tank according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said bottom (5, 50) of said at least one tank (2, 20) has an upper surface (5', 50'), in contact with said drain water and/or condensate, and a lower surface (5", 50"), opposite to said upper surface (5', 50')and/or wherein said bottom (7) of said outer tank (3) has an inner surface (7'), facing towards said lower surface (5", 50") of said at least one tank (2, 20), and an outer surface (7"), opposite to said inner surface (7'), and/or wherein said condensate collecting tank comprises a drain hole (10) and a drain tube (11) connected to said hole (10).
Condensate collecting tank according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said heating system (4) is arranged on said upper surface (5', 50') or on said lower surface (5", 50") or on said inner surface (7').
Condensate collecting tank according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said heating system (4) is applied by gluing points or other point-like retaining systems, adhesive and/or mechanical systems.
Condensate collecting tank according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said heating system (4) is arranged in said drain tube (11) and/or at said drain hole (10).
Condensate collecting tank according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said heating system(4) has an area (15) much hotter at said drain hole (10) and/or at said drain tube (11), wherein in said hotter area said electric resistance (12) is spiral-shaped with a narrower pitch than the rest of the electric resistance.
Condensate collecting tank according to any one of the previous claims, comprising at least a gasket and/or a silicone sealant or any other sealing means arranged at the points where said tank (2, 20) contacts said outer tank (3) and/or said drain tube (11).
Condensate collecting tank according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said side walls (6, 60) of said at least one tank (2, 20) have a side extension (16) and/or wherein said side walls (8) of said outer tank (3) have a side extension (18), wherein said side extension (16) of said side walls (6, 60) of said at least one tank (2, 20) and/or said side extension (18) of said side walls (8) of said outer tank (3) extends outwards along a substantially horizontal plane.
Condensate collecting tank according to claim 11, wherein said side extension (16) of said side walls (6, 60) of said at least one tank (2, 20) comprises an end portion (17) substantially curved downwards and/or wherein said side extension (18) of said side walls (8) of said outer tank (3) comprises an end edge (18') abutting against said end portion (17).
Condensate collecting tank according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said bottom (5, 50) of said at least one tank (2, 20) and/or said bottom (7) of said outer tank (3) is tilted towards said hole (10).
Condensate collecting tank according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said tank (1, 100) is made of plastics, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, of a thermoformable material, metal or any other material suitable for the purpose.