GR20170100232A - Air-conditioning unit for high-temperature outdoor spaces - Google Patents

Abstract

Novelty: a compactly-structured device aiming at the cooling and humidification of outdoor spaces subjected to high environmental temperatures is disclosed. Technical features: cooling is achieved by combination of the adiabatic cooling principle (water evaporation in filing liquid 1) and the cooling thermodynamic cycle 2 (fig.1). Passing through the filling material 1, the air gets humidified and adiabatically cooled by water evaporation; in the sequel, the air is further cooled in the vanned heat exchanger 2 by heat exchange with the cooling fluid used in the cooling thermodynamic cycle (fig.2).

Description

High temperature outdoor air conditioning unit

The present invention relates to an air conditioning unit (compact structure) for the purpose of cooling-air conditioning (cooling and humidifying) outdoor, outdoor and semi-outdoor spaces, with high ambient temperatures (greater than 40°C) in accordance with the main meaning of the claim patent 1.

A common feature of air conditioning units that try to achieve a similar effect is the use exclusively of either hydro-mist or adiabatic cooling of the air through water evaporation. A disadvantage of these techniques is that the cooling of the incoming air is achieved by a maximum of 20°C and it depends entirely on the relative humidity of the incoming air.

Similarly, indoor air conditioning units condition the air using the well-known thermodynamic cycle of refrigerating machines. However, they are limited by the environmental conditions (maximum outdoor temperature 43°C and maximum indoor temperature 28°C) but even if they were manufactured for these conditions, they would be energy-consuming and difficult to use due to their dimensions. So they cannot be used as they are to achieve the requested conditions.

The purpose of the present invention is the construction of an air conditioning unit that can air condition external and non-spaces that present a large temperature difference between the existing temperature of the incoming air and the desired one in order to achieve comfort conditions. The term 'air condition' refers to relative humidity in addition to temperature.

The solution to this problem is achieved according to the invention by the features mentioned in claim 1.

Using alone the technologies of misting or adiabatic cooling by evaporating water in a filler material or the cooling thermodynamic cycle does not achieve the desired effect of creating comfortable conditions in outdoor spaces due to the technological and thermodynamic limitations mentioned.

The present proposed unit combines both technologies in order to achieve the desired result (Figure 1). The air first passes through a wettable filler (1) (which provides the required wetting and air-water interaction surface), where it is humidified and cooled adiabatically by the evaporation of the water (the water is supplied by a pump through a distributor to the filler from the tank (3) located at the bottom of the unit - Figure 2).

The air then passes through a fin exchanger (2) (evaporator, usually made of a copper-tube array and mechanically held/hardened aluminum foils that offer an increased exchange surface), where it is further cooled using the cooling thermodynamic cycle (Figure 2).

In this particular unit, a high static pressure fan (4) is used to overcome the static pressure resulting from the wetted filler material and from the exchanger-evaporator and in addition the outgoing air can have the necessary speed so that the device has a range of at least up to 10 m. The last feature is necessary so that the device can be placed as far as possible from the space to be air-conditioned, so as to achieve comfort conditions in terms of noise.

The tank (3) present at the bottom of the unit offers autonomy in the use of the device and reuse of excess water at the end of the filling material. However, it can be permanently connected to the water network for greater autonomy in its operation.

Regarding the remaining parts of the refrigeration cycle, a refrigerant vapor compressor (5), a condenser (6) (usually finned), a condenser fan (7) and an expansion device of the condensed subcooled refrigerant are used.

Regarding the control of the unit, an electronic control unit is used, i.e. thermostat and fan speed selector. The use of a hygrostat to control the adiabatic cooling arrangement is also at the manufacturer's discretion.

Claims (1)

High temperature outdoor air conditioning unit, characterized by being compact and requiring no permanent installation, and where the air is conditioned first by adiabatic cooling by evaporating water (1) and then by alternating cooling by evaporating refrigerant (2). Device characterized in that it includes a wettable filler (1) and parts of a conventional air conditioner, such as a refrigerant compressor (5), a high-temperature condenser (6), an evaporator (2) and corresponding fans (4). The individual elements have been placed in such a way (Figure 2) that the flow of incoming air for conditioning is achieved between the filling material and the evaporator and its return to the conditioned space. Accordingly, the condenser (6) and its fan (7) are positioned so that the air of the outside non-conditioned room, where you use in the condenser, is not recirculated. The water used to wet the filler material is recirculated by a submersible pump into the tank (3). Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by the use of a wettable filler (1) in combination with a vane exchanger (evaporator) (2) forming part of a cooling thermodynamic cycle and a high static pressure fan (4). Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by a high static pressure fan. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by a high degree of energy efficiency (C.O.P) Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by a high degree of seasonal energy efficiency (S.E.E.R).