WO2018041529A1

WO2018041529A1 - Portable air conditioner

Info

Publication number: WO2018041529A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/069808
Authority: WO
Inventors: Beyza ALKAN; Funda ERDEM; Adem AKSOY; Erkan KARAKAYA; Ilhan BALIKCI; Vasi Kadir Ertis
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2016-09-02
Filing date: 2017-08-04
Publication date: 2018-03-08

Abstract

The present invention relates to a portable air-conditioning device (1) wherein the PCM packages (9) can be regenerated, comprising a compressor (2) enabling the cooling cycle, a condenser (3) enabling heat discharge to the outer environment by condensing a coolant, a condenser fan (4), a condenser chamber (5) in which the condenser (3) and the condenser fan (4) is placed, an evaporator (6) drawing heat from the ambiance by evaporating the coolant and enabling cooling of the ambient air, an evaporator fan (7), an evaporator chamber (8) in which the evaporator (6) and the evaporator fan (7) is placed, at least one PCM package (9) obtained from a phase change material with high heat storage capacity, transferring and storing the heat of the condenser (3), and a heat storage chamber (10) in which the PCM packages (9) are placed.

Description

[Title established by the ISA under Rule 37.2] PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONER

The present invention relates to a portable air-conditioning device.

In general, air-conditioning devices comprise an internal unit and an external unit, and the heat drawn from the internal unit during cooling is discharged to the outer environment by the external unit. In portable (transportable) air-conditioning devices, cooling is usually performed by discharging the heat drawn from the ambiance to the outer environment by means of a vent which extends outdoors through an aperture opened on a window or a wall. However, the vent structure that enables heat to be discharged to the outer environment, restricts transportability of the air-conditioning device. In addition, portable air-conditioning devices are not preferred by many users since an aperture to be opened on a window or a wall for the vent needs to be formed suitably, in order to obtain an efficient cooling performance by providing insulation between the ambiance that requires cooling and the outer environment. This problem can be eliminated with applications in which a part of such residual heat is stored in a thermal storage member without discharging. In portable air-conditioning devices, storage of residual heat which has to be discharged to the outer environment by a condenser using PCM packages made of phase change material (PCM) with high heat storage capacity, is known. Phase change process is completed after storing a specific amount of heat and the PCM packages become incapable of heat storage. In this case, PCM packages require being subjected to a regeneration process by means of cooling. The first solution that comes to mind for regeneration process is placing the PCM packages in a cooler-freezer device when they become incapable of heat storage. This requires the PCM packages to be removed and regenerated by cooling in a cooler-freezer device, and then to be placed in the portable air-conditioning device again, arising a difficulty of use.

United States patent application no. US2016047562 relates to a regenerative air-conditioning system used in vehicles, consisting of a condenser, compressor, evaporator, expansion member, and a solenoid valve.

The aim of the present invention is to realize a portable air-conditioning device with PCM packages regenerable without being removed.

The portable air-conditioning device realized to achieve the aim of the present invention is disclosed in the claims.

Phase change material packages (PCM packages) storing residual heat discharged by the condenser, are used in the portable air-conditioning device. Air cooled by an evaporator contained within the device is used in regeneration process of the PCM packages becoming unable to store heat after a period of use.

The portable air-conditioning device of the invention comprises a heat sensor measuring the temperature of the PCM packages. A control unit decides necessity of the PCM packages being subjected to regeneration according to data received from the heat sensor, upon their temperature exceeding a limit value prerecorded to its memory.

A first flap provided on a first opening between the evaporator chamber and the heat storage chamber containing PCM packages, is brought to an open position by the control unit by means of a movement mechanism enabling the cold air passed via the evaporator to be directed to the PCM packages, thereby regenerating the PCM packages.

In the portable air-conditioning device of the invention, it is not necessary for the user to remove the PCM packages and place them to an external cooler/freezer device for their regeneration, providing ease of use.

The portable air-conditioning device realized to achieve the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the portable air-conditioning device.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of in the portable air-conditioning device.

Figure 3 is a schematic view of the portable air-conditioning device during

regeneration of the PCM packages.

Figure 4 is a schematic view of the portable air-conditioning device in continuous (normal) operation.

The elements in the figures are numbered individually and the correspondence of these numbers are given hereinafter.

1. Portable air-conditioning device

2. Compressor

3. Condenser

4. Condenser fan

5. Condenser chamber

6. Evaporator

7. Evaporator fan

8. Evaporator chamber

9. PCM package

10. Heat storage chamber

11. First opening

12. First flap

13. Second opening

14. Second flap

15. Third opening

16. Third flap

17. Fourth opening

18. Fourth flap

19. Fifth opening

20. Control unit

21. Heat sensor

22. Movement mechanism

The portable air-conditioning device (1), comprises a compressor (2) enabling the cooling cycle, a condenser (3) enabling heat discharge to the outer environment by condensing a coolant, a condenser fan (4) discharging to the outer environment the air heated by the heat dissipated by the condenser (3), a condenser chamber (5) in which the condenser (3) and the condenser fan (4) is placed, an evaporator (6) drawing heat from the ambiance by evaporating the coolant and enabling cooling of the ambient air, an evaporator fan (7) delivering the air cooled by the evaporator (6) to the outer ambiance where the user is, an evaporator chamber (8) in which the evaporator (6) and the evaporator fan (7) is placed, at least one PCM package (9) obtained by packing phase change material (PCM) with high heat storage capacity in a container (not shown), transferring and storing the heat of the condenser (3), and a heat storage chamber (10) in which the PCM packages (9) are placed.

The portable air-conditioning device (1) of the invention comprises,

- a heat sensor (21) measuring the temperature of the PCM packages (9),

- a first opening (11) provided between the evaporator chamber (8) and the heat storage chamber (10), directing the air cooled by passing it via the evaporator (6) to the PCM packages,

- at least one first flap (12), opening and closing over the first opening (11) preferably by means of at least one movement mechanism (22) comprising a solenoid actuator,

- a control unit (20) enabling direction of the air cooled by the evaporator (6) to the PCM packages (9) in the heat storage chamber (10) through the first opening (11) by opening the first flap (12) by means of the movement mechanism (22) according to data received from the heat sensor (21) upon the temperature of the PCM packages (9) exceeds a limit value saved in its memory (figures 1 and 2).

The control unit (20) enables sending the air cooled by the evaporator (6) directly to the PCM packages (9) without discharging it to the outer environment, and thus regenerating the PCM packages (9) by cooling them.

The first flap (12) being brought to closed position in continuous operation of cooling of the outer environment by the control unit (20) by means of the movement mechanism (22), prevents the air cooled by the evaporator (6) from escaping to the heat storage chamber (10) through the first opening (11) and enables discharging it to the outer environment.

The control unit (20) decides subjecting the PCM packages (9) to regeneration according to data received from the heat sensor (21), upon the temperature of the PCM packages (9) exceeding a limit value saved in its memory and enables direction of the air cooled by the evaporator (6) to the PCM packages (9) in the heat storage chamber (10) through the first opening (11) by opening the first flap (12) by means of the movement mechanism (22). The PCM packages (9) are thus regenerated by contacting cold air. The control unit (20) does not perform regeneration process according to data it receives from the heat sensor (21) as long as the temperature of the PCM packages (9) are below the limit value prerecorded in its memory. The control unit (20) enables discharging of the air cooled by the evaporator (6) completely to the outer environment, by bringing the first flap (12) to closed position in continuous (normal) operation mode in which the portable air-conditioning device (1) cools the environment.

In one embodiment of the invention, the portable air-conditioning device (1) comprises,

- a second opening (13) provided between the condenser chamber (5) and the heat storage chamber (10), enabling the direction of the residual heat dissipating from the condenser (3) to the PCM packages (9), and

- at least one second flap (14) opening and closing on the second opening (13), blocking the air flow through the second opening (13) during regeneration by being brought to closed position by the control unit (20) by means of the movement mechanism (22) and thus preventing contact of the air heated by the condenser (3) to the PCM packages (9) during regeneration process.

The second flap (14) enables conveyance of the air heated by the condenser (3) to the heat storage chamber (10) during continuous operation in which the outer environment is cooled, by being brought to open position and storage of the residual heat by the PCM packages (9).

In another embodiment of the invention, the portable air-conditioning device (1) comprises,

- a third opening (15) opening from the evaporator chamber (8) to the outer environment, enabling discharge of the air cooled by the evaporator (6) to the outer environment, and

- at least one third flap (16) opening and closing on the third opening (15), blocking the air flow to the outer environment through the third opening (15) during regeneration process by being brought to closed position by the control unit (20) by means of the movement mechanism (22).

The third flap (16) allows cold air to pass through the third opening (15) during continuous operation, by being brought to open position.

- a fourth flap (17) opening from the condenser chamber (5) to the outer environment, enabling discharge of the air heated by the condenser (3) to the outer environment, and

- at least one fourth flap (18) opening and closing on the fourth opening (17), allowing the air flow to the outer environment through the fourth opening (17) during regeneration process by being brought to open position by the control unit (20) by means of the movement mechanism (22).

The fourth flap (18) blocks passage of air through the fourth opening (17) to the outer environment by being brought to closed position in continuous operation during which the outer environment is cooled, and the air heated by the condenser (3) is conveyed to the heat storage chamber (10) through the second opening (13), and is stored by the PCM packages (9).

In another embodiment of the invention, the portable air-conditioning device (1) comprises a fifth opening (19) opening from the heat storage chamber (10) to the outer environment, enabling the air passed via the PCM packages (9) to be discharged to the outer environment, during regeneration of the PCM packages (9) and during continuous operation while PCM packages (9) store heat.

The air flow directions in the portable air-conditioning device (1) during regeneration process of the PCM packages (9) are shown in figure 3, and during continuous operation in which the PCM packages (9) store heat in figure 4 (in figures 3 and 4, dashed lines show the cold air flow and the continuous line show the hot air flow).

In the portable air-conditioning device (1), the positions of the flaps during regeneration process of the PCM packages (9) are as follows:

First flap (12): Open

Second flap (14): Closed

Third flap (16): Closed

Fourth flap (18): Open.

The open first flap (12) enables the air cooled by the evaporator (6) to contact and regenerate the PCM packages (9) by passing through the first opening (11). The closed second flap (14) prevents the air heated by the condenser (3) from reaching the PCM packages (9) through the second opening (13) during regeneration. The closed third flap (16) blocks the air cooled by the evaporator (6) to get to the outer environment through the third opening (15). The open fourth flap (18) enables discharging the air heated by the condenser (3) to the outer environment through the fourth opening (17) (figure3).

The positions of the flaps during continuous operation in which the portable air-conditioning device (1) cools the ambient air, are as follows:

First flap (12): Closed

Second flap (14): Open

Third flap (16): Open

Fourth flap (18): Closed.

The heat discharged from the condenser (3) passes to the heat storage chamber (10) through the second opening (13) and is stored by the PCM packages (9). The first flap (12) is in closed position and blocks passage of hot air to the evaporator chamber (8) from the first opening (11). The air cooled by the evaporator (6) passes through the third opening (15) and is discharged to the outer environment. The fourth flap (18) in closed position prevents the air heated by the condenser (3) from being discharged to the outer environment through the fourth opening (17). The air heated by the condenser (3) is conveyed during continuous operation to the heat storage chamber (10) through the second opening (13), and is stored by the PCM packages (9) (figure 4).

There is no flap provided over the fifth opening (19) opening to the outer environment from the heat storage chamber (10) in which the PCM packages are placed. The fifth opening (19) is in open state during both the continuous operation of the portable air-conditioning device (1) and the regeneration process of the PCM packages (9).

In the portable air-conditioning device (1) of the invention, removal of the PCM packages (9) and their placement to an external cooler/freezer device for regeneration process is not required, providing ease of use and increased cooling capacity.

Claims

A portable air-conditioning device (1), comprising a compressor (2) enabling the cooling cycle, a condenser (3) enabling heat dissipation to the outer environment by condensing a coolant, a condenser fan (4), a condenser chamber (5), an evaporator (6) drawing heat from the ambiance by evaporating the coolant and enabling cooling of the ambient air, an evaporator fan (7), an evaporator chamber (8), at least one PCM package (9) obtained from a phase change material with high heat storage capacity, transferring and storing the heat of the condenser (3), and a heat storage chamber (10) in which the PCM packages (9) are placed, characterized by,

- a heat sensor (21) measuring the temperature of the PCM packages (9),

- a first opening (11) arranged between the evaporator chamber (8) and the heat storage chamber (10),

- at least one first flap (12) opening and closing over the first opening (11) by means of at least one movement mechanism (22),

- a control unit (20) enables direction of the air cooled by the evaporator (6) to the PCM packages (9) in the heat storage chamber (10) through the first opening (11) by opening the first flap (12) by means of the movement mechanism (22) according to data received from the heat sensor (21) upon the temperature of the PCM packages (9) exceeds a limit value saved in its memory.
The portable air-conditioning device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by, the first flap (12) preventing the air cooled by the evaporator (6) from escaping to the heat storage chamber (10) through the first opening (11) by being brought to closed position in continuous operation.
The portable air-conditioning device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by, a second opening (13) arranged between the condenser chamber (5) and the heat storage chamber (10), enabling the direction of the residual heat dissipating from the condenser (3) to the PCM packages (9), and by at least one second flap (14) opening and closing on the second opening (13), blocking the air flow through the second opening (13) during regeneration by being brought to closed position.
The air-conditioning device (1) according to claim 3, characterized by, the second flap (14) enabling conveyance of the air heated by the condenser (3) to the heat storage chamber (10) during continuous operation by being brought to open position and storage of the residual heat by the PCM packages (9).
The portable air-conditioning device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by, a third opening (15) opening from the evaporator chamber (8) to the outer environment, enabling discharge of the air cooled by the evaporator (6) to the outer environment, and by at least one third flap (16) opening and closing on the third opening (15), blocking the air flow to the outer environment through the third opening (15) during regeneration process by being brought to closed position.
The air-conditioning device (1) according to claim 5, characterized by, the third flap (16) allowing cold air to pass through the third opening (15) during continuous operation, by being brought to open position.
The portable air-conditioning device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by, a fourth opening (17) opening from the condenser chamber (5) to the outer environment, enabling discharge of the air heated by the condenser (3) to the outer environment and by at least one fourth flap (18) opening and closing on the fourth opening (17), allowing the air flow to the outer environment through the fourth opening (17) during regeneration process by being brought to open position.
The air-conditioning device (1) according to claim 7, characterized by, the fourth flap (18) blocking air from passing through the fourth opening (17) during continuous operation, by being brought to closed position.
The air-conditioning device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by, a fifth opening (19) opening from the heat storage chamber (10) to the outer environment, enabling the air passed via the PCM packages (9) to be discharged to the outer environment, during regeneration of the PCM packages (9) and during continuous operation while PCM packages (9) store heat.