Corrosion inhibitor module for a packaged terminal air conditioner unit

• US 10,072,871 B1
• Filed: 03/10/2017
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Inventors: Shaffer, Timothy Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad M
• Application Number:
  US15/455,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20180259220A1
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 62262, 62285
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/027 mounted in wall openings, e.g. in windows
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/224 in a window-type room air conditioner
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2013/228 Treatment of condensate, e.g. sterilising

Abstract

A corrosion inhibitor module for a packaged terminal air conditioner unit (PTAC) is provided. Condensate is pumped from a drain pan of the PTAC into a housing of the corrosion inhibitor module. The housing contains a corrosion inhibitor concentrate that is mixes with the condensate to form an inhibitor solution that is returned to the drain pan to prevent the corrosion of components that come in contact with the condensate.

Claims

1. A packaged terminal air conditioner unit, comprising:

an outdoor heat exchanger disposed in an outdoor portion;

an indoor heat exchanger disposed in an indoor portion;

a bulkhead disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger along a transverse direction, the bulkhead defining the indoor portion and the outdoor portion;

a drain pan defining a reservoir for collecting condensate from the indoor heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger;

a corrosion inhibitor module comprising a module housing positioned within the reservoir and defining an inlet and an outlet, and a corrosion inhibitor concentrate positioned within the module housing;

an intake conduit providing fluid communication between the reservoir and the inlet of the module housing; and

a circulation pump operatively coupled to the intake conduit for urging a flow of condensate from the reservoir and into the module housing, the flow of condensate mixing with the corrosion inhibitor concentrate to form an inhibitor solution that flows back into the reservoir through the outlet.

2. The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of claim 1, comprising:

a discharge conduit providing fluid communication between the outlet of the module housing and the reservoir.

3. The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of claim 2, wherein the discharge conduit discharges the inhibitor solution directly into the outdoor portion of the reservoir.

4. The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of claim 1, wherein the inlet and the outlet are positioned on a bottom of the module housing.

5. The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of claim 1, wherein the circulation pump is a peristaltic pump.

6. The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of claim 1, wherein the module housing of the corrosion inhibitor module is positioned within the indoor portion.

7. The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of claim 1, comprising:

a replacement indicator for providing an indication that the corrosion inhibitor module or the corrosion inhibitor concentrate needs to be replaced.

8. The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of claim 7, wherein the replacement indicator is disposed on the module housing of the corrosion inhibitor module.

9. The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of claim 7, wherein the replacement indicator provides an indication based on one or more of a time of use of the corrosion inhibitor module, a time of use of an air conditioning mode, an average room temperature or relative humidity during the time of use, or a quantity of corrosion inhibitor concentrate.

10. The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of claim 1, wherein the corrosion inhibitor concentrate is non-toxic and biodegradable.

11. The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of claim 1, wherein the corrosion inhibitor concentrate comprises one or more of Cysteine, Caffeine, 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, 2-aminobenzothiazole, 8-hydroxyquinoline, Tryptophan, Citric acid, Monoethanolamine, Arginine, Caffeine/Zn2+, and Arginine/Zn2+.

12. A corrosion inhibitor module for a packaged terminal air conditioner unit, the packaged terminal air conditioner unit comprising a drain pan defining a reservoir for collecting condensate from an indoor heat exchanger and an outdoor heat exchanger, the corrosion inhibitor module comprising:

a module housing positioned within the reservoir and defining a chamber having an inlet and an outlet;

a corrosion inhibitor concentrate positioned within the module housing;

an intake conduit providing fluid communication between the reservoir and the inlet of the module housing; and

a circulation pump operatively coupled to the intake conduit for urging a flow of condensate from the reservoir and into the chamber, the flow of condensate mixing with the corrosion inhibitor concentrate to form an inhibitor solution that flows back into the reservoir through the outlet.

13. The corrosion inhibitor module of claim 12, comprising:

a discharge conduit providing fluid communication between the outlet of the module housing and the reservoir.

14. The corrosion inhibitor module of claim 13, wherein the discharge conduit discharges the inhibitor solution directly into an outdoor portion of the reservoir.

15. The corrosion inhibitor module of claim 12, wherein the inlet and the outlet are positioned on a bottom of the module housing.

16. The corrosion inhibitor module of claim 12, wherein the circulation pump is a peristaltic pump.

17. The corrosion inhibitor module of claim 12, wherein the module housing of the corrosion inhibitor module is positioned within an indoor portion.

18. The corrosion inhibitor module of claim 12, comprising:

a replacement indicator for providing an indication that the corrosion inhibitor module or the corrosion inhibitor concentrate needs to be replaced, wherein the replacement indicator provides an indication based on one or more of a time of use of the corrosion inhibitor module, a time of use of an air conditioning mode, an average room temperature or relative humidity during the time of use, or a quantity of corrosion inhibitor concentrate.

19. The corrosion inhibitor module of claim 12, wherein the corrosion inhibitor concentrate comprises one or more of Cysteine, Caffeine, 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, 2-aminobenzothiazole, 8-hydroxyquinoline, Tryptophan, Citric acid, Monoethanolamine, Arginine, Caffeine/Zn2+, and Arginine/Zn2+.

20. A packaged terminal air conditioner unit, comprising:

an outdoor heat exchanger disposed in an outdoor portion;

an indoor heat exchanger disposed in an indoor portion;

a bulkhead disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger along a transverse direction, the bulkhead defining the indoor portion and the outdoor portion;

a drain pan defining a reservoir for collecting condensate from the indoor heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger;

a corrosion inhibitor module comprising a module housing positioned within the reservoir and defining an inlet and an outlet, and corrosion inhibitor solution positioned within the module housing including a discharge conduit fluidly coupled to the outlet of the module housing and being in fluid communication with the reservoir; and

a circulation pump operatively coupled to the discharge conduit for urging a flow of the corrosion inhibitor solution from the module housing, through the discharge conduit, and into the reservoir.