Modular refrigeration unit

• US 20050172654A1
• Filed: 11/18/2004
• Published: 08/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hussmann Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hussmann Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Roche, John, Rohrer, Clay
• Application Number:
  US10/992,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20050172654A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/246
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2309/061 with cycle highest pressure above the supercritical pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 9/008 the refrigerant being carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/062 in household refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 19/02 plug-in type
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/003 for cooling refrigerating machinery
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2317/0651 through the bottom

Abstract

A modular refrigeration unit for use in an accessible compartment of a cooler, a cooler comprising a modular refrigeration unit, and a method for a modular refrigeration unit. The modular refrigeration unit can include a gas cooler assembly mounted to a support and positioned on one side of a dividing wall, and an evaporator assembly mounted to the dividing wall and positioned on the opposite side of the dividing wall from the gas cooler assembly. The modular refrigeration unit can include CO₂ refrigerant adapted to be circulated between the evaporator assembly and the gas cooler assembly.

Claims

1. A modular refrigeration unit for use in an accessible compartment of a cooler, the accessible compartment including a first portion in communication with a display cabinet of the cooler and a second portion in communication with the environment, the modular refrigeration unit comprising:

a support removably positioned within the accessible compartment;

a dividing wall mounted to the support and positioned between the first and second portions, the dividing wall adapted to sealingly engage a portion of the accessible compartment to insulate the first and second portions from one another;

a gas cooler assembly mounted to the support and positioned on one side of the dividing wall, the gas cooler assembly positioned within the second portion of the accessible compartment;

an evaporator assembly mounted to the dividing wall and positioned on the opposite side of the dividing wall from the gas cooler assembly, the evaporator assembly positioned within the first portion of the accessible compartment; and

CO₂ refrigerant adapted to be circulated between the evaporator assembly and the gas cooler assembly.

2. The modular refrigeration unit of claim 1, wherein the support is a wire-frame support.

3. The modular refrigeration unit of claim 1, wherein the gas cooler assembly includes a compressor mounted to the support, a gas cooler mounted to the support, a motorized fan mounted to the gas cooler, and a collecting tray mounted to the support, the gas cooler in communication with the environment.

4. The modular refrigeration unit of claim 1, wherein the evaporator assembly includes an evaporator coil mounted to the dividing wall, and a fan mounted to the evaporator coil, the evaporator coil in communication with the display cabinet.

5. The modular refrigeration unit of claim 1, wherein the CO₂ refrigerant is circulated in a transcritical CO₂ refrigeration cycle.

6. A cooler having a refrigerated display cabinet, the cooler comprising:

a display cabinet;

an accessible compartment including a first portion in communication with the display cabinet and a second portion in communication with the environment; and

a modular refrigeration unit removably positioned within the accessible compartment, the modular refrigeration unit including

an evaporator assembly adapted for use with a CO₂ refrigerant, the evaporator assembly positioned within the first portion such that the evaporator is in communication with the display cabinet, and

a gas cooler assembly adapted for use with a CO₂ refrigerant, the gas cooler assembly positioned within the second portion such that the gas cooler is in communication with the environment when the modular refrigeration unit is positioned within the accessible compartment.

7. The cooler of claim 6, wherein the modular refrigeration unit includes:

a support coupled to the evaporator assembly and the gas cooler assembly, and

a dividing wall mounted to the support to separate the evaporator assembly and the gas cooler assembly.

8. The cooler of claim 7, wherein the evaporator assembly includes an evaporator coil mounted to the dividing wall and a fan mounted to the evaporator coil.

9. The cooler of claim 7, wherein the gas cooler assembly includes a compressor mounted to the support, a gas cooler mounted to the support, a fan mounted to the gas cooler, and a collecting tray mounted to the support.

10. The cooler of claim 6, further comprising an additional modular refrigeration unit adapted to replace the modular refrigeration unit for at least one of repair and disposal of the modular refrigeration unit.

11. A method for replacing a modular refrigeration unit of a cooler, the method comprising:

providing a first modular refrigeration unit removably positioned in an accessible compartment of the cooler, the first modular refrigeration unit having a first gas cooler assembly and a first evaporator assembly adapted for use with a CO₂ refrigerant;

providing a second modular refrigeration unit adapted to be removably positioned in an accessible compartment of the cooler, the second modular refrigeration unit having a second gas cooler assembly and a second evaporator assembly adapted for use with a CO₂ refrigerant;

removing the first modular refrigeration unit from the accessible compartment;

inserting the second modular refrigeration unit into the accessible compartment; and

operating the second modular refrigeration unit to circulate the CO₂ refrigerant through the second gas cooler assembly and the second evaporator assembly in a transcritical CO₂ refrigeration cycle.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

disconnecting the first modular refrigeration unit from at least one of a power source and a temperature sensor using quick disconnects; and

connecting the second modular refrigeration unit from at least one of a power source and a temperature sensor using quick disconnects.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining that the first modular refrigeration unit requires at least one of repair and replacement;

requesting the second modular refrigeration unit from a replacement location;

receiving the second modular refrigeration unit in packaging; and

shipping the first modular refrigeration unit to at least one of a repair location and a replacement location.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein shipping the first modular refrigeration unit includes shipping the first modular refrigeration unit in the packaging of the second modular refrigeration unit.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising repairing the first modular refrigeration unit for reuse.