Refrigerant evaporators with pulse-electrothermal defrosting
First Claim
1. A pulse electrothermal defrost evaporator system comprising:
- a plurality of refrigerant tubes (108, 202, 803) formed from an electrically conductive metal;
a first manifold (104, 204) for distributing refrigerant into the plurality of refrigerant tubes (108, 202, 803), the plurality of refrigerant tubes connected in parallel for refrigerant flow;
a second manifold (106, 206) for receiving refrigerant from the plurality of refrigerant tubes; and
a controller (150) for detecting ice accumulation on the refrigerant tubes and for electrically connecting the refrigerant tubes to a source of electrical power to deice the refrigerant tubes when ice is detected on the refrigerant tubes;
wherein a plurality of the refrigerant tubes are electrically coupled together in series.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An pulse electro thermal defrost evaporator system has multiple refrigerant tubes formed from an electrically conductive metal and connected in parallel for refrigerant flow. These tubes are, however, connected electrically in series. A controller is capable of detecting ice accumulation and connecting the tubes to a source of electrical power for deicing when it is necessary to deice the tubes. Embodiments having a manifold having multiple conductive sections insulated from each other are disclosed for coupling tubes electrically in series. Alternative embodiments with a single, long, wide-bore, tube are disclosed, as are embodiments having an evaporating pan coupled in series or parallel with the tubes, and embodiments with thermal cutoff and electrical safety interlocks.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A pulse electrothermal defrost evaporator system comprising:
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a plurality of refrigerant tubes (108, 202, 803) formed from an electrically conductive metal; a first manifold (104, 204) for distributing refrigerant into the plurality of refrigerant tubes (108, 202, 803), the plurality of refrigerant tubes connected in parallel for refrigerant flow; a second manifold (106, 206) for receiving refrigerant from the plurality of refrigerant tubes; and a controller (150) for detecting ice accumulation on the refrigerant tubes and for electrically connecting the refrigerant tubes to a source of electrical power to deice the refrigerant tubes when ice is detected on the refrigerant tubes; wherein a plurality of the refrigerant tubes are electrically coupled together in series. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A pulse electrothermal defrost evaporator system comprising:
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a plurality of sections (802, 804, 806, 858, 860), each section comprising; a plurality of refrigerant tubes (803) formed from an electrically conductive metal, a first manifold (808, 859) for distributing refrigerant into the plurality of refrigerant tubes, the plurality of refrigerant tubes connected in parallel for refrigerant flow, a second manifold (810, 861) for receiving refrigerant from the plurality of refrigerant tubes, and a first and a second electrical connection (812, 814) for coupling electrical power to the plurality of refrigerant tubes, the refrigerant tubes of each section being coupled together electrically in series; a controller (876) for detecting ice accumulation on the refrigerant tubes and for electrically coupling the first electrical connection of at least one section to a source of electrical power to deice the refrigerant tubes when ice is detected on the refrigerant tubes of that section; wherein the sections are coupled together for refrigerant flow in a pattern selected from the group consisting of series, parallel and series-parallel; and wherein the sections ( FIG. 16 ) are coupled together electrically in a pattern selected from the group consisting of series, parallel, and series-parallel. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification