Modular heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems and methods

• US 9,062,887 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2010
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hobart Brothers Company (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hobart Brothers Company (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Inventors: Montminy, Jeffrey E., Rajasekaran, Varun Prem Sagar, Bivens, Steven Eugene, Alcantara, Lenim E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jules, Frantz
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANENBAUM, TZVI SAMUEL
• Application Number:
  US12/884,859
• Publication Number:
  US 20110113795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,740 Days
• Field of Search: 622/98, 624/98, 624/99, 623/32, 622/37, 625/07, 165/122, 165/127, 298/900.7
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/362 Installations for supplying conditioned air to parked aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/364 Mobile units
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/022 comprising a compressor cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/04 Arrangements for portability
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/36 Modules, e.g. for an easy mounting or transport
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/065 with a plurality of evaporators or condensers

Abstract

Embodiments of a modular air conditioning (AC) unit include a base unit and a blower selected from a group of blowers configured for different cooling capacities. The module AC unit also includes at least one heat exchanger unit selected from a group of substantially identical modular heat exchanger units, the number of heat exchanger units being selected based upon the desired cooling capacity. The at least one heat exchanger unit and the blower are assembled to the base unit to form a modular air conditioning circuit.

Claims

1. A modular air conditioning unit, comprising:

a base unit selected from a group of base units configured to receive substantially different arrangements or numbers of components;

a blower configured to be mounted on the base unit;

an evaporator unit configured to be assembled to the base unit and comprising a housing; and

a condenser unit configured to be mounted on a top of the housing of the evaporator unit and assembled to the base unit to form a modular refrigeration circuit, wherein the condenser unit comprises;

a housing comprising a top panel having louvers disposed therein, a bottom panel having a distribution grid disposed therein, a first side panel, and a second side panel, wherein the housing encloses an inner chamber;

a divider disposed within the inner chamber and configured to separate the inner chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber, and to thermally isolate the first chamber from the second chamber;

a first condenser coil disposed in the first chamber;

a second condenser coil disposed in the second chamber;

an input fan disposed in the first side panel and configured to draw air from a surrounding environment into the first chamber to establish a first airflow path through the first chamber, through the first condenser coil, and through the louvers in the top panel; and

an output fan disposed in the second side panel and configured to draw air from the evaporator unit into the second chamber to establish a second airflow path through the distribution grid, through the second condenser coil, and through the second side panel.

2. The modular air conditioning unit of claim 1, wherein the base unit is at least one of stand mounted, bridge mounted, and heavy vehicle mounted.

3. The modular air conditioning unit of claim 1, wherein the input fan and the output fan are configured to be controlled independent of one another.

4. The modular air conditioning unit of claim 1, wherein the first condenser coil comprises a micro-channel condenser coil.

5. The modular air conditioning unit of claim 1, wherein the divider comprises a first plate, a second plate, and an insulating medium disposed between the first and second plates.

6. The modular air conditioning unit of claim 1, wherein the first condenser coil and the second condenser coil are parallel.

7. The modular air conditioning unit of claim 1, wherein the blower is configured to intake air, to filter the air, to heat the air, and to house controls for the modular air conditioning unit.

8. A method of assembling a modular air conditioning (AC) unit, comprising:

selecting a base unit from a group of base units configured to receive substantially different arrangements or numbers of components;

selecting a blower from a group of blowers configured for different cooling capacities;

selecting at least one evaporator unit from a group of substantially identical modular evaporator units, the number of evaporator units being selected based on a desired cooling capacity, wherein each of the substantially identical modular evaporator units comprises a housing;

selecting at least one condenser unit from a group of substantially identical modular condenser units, the number of condenser units being selected based on the desired cooling capacity, and each of the substantially identical modular condenser units comprising a housing having a first chamber and a second chamber separated by a thermally isolating divider, a first condenser coil disposed in the first chamber, a second condenser coil disposed in the second chamber, and a fan configured to draw air into the condenser unit from the evaporator unit, through the second condenser coil, and into a surrounding environment; and

assembling the selected base unit, the selected at least one evaporator unit, and the selected at least one condenser unit together to form a modular air conditioning circuit.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein selecting at least one evaporator unit comprises selecting at least two evaporator units.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising coupling the at least two evaporator units together in series with respect to an airflow path established between the at least two evaporator units.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising coupling the modular AC unit to an external power source.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising coupling the at least one condenser unit to the at least one evaporator unit to form a heat exchanger module.

13. A modular air conditioning (AC) unit, comprising:

a base unit selected from a group of base units configured to receive substantially different arrangements or numbers of components;

a blower selected from a group of blowers configured for different cooling capacities, the blower being mounted to the base unit; and

at least one heat exchanger unit selected from a group of substantially identical modular heat exchanger units, the number of heat exchanger units being selected based upon a desired cooling capacity, wherein each of the substantially identical modular heat exchanger units comprises;

an evaporator unit comprising a first housing; and

a condenser unit mounted to the evaporator unit such that a bottom surface of the condenser unit is adjacent to a top surface of the first housing, and comprising a second housing enclosing an inner chamber and being separate from the first housing, a thermally isolating divider disposed in the inner chamber to divide the inner chamber into first and second thermally isolated chambers,

a first condenser coil disposed in the first thermally isolated chamber, a second condenser coil disposed in the second thermally isolated chamber,

a distribution grid disposed on the bottom surface of the condenser unit and configured to distribute air from the evaporator unit across the second condenser coil, and at least one fan disposed in the second housing and configured to draw the air received from the evaporator unit into the condenser unit and through the second condenser coil.

14. The modular AC unit of claim 13, wherein the condenser unit comprises an input fan configured to establish an airflow path through the first thermally isolated chamber of the condenser unit and the first condenser coil.

15. The modular AC unit of claim 13, wherein the modular AC unit comprises at least two heat exchanger units and the at least two heat exchangers units are assembled for parallel airflow.

16. The modular AC unit of claim 13, wherein the modular AC unit comprises at least two heat exchanger units and the at least two heat exchangers units are assembled for series airflow.

17. The modular AC unit of claim 13, wherein each blower of the group of blowers is configured to provide power for operation of the modular AC unit, to filter incoming air, and to provide controls for operation of the modular AC unit.

18. The modular AC unit of claim 13, wherein the modular AC unit is a modular refrigeration circuit configured to receive ambient air, to cool the received air, and to output the cooled air.

19. The modular AC unit of claim 13, wherein the different cooling capacities comprise a 30 ton maximum nominal output, a 60 ton maximum nominal output, a 90 ton maximum nominal output, and a 120 ton maximum nominal output.

20. The modular AC unit of claim 13, wherein the base unit is at least one of stand mounted, bridge mounted, and towable.