MULTI-COIL EVAPORATOR FOR REFRIGERATION SYSTEM

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 63/522,600, filed on Jun. 22, 2023.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a multi-coil evaporator device for use in refrigeration systems. More specifically, the multi-coil evaporator device has, for each subsystem of a refrigeration system, a respective evaporator coil located therein in a cooling area of the evaporator device to cool air flowing there through.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditionally, in typical refrigeration systems 100 as the ones used in grocery stores and the like, as schematically simplified in FIG. 1, each evaporator 102 includes an evaporator coil 104 connected downstream of a pressure reducer 106 to ensure that the refrigerant (not shown) flowing in the evaporator coil 104 is in a gaseous state. The evaporator 102 typically includes a fan 103 to ensure a flow of air (not shown) through the evaporator coil 104 to lower the air temperature. The same refrigerant then essentially successively flows through the other components of the refrigeration system 100, the compressor unit 108 and the condenser unit 110 before returning to an optional reservoir upstream of the pressure reducer 106. Typically, in such refrigeration systems 100, a control unit (not shown) is used to control the flow of that same refrigerant through and among the evaporator unit 102 (usually a plurality of evaporators), the compressor unit 108 (usually a plurality of compressors), the condenser unit 110 (usually a plurality of condensers) and the optional, and usually common reservoir.

In such systems, when there is a refrigerant leak, a large amount of refrigerant is required to refill the system after the leak repair, which is expensive and not environment friendly.

Similarly, a defect in any one of the components of the system requires a complete stop of the entire system during the repair.

Furthermore, such systems are usually oversized to account for many different cooling situations/operations, such that, on average, some components are not used at full capacity or are operated in a non-optimal condition, thus reducing the efficiency of the affected components, and of the overall system.

Furthermore, in large refrigeration systems, as the path followed by the refrigerant between the evaporators and the compressors is usually long, this reduces the refrigerant pressure upstream of the compressors, such that the compressors need to operate with a large pressure ratio (compressor output/input), thereby consuming a significant amount of power while being outside the compressor best pressure range efficiency.

Additionally, large refrigeration systems are limited to the different refrigerants they can use, depending on local standards, codes and/or laws, as for example the use of R-290 refrigerant (also known as propane) is typically restricted to certain conditions.

Accordingly, there is a need for a multi-coil evaporator to improve refrigeration systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a general object of the present disclosure to provide a multi-coil evaporator device used in refrigeration systems that obviates the above-noted drawbacks and problems.

An advantage of the present invention is that the multi-coil evaporator device, having a plurality (minimum of two) of evaporator coils with each coil being part of respective independent refrigeration subsystem (compressor unit, condenser unit, refrigerant pressure reducer unit, and refrigerant, with refrigerant reservoir whenever required), allows for an increase of the suction pressure of the compressor unit as the refrigerant path is reduced due to the multitude of coils inside the evaporator device. Accordingly, the compressive ratio of the compressor unit is lowered, resulting in less power consumption.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the multi-coil evaporator device allows for an overall refrigeration system that is less affected by the temporary loss of any subsystem, thus leaving the other subsystem(s) in operation.

A further advantage of the present invention is that the multi-coil evaporator device, compared to a conventional evaporator, allows for a reduced amount of refrigerant of the system, for the normal operation of the system, as well as for a refill of refrigerant after plugging/sealing, for the following reasons.

• • The refrigerant flow path is reduced.
  • The inner diameters of the refrigerant pipes are smaller.
  • The reservoir or flash tank of each subsystem/circuit is smaller; i.e. less refrigerant.
  • In case of unexpected refrigerant leakage, emissions into the atmosphere are lower.
  • The ecological footprint of such a configuration is reduced.
  • The operation cost is lower in case of leakage, especially considering the high cost of synthetic refrigerants.
  • The design of refrigeration systems using less refrigerant makes it possible to consider the use of “clean” refrigerants such as the R-290 (propane).

Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the multi-coil evaporator device allows for the overall refrigeration system to be adaptable to many operation configurations by simply activating or deactivating one or more subsystem(s), such that the different components (especially the compressor units) do not need to be “oversized”.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a multi-coil evaporator device for use in a refrigeration system, the evaporator device comprising:

• • first and second evaporator coil members located in and defining a cooling area, for being in fluid communication with air flowing through the cooling area to cool the air flowing there through; and
  • wherein each one of the first and second evaporator coil member being part of a respective subsystem of the refrigeration system having a respective compressor member, a respective condenser member, and a respective pressure reducer member with a respective cooling refrigerant flowing therein, each said respective subsystem being operatively independent from one another.

In one embodiment, the device further comprises a fin arrangement connecting to the first and second evaporator coil members to increase cooling of the air flowing through the cooling area.

Conveniently, the fin arrangement includes a plurality of fins, each said plurality of fins being in contact with the first and second evaporator coil members.

In one embodiment, the device further comprises a fan subsystem for blowing the air through the cooling area.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a refrigeration system comprising:

• • a multi-coil evaporator device having first and second evaporator coil members located in and defining a cooling area, for being in fluid communication with air flowing through the cooling area to cool the air flowing there through
  • a fan subsystem for blowing the air through the cooling area; and
  • first and second subsystems operatively connecting to the first and second evaporator coil members, respectively, each one of the first and second subsystems having a respective compressor member, a respective condenser member, and a respective pressure reducer member with a respective cooling refrigerant flowing therein, the first and second subsystems being operatively independent from one another.

In one embodiment, the system further comprises a fin arrangement connecting to the first and second evaporator coil members to increase cooling of the air flowing through the cooling area.

Conveniently, the fin arrangement includes a plurality of fins, each said plurality of fins being in contact with the first and second evaporator coil members.

In one embodiment, the system further comprises a fan subsystem for blowing the air through the cooling area.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided herein, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the disclosure will be described by way of examples only with reference to the accompanying Figures, with similar references referring to similar components, in which:

FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic diagram of a typical refrigeration system of the prior art; and

FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic diagram of a multi-coil evaporator device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, showing the multi-coil evaporator device with two subsystems of the refrigeration system operatively independent from one another.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown an embodiment of a multi-coil evaporator device 10 in accordance with the present invention. The multi-coil evaporator device 10 is typically used in a refrigeration system 20, and comprises first and second evaporator coil members 30, 30′ (although more than two could be considered without departing from the scope of the present invention) located in and defining a cooling area 32, for being in fluid communication with air flowing through the cooling area 32, to cool the air flowing and blowing there through preferably using a fan subsystem (or mechanism) 34. Each one of the first 30 and second 30′ evaporator coil member is typically part of a respective subsystem 22, 22′ of the refrigeration system 20 having a respective compressor member 24, 24′, a respective condenser member 26, 26′ or the like (heat recuperation/reclaim, air conditioner, etc.), and a respective pressure reducer member 28, 28′ (such as a capillary tube or any other pressure reducer component) with a respective cooling refrigerant (not shown) flowing therein. The subsystems 22, 22′ are operatively independent from one another, and a minimum of two linked to a same device 10 is needed.

Typically, the multi-coil evaporator device 10 also includes a fin arrangement (or member) 36 connected to (in contact with) the first 30 and second 30′ evaporator coil members to increase the cooling of the air flowing through the cooling area 32, around the first 30 and second 30′ evaporator coil members.

Typically, the fin arrangement 36 includes a plurality of fins 38, with each one of the fins 38 being in contact with the first 30 and second 30′ evaporator coil members.

Although not illustrated in FIG. 2, each subsystem 22, 22′ could have a refrigerant reservoir or the like, usually between the condenser member 26, 26′ and the pressure reducer member 28, 28′, if needed. Also, each condenser member 26, 26′ could be any type of heat exchanger well-known in the art of refrigeration systems.

Although the present disclosure has been described with a certain degree of particularity and by way of an illustrative embodiment and examples thereof, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the features of the embodiments described and illustrated herein, but includes all variations and modifications within the scope and spirit of the disclosure as hereinafter claimed.