Method and apparatus for reduction of condensate re-evaporation during cooling part-load duty cycling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10473343-B2
Application number	US-201715424993-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 6, 2017
Priority date	Feb 6, 2017
Publication date	Nov 12, 2019
Grant date	Nov 12, 2019

Abstract

An apparatus that includes a supply duct and a return duct fluidly coupled to the supply duct. A first evaporator is disposed between the supply duct and the return duct. A second evaporator is disposed between the supply duct and the return duct. A fresh-air intake is disposed between the supply duct and the return duct upstream of the first evaporator and the second evaporator. A first plurality of dampers are disposed upstream of the first evaporator. A second plurality of dampers are disposed upstream of the second evaporator. A divider panel is disposed between the first evaporator and the second evaporator. The divider panel directs air egressing the first plurality of dampers across the first evaporator and air egressing the second plurality of dampers across the second evaporator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a supply duct;
a return duct fluidly coupled to the supply duct;
a first evaporator disposed between the supply duct and the return duct;
a second evaporator disposed between the supply duct and the return duct;
a fresh-air intake disposed between the supply duct and the return duct upstream of the first evaporator and the second evaporator;
a first plurality of dampers disposed upstream of the first evaporator;
a second plurality of dampers disposed upstream of the second evaporator;
a divider panel disposed between the first evaporator and the second evaporator, the divider panel directing air egressing the first plurality of dampers across the first evaporator and air egressing the second plurality of dampers across the second evaporator; and
wherein the first plurality of dampers are closed responsive to deactivation of the first evaporator.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the divider panel prevents circulation of air over the first evaporator.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of dampers are closed responsive to deactivation of the first evaporator and the second evaporator.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the divider panel prevents circulation of air over the second evaporator.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a blower, wherein the blower is configured to circulate air through the first plurality of dampers and the second plurality of dampers and over the first evaporator and the second evaporator.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the blower operates at a reduced speed responsive to deactivation of the first evaporator.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a position of the first plurality of dampers and a position of the second plurality of dampers are adjusted via a common motor.

8. An apparatus comprising:
a supply duct;
a return duct fluidly coupled to the supply duct;
a first evaporator disposed between the supply duct and the return duct;
a second evaporator disposed between the supply duct and the return duct;
a fresh-air intake disposed between the supply duct and the return duct upstream of the first evaporator and the second evaporator;
a first plurality of dampers disposed upstream of the first evaporator;
a second plurality of dampers disposed upstream of the second evaporator;
a divider panel disposed between the first evaporator and the second evaporator, the divider panel directing air egressing the first plurality of dampers across the first evaporator and air egressing the second plurality of dampers across the second evaporator; and
wherein the second plurality of dampers are closed responsive to deactivation of the first evaporator and the second evaporator.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first plurality of dampers are closed responsive to deactivation of the first evaporator.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the divider panel prevents circulation of air over the first evaporator.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the divider panel prevents circulation of air over the second evaporator.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , comprising a blower, wherein the blower is configured to circulate air through the first plurality of dampers and the second plurality of dampers and over the first evaporator and the second evaporator.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the blower operates at a reduced speed responsive to deactivation of the first evaporator.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein a position of the first plurality of dampers and a position of the second plurality of dampers are adjusted via a common motor.

15. An apparatus comprising:
a first evaporator disposed between a supply duct and a return duct;
a second evaporator disposed between the supply duct and the return duct;
a fresh-air intake disposed between the supply duct and the return duct upstream of the first evaporator and the second evaporator;
a first plurality of dampers disposed upstream of the first evaporator;
a second plurality of dampers disposed upstream of the second evaporator;
a divider panel disposed between the first evaporator and the second evaporator;
wherein the second plurality of dampers are closed responsive to deactivation of the first evaporator and the second evaporator; and
wherein the divider panel prevents circulation of air over the second evaporator.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the divider panel is configured to direct air egressing the first plurality of dampers across the first evaporator and air egressing the second plurality of dampers across the second evaporator.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first plurality of dampers are closed responsive to deactivation of the first evaporator.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the divider panel prevents circulation of air over the first evaporator.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 , comprising a blower, wherein the blower is configured to circulate air through the first plurality of dampers and the second plurality of dampers and over the first evaporator and the second evaporator.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the blower operates at a reduced speed responsive to deactivation of the first evaporator.

Assignees

• Lennox Ind Inc

Inventors

• Goel Rakesh

Classifications

• F24F2221/16

  mounted on the roof · CPC title

• F24F11/30

  for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring · CPC title

• F24F3/001

  in which the air treatment in the central station takes place by means of a heat-pump or by means of a reversible cycle (reversible cycle for humidifying and drying air F24F3/147) · CPC title

• F24F13/222

  for evacuating condensate · CPC title

• F24F11/74

  for controlling air flow rate or air velocity · CPC title