Dehumidification drainage system with mist eliminator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11639800-B2
Application number	US-202016920537-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 3, 2020
Priority date	Aug 20, 2018
Publication date	May 2, 2023
Grant date	May 2, 2023

Abstract

A dehumidification system includes an evaporator, a condenser positioned next to the evaporator, and a drain pan including a mist eliminator. The drain pan is disposed at least partially below the evaporator and the condenser. The drain pan at least includes a basin disposed at least partially below the evaporator. The basin includes a sloped bottom, a first rib disposed on the sloped bottom, a second rib parallel to the first rib and including a central gap, a third rib positioned between the first rib and the second rib, and an angled rib attached to the second rib. The third rib is parallel to and shorter than the first rib. The third rib is configured to at least partially block the central gap of the second rib. The angled rib is inclined towards the third rib and configured to change a velocity vector of the air flowing through the drain pan. The mist eliminator is configured to remove water droplets from the air.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mist eliminator configured to remove water entrained in air flowing through a drain pan, the mist eliminator comprising:
a member extending along a lateral direction of the drain pan and substantially parallel to a rib disposed on a sloped bottom of the drain pan, wherein the member is disposed at a distance in a direction longitudinal to the rib with respect to a length of the rib, the rib comprising a central gap configured to allow water to drain through the drain pan; and
the member comprising a first part having at least one aperture and a second part without an aperture, wherein the second part without an aperture is located in an area of highest air velocity caused by the central gap.

2. The mist eliminator of claim 1 , wherein the mist eliminator further comprises one or more hooks configured to couple the mist eliminator to the drain pan.

3. The mist eliminator of claim 1 , wherein the drain pan comprises:
a basin disposed at least partially below an evaporator and configured to collect water condensed from the evaporator; and
a central ridge disposed proximate to the basin, the central ridge comprising a wall along the lateral direction to prevent water from leaving the basin.

4. The mist eliminator of claim 3 , wherein the mist eliminator is disposed on the central ridge of the drain pan.

5. The mist eliminator of claim 1 , wherein the at least one aperture is configured to allow air to flow through the mist eliminator.

6. The mist eliminator of claim 1 , wherein the member comprises more than one row of apertures along the lateral direction.

7. The mist eliminator of claim 6 , wherein the more than one row of apertures comprise at least a row of apertures that have a number of apertures that are less than the number of apertures of any other rows of apertures.

8. The mist eliminator of claim 1 , wherein the member of the mist eliminator has an angle with respect to a vertical direction, the vertical direction being perpendicular to the lateral direction.

9. The mist eliminator of claim 8 , wherein the angle is in a range of 0-90 degrees.

10. The mist eliminator of claim 8 , wherein the angle is 45 degrees.

Assignees

• Therma Stor Llc

Inventors

• Lorang Grant M

Classifications

• F24F3/1405 Primary

  in which the humidity of the air is exclusively affected by contact with the evaporator of a closed-circuit cooling system or heat pump circuit · CPC title

• F24F2013/227

  Condensate pipe for drainage of condensate from the evaporator · CPC title

• F24F2003/1446

  by condensing · CPC title

• F24F2013/228

  Treatment of condensate, e.g. sterilising · CPC title