Single evaporator low power merchandiser

Abstract

The utility model relates to commercial refrigeration equipment technical field discloses a single evaporator low -power -consumption commodity display cabinet, including the cabinet, the cabinet door and the refrigeration system that is formed by refrigerating unit, its characterized in that: the inside rear wall middle part of cabinet is centrally provided with only, single group's direct cooling evaporator, the air flow backflow channel is formed between direct cooling evaporator with the rear wall of cabinet, the upper and lower ends of direct cooling evaporator are equipped with the inclined flow guide plate respectively, the two sides inner wall of cabinet is equipped with multiple vertical flow guide strips, the inside setting of cabinet is the grating structure that allows air current to pass through. In the utility model, by adopting single direct cooling evaporator and cancelling the fan, remarkable energy -conserving and consumption -reducing, reduce material and assembly cost at the same time. No fan operation fundamentally eliminates the noise, improves the shopping experience. This simplified structure also reduces the initial manufacturing and later maintenance cost, and has high economy and reliability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of commercial refrigeration equipment technology, and in particular to a low-power merchandise display cabinet with a single evaporator. Background Technology

[0002] Merchandise display cases are crucial equipment in supermarkets, convenience stores, and other retail establishments for the low-temperature display and storage of perishable goods such as beverages, dairy products, and fresh food. Their design directly impacts product preservation and food safety, and also significantly influences operating costs for retailers and the customer shopping experience. Therefore, developing display cases that combine efficient refrigeration with low energy consumption is a continuous pursuit in this field.

[0003] Currently, most mainstream commercial display cases on the market employ forced air convection technology, also known as air-cooled refrigeration, in their cooling systems. A typical structure of this type of display case consists of one or more finned tube evaporators inside the cabinet, equipped with several small axial flow fans. Its working principle is as follows: the refrigeration system lowers the surface temperature of the evaporator, and then the fans force air inside the cabinet through the low-temperature evaporator fins for heat exchange. The cooled air is then distributed to all corners of the cabinet by the air duct system to achieve rapid and uniform cooling of the merchandise. This fan-driven cold air circulation method is currently the main technological means for achieving rapid cooling in large spaces.

[0004] However, the widely adopted air-cooled refrigeration solutions mentioned above have a significant combined problem: high energy consumption, high cost, and high noise. First, to drive forced air circulation throughout the display case, the system must be equipped with multiple fans. These fans need to operate continuously, sometimes even without interruption, and together with the refrigeration compressor, they constitute the main source of power consumption for the display case, resulting in consistently high overall power consumption. Second, using dual evaporators or complex duct systems with multiple fan components not only significantly increases the material cost and assembly complexity of the equipment but also implies more potential failure points, increasing the difficulty and cost of later maintenance. Finally, the continuous humming noise generated by multiple fans during operation, combined with the noise in a commercial environment, disrupts the quiet and comfortable shopping environment, negatively impacting the customer experience. Therefore, a single-evaporator, low-power merchandise display case is proposed to address these issues. Utility Model Content

[0005] To overcome the above shortcomings, this utility model provides a low-power display cabinet with a single evaporator, aiming to improve the combined problems of high energy consumption, high cost, and high noise in existing air-cooled display cabinets. Multiple fans need to operate continuously, resulting in high power consumption, and the complex system also increases material, assembly, and maintenance costs. At the same time, fan noise disrupts the quiet shopping environment and affects the customer experience.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution: a low-power merchandise display cabinet with a single evaporator, comprising a cabinet body, a cabinet door, and a refrigeration system composed of a refrigeration unit, characterized in that: a single, single-unit direct-cooling evaporator is centrally located in the middle of the rear wall of the cabinet body, and an airflow return channel is formed between the direct-cooling evaporator and the rear wall of the cabinet body; inclined guide plates are respectively provided at the upper and lower ends of the direct-cooling evaporator, and a plurality of vertical guide strips are provided on the inner walls of both sides of the cabinet body; the shelves inside the cabinet body are grid structures that allow airflow to pass through.

[0007] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0008] The direct-cooling evaporator has a flat plate structure, and the internal refrigeration piping is a flat plate serpentine coil. The coil spacing of the flat plate serpentine coil decreases from the central area of ​​the evaporator to the two side edge areas.

[0009] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0010] The distance between the direct-cooling evaporator and the rear wall of the cabinet is 50mm to 80mm; the upper inclined guide plate is inclined towards the top of the cabinet, and the lower inclined guide plate is inclined towards the bottom of the cabinet, and the inclination angle is 30°.

[0011] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0012] The vertical guide strip is an arc-shaped cross-section structure evenly distributed along the height of the cabinet, with a radius of curvature of 10mm to 15mm.

[0013] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0014] The refrigeration system does not contain any fan components for forced air convection. The refrigeration unit is connected to the single, direct-cooling evaporator via piping to achieve fanless natural convection refrigeration.

[0015] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0016] The refrigeration unit includes a compressor, a condenser, and a capillary tube. The condenser is located on one side of the compressor, and the capillary tube is connected to a single set of direct-cooling evaporators.

[0017] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0018] The center spacing of the flat serpentine coil is 100mm, and the edge spacing is 60mm.

[0019] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0020] The cabinet door is a double-layered hollow glass door; the shelf is made of wire mesh.

[0021] This utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0022] 1. This utility model achieves significant energy savings and cost control by employing a centrally located single direct-cooling evaporator and completely eliminating the forced convection fan assembly. Compared to the dual-air-cooled evaporator and multi-fan configuration commonly used in traditional commercial display cases, this solution significantly reduces material costs and assembly complexity. Since there is no need for continuous power supply to the fan, the overall power consumption is significantly reduced, aligning with low-carbon and environmentally friendly trends. Simultaneously, fanless operation fundamentally eliminates fan noise, providing a quieter and more comfortable environment for shopping venues and enhancing the customer shopping experience. This structural simplification not only reduces initial manufacturing costs but also minimizes potential failure points and maintenance costs, combining economic efficiency with reliability.

[0023] 2. In this invention, a highly efficient natural convection circulation system is constructed through the synergistic effect of the evaporator, guide plate, guide strip, and grid shelf, ensuring excellent refrigeration and preservation effects while achieving low power consumption. The cold air generated by the evaporator located on the rear wall is guided by gravity to naturally sink and diffuse to both sides via the lower guide plate; the hot air inside the cabinet rises to the evaporator through the return channel between the evaporator and the rear wall of the cabinet and is re-cooled, forming a stable and uniform circulation. The inclined guide plate and arc-shaped guide strip precisely guide the macroscopic and local flow of cold air, avoiding cold accumulation and temperature dead zones. Furthermore, the fanless direct cooling method avoids the problems of food surface drying and dehydration caused by forced air cooling, maximizing the preservation of the original moisture and freshness of the goods, making it particularly suitable for displaying humidity-sensitive fresh produce. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a low-power merchandise display cabinet with a single evaporator proposed in this utility model.

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the shelf structure of a low-power merchandise display cabinet with a single evaporator proposed in this utility model.

[0026] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the direct-cooling evaporator part of a single-evaporator low-power merchandise display cabinet proposed in this utility model;

[0027] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the refrigeration unit structure of a low-power single-evaporator merchandise display cabinet proposed in this utility model.

[0028] Figure 5This is a schematic diagram of the flat serpentine coil section of a low-power single-evaporator merchandise display cabinet proposed in this utility model.

[0029] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the vertical guide strip structure of a low-power merchandise display cabinet with a single evaporator proposed in this utility model.

[0030] Legend:

[0031] 1. Cabinet body; 2. Cabinet door; 3. Direct cooling evaporator; 301. Flat serpentine coil; 4. Inclined baffle plate; 5. Vertical baffle strip; 6. Shelf; 7. Refrigeration unit; 701. Compressor; 702. Condenser; 703. Capillary tube. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0033] Reference Figure 1 - Figure 6 This utility model provides an embodiment of a low-power single-evaporator merchandise display cabinet, comprising a cabinet body 1 forming the overall frame, cabinet doors 2 for closing and display, and a refrigeration system composed of a refrigeration unit 7. A single direct-cooling evaporator 3, serving as the sole cold source, is centrally located in the middle of the rear wall of the cabinet body 1. A pre-reserved gap forms an airflow return channel between the direct-cooling evaporator 3 and the rear wall of the cabinet body 1. To effectively guide the natural convection of air within the cabinet, inclined guide plates 4 are respectively provided at the upper and lower ends of the direct-cooling evaporator 3. Multiple vertical guide strips 5 for managing lateral airflow are provided on the inner walls of both sides of the cabinet body 1. The interior of the cabinet body 1 is equipped with… The shelf 6 is a grid structure that allows airflow to pass freely; to optimize cooling efficiency and temperature uniformity, the direct-cooling evaporator 3 is a flat plate structure, and its internal cooling pipes are flat serpentine coils 301. The coil spacing of the flat serpentine coils 301 is specially designed to decrease from the center area of ​​the evaporator to the two side edges; to ensure the reflux effect, the distance between the direct-cooling evaporator 3 and the rear wall of the cabinet 1 is set to 50mm to 80mm; to precisely control the airflow path, the upper inclined guide plate 4 is inclined towards the top of the cabinet 1, and the lower inclined guide plate 4 is inclined towards the bottom of the cabinet 1, and the inclination angle of both is 30°.

[0034] Specifically, the direct-cooling evaporator 3 serves as the core of the cold source. Its flat, serpentine coil 301 features a larger coil spacing in the central area and a denser spacing at the edges, creating a gradient temperature difference on the evaporator surface. This compensates for the slower cooling at the edges during natural convection, contributing to uniform temperature throughout the cabinet. The cold air generated by the evaporator naturally sinks under gravity and is guided smoothly to the front and lower parts of the cabinet 1 by the 30° inclined guide plate 4 at the bottom. The grid-structured shelf 6 ensures unobstructed vertical penetration and circulation of cold air. Simultaneously, the warm air exchanged with the goods rises due to its reduced density and returns to the upper part of the evaporator along the vertical guide strips 5 on both sides and the 50mm to 80mm return channel between the rear wall of the cabinet 1 and the evaporator. There, it is redirected to the evaporator surface for cooling by the inclined guide plate 4 at the top.

[0035] Reference Figure 1 - Figure 6 The vertical guide strip 5 is an arc-shaped cross-section structure evenly distributed along the height of the cabinet 1, with its radius of curvature set to 10mm to 15mm. This arc design aims to reduce the resistance of the rising airflow, allowing it to flow more smoothly along the side wall. The most crucial feature of the refrigeration system is that it does not contain any fan components for forced air convection. The refrigeration unit 7 is connected to a single, single-unit direct-cooling evaporator 3 via refrigeration piping, relying entirely on the air density difference to achieve fanless natural convection refrigeration. The refrigeration unit 7 consists of conventional refrigeration components, including a compressor 701 for compressing and circulating the refrigerant, and components for dissipating heat to the outside. The condenser 702 and the capillary tube 703, which serves as a throttling element, are located on one side of the compressor 701 for easy integration. The outlet of the capillary tube 703 is connected to the inlet of the single-unit direct-cooling evaporator 3. To further optimize the temperature distribution, the center spacing of the flat serpentine coil 301 is set to 100mm, while the edge spacing is set to 60mm. To reduce the intrusion of external heat, the cabinet door 2 is made of double-layer hollow glass with good heat insulation performance. To ensure unobstructed vertical airflow in the cabinet, the shelf 6 is made of highly transparent wire mesh.

[0036] Specifically, vertical guide strips 5 with an arc radius of 10mm to 15mm provide a low-resistance channel for the rising of warm air. Combined with the completely fanless refrigeration system design, this fundamentally eliminates fan energy consumption and operating noise. The standard refrigeration unit 7, consisting of compressor 701, condenser 702, and capillary tube 703, provides cooling capacity for the sole direct-cooling evaporator 3. The smaller 60mm spacing at the edge of the flat-plate serpentine coil 301, compared to the larger 100mm spacing in the center, generates stronger cooling capacity at the evaporator edge, effectively compensating for the heat load generated due to proximity to the cabinet walls and doors 2, ensuring temperature uniformity throughout the refrigerated space. Double-layered hollow glass doors and wire mesh shelves 6 provide structural support for reducing cold loss and ensuring smooth airflow, respectively.

[0037] Working principle: When the refrigeration system is started, the compressor 701 in the refrigeration unit 7 compresses the refrigerant. After being condensed by the condenser 702, the refrigerant is throttled and depressurized through the capillary tube 703 and enters the single direct-cooling evaporator 3 located in the middle of the rear wall of the cabinet 1. The refrigerant evaporates and absorbs heat in the flat serpentine coil 301 of the direct-cooling evaporator 3, causing its surface temperature to drop rapidly and be maintained at -5℃ to 0℃.

[0038] As the surface air temperature decreases and density increases due to the direct-cooling evaporator 3, the resulting cold air naturally sinks under gravity. The inclined guide plate 4 at the lower end of the direct-cooling evaporator 3 directs this sinking cold air to the bottom and front areas of the cabinet 1. The cold air then permeates and diffuses between the merchandise layers through the permeable structure of the grid shelving 6. Simultaneously, the warmer air inside the cabinet 1, either pre-existing or after heat exchange with the merchandise, rises naturally due to its lower density and is eventually guided to the return channel between the direct-cooling evaporator 3 and the rear wall of the cabinet 1, returning to the surface of the direct-cooling evaporator 3 for further cooling. This cooling and heating process continues, creating a stable and continuous natural convection circulation within the cabinet. During this process, the vertical guide strips 5 on both inner walls help to organize and disperse the lateral airflow, while the inclined guide plates 4 at the top and bottom macroscopically guide the overall circulation path. Together, they ensure that the cold air is evenly distributed to every corner of the cabinet, ultimately cooling the entire interior of the cabinet 1.

[0039] Finally, it should be noted that the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. Although the present utility model has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A low-power merchandise display cabinet with a single evaporator, characterized in that, The cabinet (1), cabinet door (2) and refrigeration system consisting of refrigeration unit (7) are characterized in that: a single, single-unit direct-cooling evaporator (3) is centrally located in the middle of the inner rear wall of the cabinet (1), and an airflow return channel is formed between the direct-cooling evaporator (3) and the rear wall of the cabinet (1); inclined guide plates (4) are respectively provided at the upper and lower ends of the direct-cooling evaporator (3), and multiple vertical guide strips (5) are provided on the inner walls of both sides of the cabinet (1); and the shelf (6) provided inside the cabinet (1) is a grid structure that allows airflow to pass through.

2. The low-power merchandise display cabinet with a single evaporator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The direct-cooling evaporator (3) has a flat plate structure and the internal refrigeration pipeline is a flat plate serpentine coil (301). The coil spacing of the flat plate serpentine coil (301) decreases from the central area of ​​the evaporator to the two side edge areas.

3. The low-power merchandise display cabinet with a single evaporator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The distance between the direct cooling evaporator (3) and the rear wall of the cabinet (1) is 50mm to 80mm; the upper inclined guide plate (4) is inclined toward the top of the cabinet (1), and the lower inclined guide plate (4) is inclined toward the bottom of the cabinet (1), and the inclination angle is 30°.

4. The low-power merchandise display cabinet with a single evaporator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The vertical guide strip (5) is an arc-shaped cross-section structure that is evenly distributed along the height direction of the cabinet (1), and its radius of curvature is 10mm to 15mm.

5. A low-power merchandise display cabinet with a single evaporator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The refrigeration system does not contain any fan components for forced air convection. The refrigeration unit (7) is connected to the single direct-cooling evaporator (3) via a pipeline to achieve fanless natural convection refrigeration.

6. A low-power merchandise display cabinet with a single evaporator according to claim 5, characterized in that: The refrigeration unit (7) includes a compressor (701), a condenser (702) and a capillary tube (703). The condenser (702) is located on one side of the compressor (701), and the capillary tube (703) is connected to a single-unit direct-cooling evaporator (3).

7. A low-power merchandise display cabinet with a single evaporator according to claim 2, characterized in that: The center area spacing of the flat serpentine coil (301) is 100mm, and the edge area spacing is 60mm.

8. A low-power merchandise display cabinet with a single evaporator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cabinet door (2) is a double-layer hollow glass door; the shelf (6) is made of wire mesh.

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