Straight cooling tube and water-cooling device for atmospheric water generator

Abstract

To provide a water-cooling device for an atmospheric water generator capable of realizing energy savings.SOLUTION: A straight cooling tube includes an inner tube and an outer tube. The outer tube is hollow inside, and has a water supply joint and a water discharge joint. The water supply joint and the water discharge joint communicate with the inside of the outer tube to allow water to pass through the tube. The inner tube is built into the outer tube. The inner tube has a refrigerant supply joint and a refrigerant discharge joint. The refrigerant supply joint and the refrigerant discharge joint both communicate with the inner tube and extend from the outer tube to allow a refrigerant to flow in from the refrigerant supply joint and flow out from the refrigerant discharge joint, thereby cooling water flowing through the outer tube. An outer peripheral wall of the inner tube is provided with a heat radiation fin. The heat radiation fin is adapted to come into contact with a water flow in the outer tube.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of atmospheric water generation, and in particular, to a straight cooling tube and a water cooling device of an atmospheric water generator.

Background Art

[0002] An atmospheric water generator forms a water supply source for the atmospheric water generator by causing a liquid refrigerant to undergo a phase change into a gas in an evaporator tube based on the refrigerant compression, condensation, and evaporation cooling principles of a compressor, absorbing heat, condensing water from water vapor in the air, and recovering the water.

[0003] In a conventional atmospheric water generator, generally, a cold water tank is installed. The cold water tank is water-cooled by an independent cooling device including a compressor and a condenser. In order to continuously maintain the low temperature of the cold water, the water in the cold water tank is continuously cooled, resulting in high energy consumption, many components, and high costs.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The present invention aims to solve at least to some extent one of the technical problems in the above technology. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a water cooling device for an atmospheric water generator that can perform cooling as needed by a water cooling device composed of a straight cooling tube and can achieve energy saving.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] To achieve the above object, an embodiment of the present invention discloses a water cooling device for an atmospheric water generator. The water cooling device of the atmospheric water generator includes a straight cooling tube. The straight cooling tube has an inner tube (water container) and an outer tube (i.e., a cooling evaporation tube). Both ends of the outer tube are a water supply joint and a drainage joint, and water to be cooled flows in from one end and out from the other end. The outer wall of the inner tube is immersed in the water inside the outer tube. The inner tube is installed inside the outer tube. Both ends of the inner tube are the refrigerant supply joint and the refrigerant discharge joint of the inner tube. Refrigerant flows in from one end of the inner tube, evaporates in the inner tube to absorb heat, and cools the water flowing through the outer tube. Radiating fins are provided on the outer peripheral wall of the inner tube. The radiating fins are suitable for contact with the water flow inside the outer tube. By doing so, the contact area between the inner tube and water can be increased to improve the cooling efficiency.

[0006] Preferably, the radiating fins are formed in an Archimedes spiral shape and wound around the outer peripheral wall of the inner tube. By doing so, the contact area between the inner tube and water can be increased to further improve the cooling efficiency.

[0007] Preferably, the overall length and structure of the straight cooling tube are determined by the desired cooling performance, cooling capacity, and mounting form. In order to improve the cooling performance of the straight cooling tube and make the installation compact, a structure of a plurality of tube bodies in multiple stages is used as the straight cooling tube. The tube bodies in multiple stages are parallel to each other. Adjacent tube bodies are communicated by a detour portion.

[0008] Preferably, it further includes a water storage tank, a cold water pump, a cold water circulation valve, and a cold water drain valve. The straight cooling tube is installed between the cold water pump, the cold water drain valve, and the cold water circulation valve. When it is necessary to discharge cold water for energy saving, the straight cooling tube operates, the cold water pump sucks the water in the water storage tank through the drain valve of the water storage tank into the straight cooling tube, quickly lowers the water temperature to the required temperature (for example, 3 - 4 °C) in the straight cooling tube, and discharges the cold water from the cold water drain valve.

[0009] The cold water pump, the straight cooling tube, and the cold water circulation valve are used to realize the circulation of cold water. In the standby state or when cold water is not used externally, the straight cooling tube operates intermittently. When the cold water circulates through the cold water circulation valve and returns to the cold water pump, the water in the straight cooling tube is ensured to be maintained at a temperature of 3-4 °C, and energy conservation is realized.

[0010] Furthermore, the atmospheric water generator includes a condenser and a compressor. The inner tube of the straight cooling tube communicates with the condenser and the compressor to circulate the refrigerant for cooling.

[0011] Specifically, the atmospheric water generator further includes a water generation evaporator, a water generation expansion valve, and an immediate cooling expansion valve. The discharge end of the condenser is connected to the water generation expansion valve and the immediate cooling expansion valve. The supply end of the condenser is connected to the compressor. The water generation expansion valve communicates with the water generation evaporator. The immediate cooling expansion valve communicates with the refrigerant supply joint of the inner tube. The water generation evaporator and the refrigerant discharge joint of the inner tube both communicate with the compressor. By doing so, the straight cooling tube and the water generation evaporator share one compressor and one condenser, and are respectively connected to the straight cooling tube and the water generation evaporator by two expansion valves (water generation expansion valve, immediate cold water expansion valve). According to the requirements of water generation and cold water, under the control of the control device, the water generation expansion valve and the immediate cooling expansion valve are automatically adjusted respectively to realize water generation by condensation and the water cooling function, reduce the components of the entire atmospheric water generation system, reduce the overall cost of the system, make the structure compact, minimize the volume of the equipment, have better practicability, and make each unit cooperate with each other to suppress energy consumption and reduce costs.

[0012] Regarding the additional aspects and merits of the present invention, some will be described later, and some will become clear from the following description or will become clear through the practice of the present invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1

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Figure 9

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. Examples of the above embodiments are shown in the drawings, where the same or similar reference numerals from first to last indicate the same or similar elements, or elements having the same or similar functions. Hereinafter, the embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are for explaining the present invention and should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0015] To better understand the above technical solution, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. Although the attached drawings show exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood that the present invention may be implemented in various forms without being limited by the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to enable a more complete understanding of the present invention and to fully convey the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art.

[0016] Hereinafter, in accordance with FIGS. 1 to 9, the water cooling device and the atmospheric water generation device of the atmospheric water generator according to the present invention will be described in detail.

[0017] <Atmospheric water generation device> Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the atmospheric water generation device 10 will be described. The atmospheric water generation device 10 includes a water generation evaporator 101, a condenser 102, and a compressor 103. The condenser 102 is connected to the water generation evaporator 101. The compressor 103 is connected to the water generation evaporator 101 and the condenser 102 to circulate the refrigerant for cooling.

[0018] In the atmospheric water generation device 10, during the operation process of the compressor 103 and the condenser 102, the refrigerant in the water generation evaporator 101 or the straight cooling tube 201 absorbs heat and then turns into a gas, is compressed by the compressor 103 to become a high-pressure and high-temperature gas, and is sent into the condenser 102 to be cooled into a refrigerant.

[0019] The refrigerant cooled by the condenser 102 is sent to the water generation evaporator 101 through the pipeline 30. An expansion valve 40 may be installed in the pipeline 30. By doing so, the refrigerant continuously performs a cooling effect in the water generation evaporator 101.

[0020] <Straight cooling tube> Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, the water cooling device 20 of the atmospheric water generator according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a straight cooling tube 201.

[0021] Specifically, the straight cooling tube 201 includes an inner tube 2011 and an outer tube 2012.

[0022] The outer tube 2012 is internally hollow and has a water supply joint 2013 and a drain joint 2014. The water supply joint 2013 and the drain joint 2014 communicate with the inside of the outer tube 2012 to allow water to pass through the outer tube 2012. That is, the outer tube 2012 is a water container, and both ends thereof are the water supply joint and the drain joint. The water to be cooled flows in from the water supply joint 2013 and flows out from the drain joint 2014.

[0023] The inner tube 2011 is built into the outer tube 2012 and has a refrigerant supply joint 2015 and a refrigerant discharge joint 2016. Both the refrigerant supply joint 2015 and the refrigerant discharge joint 2016 communicate with the inner tube 2011 and extend from the outer tube 2012. Thus, by allowing the refrigerant to flow in from the refrigerant supply joint 2015 and flow out from the refrigerant discharge joint 2016, the water flowing through the outer tube is cooled, and the outer wall of the inner tube 2011 is immersed in the water inside the outer tube 2012. That is, the inner tube 2011 is an immediate cooling evaporation tube, which is installed inside the outer tube 2012, and both ends thereof are the refrigerant supply joint and the discharge joint of the immediate cooling evaporation tube. The refrigerant is supplied from the refrigerant supply joint 2015, evaporates in the inner tube 2011 to absorb heat, and cools the water flowing through the outer tube 2012 by the side wall of the inner tube 2011.

[0024] In addition, heat dissipation fins 2017 are provided on the outer peripheral wall of the inner tube 2011. The heat dissipation fins 2017 are suitable for contact with the water flow inside the outer tube 2012. By doing so, the contact area between the inner tube 2011 and water can be increased, and the cooling efficiency can be improved.

[0025] Details of the structure of the heat dissipation fins 2017 are as follows. The heat dissipation fins 2017 are formed in an Archimedean spiral shape and are wound around the outer peripheral wall of the inner tube 2011. By doing so, the contact area between the inner tube 2011 and water can be increased, and the cooling efficiency can be further improved.

[0026] Furthermore, the heat dissipation fins 2017 are close to or in contact with the inner peripheral wall of the outer tube 2012 along both end faces in the width direction of the inner tube 2011. According to such a design, it can be ensured that the water in the outer tube 2012 sufficiently contacts the side walls of the heat dissipation fins 2017 and the inner tube 2011 to improve the cooling efficiency.

[0027] In this way, in the atmospheric water generator, by cooling water with this straight cooling tube 201, the water temperature can be instantaneously cooled to achieve a cooling effect, realizing the rapid cooling function of water, and suppressing energy consumption without continuously maintaining the low temperature of the cold water. Furthermore, by matching this straight cooling tube 201 with components such as a pump and a circulation valve, cooling can be performed as needed to achieve further energy savings.

[0028] The overall length and structure of the straight cooling tube 201 are determined by the desired cooling performance, cooling capacity, and mounting form. Specifically, in order to improve the cooling performance of the straight cooling tube 201 and make the installation compact, the straight cooling tube 201 has a structure of a plurality of tube bodies. The plurality of tube bodies are parallel to each other. Adjacent tube bodies are communicated by the detour part 2018. Note that in the detour part 2018, adjacent inner tubes 2011 are communicated by a U-shaped tube, and adjacent outer tubes 2012 are communicated by a square cavity body.

[0029] Furthermore, both the water supply joint 2013 and the drainage joint 2014 are installed vertically at a 90-degree included angle with the outer tube 2012. By doing so, the positions of the water supply joint 2013, the drainage joint 2014, the refrigerant supply joint 2015, and the refrigerant discharge joint 2016 can be rationally arranged on the outer tube 2012.

[0030] <Water cooling device> Referring to FIGS. 7 to 9, the water cooling device 20 further includes a water storage tank 202, a cold water pump 203, a cold water circulation valve, and a cold water drainage valve.

[0031] Specifically, the straight cooling tube 201 is installed between the cold water pump 203 and the cold water drainage valve and the cold water circulation valve. That is, the outer tube 2012 of the straight cooling tube 201 communicates with the cold water pump 203, the cold water circulation valve, and the cold water drainage valve. When it is necessary to discharge cold water for energy conservation, the straight cooling tube 201 operates, and the cold water pump 203 sucks the water in the water storage tank 202 into the straight cooling tube 201 through the drainage valve of the water storage tank, quickly reduces the water temperature to the required temperature (for example, 3 to 4°C) in the straight cooling tube 201, and then discharges the cold water from the cold water drainage valve.

[0032] The cold water pump realizes the circulation of cold water through the cold water pump 203, the straight cooling tube 201, and the cold water circulation valve. In the standby state or when cold water is not used externally, when the straight cooling tube 201 operates intermittently and the cold water circulates through the cold water circulation valve and returns to the cold water pump 203, it can ensure that the water in the straight cooling tube 201 is maintained at a temperature of 3 to 4°C, so that the straight cooling tube 201 does not need to operate constantly, realizing further energy conservation.

[0033] In addition, the inner tube 2011 of the straight cooling tube 201 communicates with the condenser 102 and the compressor 103 to circulate the refrigerant for cooling. That is, the refrigerant used in the inner tube 2011 of the straight cooling tube 201 of the water cooling device 20 is also compressed by the above-mentioned compressor 103 and then conveyed to the condenser 102. After being cooled, it circulates and is sent into the inner tube 2011 of the straight cooling tube 201. By doing so, the water production evaporator 101 and the straight cooling tube 201 can share the same set of compressor 103 and condenser 102. As a result, the components of the whole atmospheric water generator can be reduced, the cost of the whole system can be reduced, the energy consumption can be suppressed, the structure is compact, the volume of the equipment is minimized as much as possible, and the practicality is more excellent.

[0034] The refrigerant cooled by the condenser 102 can be sent into the straight cooling tube 201 through the pipeline 30. An expansion valve 40 may be installed in the pipeline 30. By doing so, the refrigerant can continuously realize the cooling effect in the straight cooling tube 201.

[0035] That is, a water production expansion valve and an immediate cooling expansion valve are installed in the discharge pipeline of the condenser 102. The water production expansion valve is connected to the condenser 102 and the water production evaporator 101. The immediate cooling expansion valve is connected to the refrigerant supply joint 2015 of the straight cooling tube 201 and the condenser 102. Therefore, the refrigerants used in the water production evaporator 101 and the straight cooling tube 201 are both compressed by the compressor 103, conveyed to the condenser 102, cooled, and then circulated and sent into the water production expansion valve and the immediate cooling expansion valve. According to the requirements of the water production amount and the cold water temperature, the water production expansion valve and the immediate cooling expansion valve are automatically adjusted respectively. Furthermore, the evaporation cooling devices provided in the water production evaporator 101 and the straight cooling tube 201 can facilitate the automatic control of the water production amount and the cold water temperature.

[0036] In addition, the water production amount and temperature of the atmospheric water generator may be controlled by a control device (a programmable controller of the prior art is used as the control device).

[0037] In the description of the present invention, terms indicating orientation or positional relationship such as "center", "vertical direction", "horizontal direction", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", etc. are not intended to indicate or imply a specific orientation, configuration and operation in a specific orientation of the indicated device or member, but are only for facilitating the description of the present invention based on the illustrated orientation or positional relationship or for simplifying the description of the present invention, and do not indicate or imply that the represented device or element must have a specific orientation, structure and operation in a specific orientation. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited thereby.

[0038] Also, the terms "first" and "second" are merely for the purpose of description without indicating or implying relative importance or suggesting the number of technical features shown. Therefore, the features limited by "first" and "second" can clearly or implicitly include at least one of these features. In the description of the present invention, the meaning of "plurality" is two or more unless specifically limited is clear.

[0039] In the present invention, terms such as "mounting", "connecting", "connecting", "fixing", etc. should be understood broadly unless there are clear regulations or limitations. For example, they may be fixedly connected, detachably connected, integrally formed, mechanically connected, electrically connected, directly connected, indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, or the internal communication of two members or the interaction relationship between two members. Those skilled in the art can understand the meaning of the above terms of the present invention according to specific situations.

[0040] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly defined or limited, when the first feature is "above" or "below" the second feature, the first feature may be in direct contact with the second feature, or the first feature may be in indirect contact with the second feature through another medium therebetween without direct contact with the second feature. Further, when the first feature is "above", "upper" or "upper surface" of the second feature, the first feature may be directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or may merely indicate that the horizontal height of the first feature is higher than the height of the second feature. When the first feature is "below", "lower" or "lower surface" of the second feature, the first feature may be directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or may merely indicate that the horizontal height of the first feature is lower than the height of the second feature.

[0041] In the description of this specification, reference to terms such as "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "example", "specific example", or "some examples" means that the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with the embodiments or examples are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. It should not be understood that the exemplary expressions of the above terms in this specification must be directed to the same embodiment or example. Further, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in a suitable form in any one or more embodiments or examples. Further, those skilled in the art can join and combine the different embodiments or examples described in this specification.

[0042] As described above and shown, the embodiments of the present invention are illustrative and should not be construed as limitations on the present invention, and those skilled in the art can change, modify, substitute, and transform the above examples within the scope of the present invention.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0043] 10 Atmospheric water generation device 101 Water generation evaporator 102 Condenser 103 Compressor 20 Water cooling device 201 Straight cooling tube 2011 Inner tube 2012 Outer Tube 2013 Water Supply Joint 2014 Drainage Joint 2015 Refrigerant Supply Joint 2016 Refrigerant Discharge Joint 2017 Heat Dissipation Fin 2018 Detour Section 202 Water Storage Tank 203 Cold Water Pump 30 Pipeline 40 Expansion Valve

Claims

1. A water cooling device for an atmospheric water generator, including a straight cooling tube, wherein the straight cooling tube has an inner tube and an outer tube, the outer tube is internally hollow and has a water supply joint and a drain joint, the water supply joint and the drain joint communicate inside the outer tube to allow water to pass through the outer tube, the inner tube is built into the outer tube, the inner tube has a refrigerant supply joint and a refrigerant discharge joint, both the refrigerant supply joint and the refrigerant discharge joint communicate with the inner tube and extend from the outer tube, so that refrigerant flows in from the refrigerant supply joint and flows out from the refrigerant discharge joint, cooling the water flowing through the outer tube, radiating fins are provided on the outer peripheral wall of the inner tube, the radiating fins are suitable for contact with the water flow inside the outer tube, and the water cooling device for an atmospheric water generator is characterized in that.

2. The radiating fins are formed in an Archimedes spiral shape and wound around the outer peripheral wall of the inner tube, and the water cooling device for an atmospheric water generator according to Claim 1 is characterized in that.

3. The radiating fins are close to or in contact with the inner peripheral wall of the outer tube along both end faces in the width direction of the inner tube, and the water cooling device for an atmospheric water generator according to Claim 2 is characterized in that.

4. The straight cooling tube is a multi-stage tube body, the multi-stage tube bodies are parallel to each other, adjacent tube bodies are communicated by a detour portion, and the water cooling device for an atmospheric water generator according to Claim 1 is characterized in that.

5. Both the water supply joint and the drain joint are vertically installed at a 90-degree included angle with the outer tube, and the water cooling device for an atmospheric water generator according to Claim 1 is characterized in that.

6. further including a water storage tank, a cold water pump, a cold water circulation valve and a cold water drain valve, the outer tube of the straight cooling tube communicates with the cold water pump, the cold water circulation valve and the cold water drain valve, the cold water pump communicates with the water storage tank, when cold water discharge is required, the cold water pump sucks the water in the water storage tank into the straight cooling tube to form cold water, and the cold water is discharged from the cold water drain valve. The water cooling device of the atmospheric water generator according to claim 1, wherein in the standby state, the straight cooling tube operates intermittently, and cold water is circulated by the cold water circulation valve and refluxed to the cold water pump.

7. The atmospheric water generator includes a condenser and a compressor. The inner tube of the straight cooling tube communicates with the condenser and the compressor, and circulates a refrigerant for cooling. The water cooling device of the atmospheric water generator according to claim 6 is characterized in that.

8. The atmospheric water generator further includes a water generation evaporator, a water generation expansion valve, and an immediate cooling expansion valve. The discharge end of the condenser is connected to the water generation expansion valve and the immediate cooling expansion valve. The supply end of the condenser is connected to the compressor. The water generation expansion valve communicates with the water generation evaporator. The immediate cooling expansion valve communicates with the refrigerant supply joint of the inner tube. The water generation evaporator and the refrigerant discharge joint of the inner tube both communicate with the compressor. The water cooling device of the atmospheric water generator according to claim 7 is characterized in that.

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