Improved aerator for an air-cooled refrigeration cycle arrangement

Abstract

Aerator (1) for an air-cooled refrigeration cycle arrangement, comprising a structure (5) provided with a plurality of elements (5', 5'', 5''') realized as separate elements and connected together to house an air-cooled module (2), the structure (5) comprises some of the aforementioned elements (5', 5'', 5''') realized in different portions connected together.

Description

[0001] " IMPROVED AERATOR FOR AN AIR-COOLED REFRIGERATION CYCLE ARRANGEMENT"

[0002] Cross-Reference to Related Applications This Patent Application claims priority from Italian Patent Application No. 102024000025896 filed on November 18, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0003] Technical Field

[0004] The present invention concerns an aerator for an aircooled refrigeration cycle arrangement, in particular for air conditioning, food storage, process cooling machines and other machines intended for managing media temperature and / or humidity.

[0005] Background of the Invention

[0006] Air-cooled refrigeration cycle arrangements are widely known and used for managing media temperature and / or humidity into a closed space. However, such arrangements are known to have a high energetic consumption.

[0007] Such high energetic consumption is a crucial parameter, especially for large plants such as industrial or commercial spaces which need to condition great flows of air or large process cooling installations.

[0008] An example of air-cooled refrigeration cycle arrangement is disclosed in WO2021 / 099955 Al.

[0009] In the aforementioned air-cooled refrigeration cycle arrangement at least an aerator is used to exchange an air flow with heat exchangers, e. g. the condenser and the subcooler. As known the aerator comprises a structure that houses the heat exchangers and allows the passage of air through these latter.

[0010] Such heat exchangers are realized as micro-channel air exchangers. However, such typology of heat exchanger is particularly expensive.

[0011] Other typologies of heat exchangers, such as fins and tube heat exchangers are less expensive. However, their thermodynamic performances are lower with respect to microchannels one.

[0012] Therefore, the need is felt to solve the aforementioned drawbacks linked to aerators for known air-cooled refrigeration cycle arrangements in order to reduce their costs while maintaining the same operational performances.

[0013] An aim of the present invention is to satisfy the above-mentioned needs in a cost effective and optimized way.

[0014] Summary of the Invention

[0015] The aforementioned aim is reached by an aerator and an air-cooled refrigeration cycle arrangement as claimed in the appended set of claims.

[0016] Brief Description Of Drawings

[0017] For a better understanding of the present invention, a preferred embodiment is described in the following, by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

[0018] • Figure 1 is a perspective view of an aerator according to the present invention;

[0019] • Figure 2 is a perspective view of a support structure of the aerator according to the invention;

[0020] • Figure 3 is a lateral view of the support structure of figure 2; and

[0021] • Figure 4 is a schematic representation of the operation of one of the heat exchangers of the aerator according to the invention.

[0022] Detailed Description of the Invention Figure 1 shows an aerator 1 according to the invention configured to support at least an air-cooled module 2 as described in the following and making part of an air-cooled refrigeration cycle arrangement, not shown and described in its entirety for sake of brevity.

[0023] In synthesis, and as known, the air-cooled refrigeration cycle arrangement comprises compressor means, evaporator means, valve means and the below described condenser and subcooler as disclosed in WO2021 / 099955 Al, the content of which is incorporated therein by reference.

[0024] According to the non-limiting shown embodiment, the aerator 1 is of V-shaped typology, i. e. comprises a first, left, support side 3a and a second, right support side 3bopposite one another with respect to a first, vertical, axis A and preferably converging to this latter. Accordingly, left and right support sides 3a, 3b are spaced along a transversal axis B direction.

[0025] The first and second sides 3a, 3b are each configured to house an air-cooled module 2. An air-cooled module 2 comprises at least a heat exchanger, in the disclosed example two heat exchangers 2', 2' ’. In particular, these heat exchangers 2’, 2’ ’ are tube and fins heat exchangers and are respectively a subcooler and a condenser, as detailed below.

[0026] The aerator 1 further comprises a top plate 3c provided with ventilation means 4, e. g. at least an electric actuated fan. On the bottom the aerator 1 may be closes by a bottom wall or, as in the present case, the left and right support side 3a, 3b close one faced one to the other at their lower extremity, i. e. spaced along transversal axis B.

[0027] On a longitudinal direction, i. e. along a second, longitudinal, axis C perpendicular to vertical and transversal axes A, B the aerator comprises axial plates 3d configured to close a space (not shown). Therefore, such space results delimited with respect to environment by support sides 3a, 3b, top place 3c and axial plates 3d.

[0028] Accordingly, as shown, inlet air F' is sucked into space delimited by support structure 3 through first and second heat exchangers 2 ’, 2’ ’ and then outlet air F' ’ is blown by ventilation means 4.

[0029] In particular, the aerator 1 comprises a support structure 5, shown in figures 2 and 3, allowing the mounting of the aforementioned first and second heat exchangers 2', 2' ' as left and right support sides 3a, 3b and of axial plates 3d.

[0030] The support structure 5 essentially comprises a plurality of elements 5', 5' ’, 5' ’ ’ connected together and configured to define anchoring points for the aforementioned heat exchangers 2’, 2’ ’, top plate 3c and axial plates 3d.

[0031] In disclosed embodiment, elements 5', 5' ’, 5' ’ ’ are realized as separate elements and connected together via reversible mechanical connection, such as rivets.

[0032] In further details, elements 5', 5' ’, 5' ’ ’ are realized as metal pressed plates, in detail they have therefore a thickness that is lower, i. e. at least one magnitude lower, with respect to the other two direction extensions.

[0033] In particular, the support structure 5 comprises a pair of terminal plates 5' opposite one with respect to the other along the vertical axis A and a pair of axial plates 5' ’ connected to longitudinal extremities of terminal plates 5' and opposite one with respect to the other along longitudinal axis C.

[0034] According to the shown embodiment, the support structure 5 further comprises at least an intermediate plate 5' ' ' interposed along longitudinal axis C between the terminal plates 5'. In detail, such intermediate plate 5' ' ' is spaced with respect to axial plates 5' ' and in particular divides the space delimited by support structure 5 into equal parts along longitudinal axis C.

[0035] In the shown embodiment, a pair of intermediate plates 5' ' ' are present, dividing the above-mentioned space in three equal portions.

[0036] Referring to figure 3, each axial plate 5' ' (and if present, similarly, intermediate plate 5' ’ ’ ) comprises a pair of portions 6', 6' ’ realized as separate elements and connected together by terminal flanges 5a, 5b.

[0037] In detail, the portions 6', 6' ’ extends along vertical axis A and the terminal flanges 5a, 5b are configured to connect portions 6', 6' ’ at their terminal edges on vertical axis A.

[0038] In particular, 6', 6' ’ each define a plurality of holes 7, 8 configured to allow passage of fluid through, respectively, the first and second heat exchangers 2’, 2’ ’ of the air-cooled module 2.

[0039] Preferably, the first portion 6' defines a first plurality of hole 7, in particular, aligned along the vertical axis A.

[0040] Advantageously the second portion 6' ’ defines a second plurality of holes 8, in particular, aligned in a plurality of lines along vertical axis A. In further details, such lines are parallel one with respect to the other along axis A.

[0041] Preferably, the lines of holes 8 of the second portions 6' ' are staggered vertically one with respect to the other, in particular a first line is at a first height, the second line is at a second height, a third line is at the first line and the fourth line is at the second height.

[0042] Preferably, the line of holes 7 of the first portion 6' is staggered vertically with respect to the first line of holes 8, i. e. is at the second height.

[0043] It is noticed that the first and second portions 6', 6' ’ are spaced along transversal axis B, i. e. it is present a space 9 running along vertical axis A and transversal axis B separating the entire extension of first and second portions 6', 6' ' except for terminal flanges 5a, 5b.

[0044] Coming back to heat exchangers 2', 2' ’, the first heat exchanger 2’ is a subcooler and supported solely by the first portion 6' while the second heat exchanger 2’ ’ is a condenser and supported solely by the second portion 6' ’.

[0045] The condenser 2’ ’ has an inlet 11a configured to allow refrigerant fluid in gaseous hot state to flow therein and an outlet 11b configured to allow the refrigerant fluid in condensed stage to flow out, similarly, the subcooler 2’ has an inlet 12a has an inlet 12a configured to allow refrigerant fluid in condensed state to flow therein and an outlet 12b configured to allow the refrigerant fluid in subcooled condensed stage to flow out.

[0046] In detail, the inlets 11a, 12a and the outlets 12a, 12b are realized on the same side of the air-cooled module 2 along vertical axis A.

[0047] Advantageously, the inlets 11a, 12a are placed in an upper portion of the air-cooled module 2 and the outlets 12a, 12b are placed in a lower portion of the air-cooled module 2.

[0048] Moreover, at least one between the first and second heat exchangers 2', 2' ' is vertically subdivided into two portions.

[0049] In the disclosed arrangement, only the first heat exchanger 2' is divided into an upper portion fed by a first collector 13' fluidly connected to inlets 12a and a lower portion feeding fluid to second collector 14' fluidly connected to outlet 12b.

[0050] Collectors 13', 14' are realized, consequently, on the same side of the air-cooled module 2, one underneath the other along vertical axis A.

[0051] On the opposite side, the air-cooled module 2 comprises an intermediate collector 15 configured to fluidly connect the aforementioned at least one heat exchanger 2', 2' ' divided into the two portions. Accordingly, in the disclosed embodiment, only the first heat exchanger 2', thereby allowing the fluid flowing in the first portion to flow to the second portion.

[0052] According to the above configuration the first heat exchangers 2' is a cross-flow heat exchanger, while second heat exchanger is a counter flow heat exchanger as shown in figured 4.

[0053] The operation of the above disclosed aerator 1 as disclosed above is the following.

[0054] During mechanical refrigeration, the air-cooled refrigeration cycle carries the refrigerant fluid according to the following thermodynamic operations:

[0055] • A compression thanks to compressor means wherein the gaseous refrigerant fluid passes to higher pressure superheated state thanks to work provided by compression means;

[0056] • A constant pressure (except for pressure losses) heat exchange thanks to condenser 2' ’, wherein the refrigerant fluid passes to superheated vapor to saturated liquid providing heat to the ambient air;

[0057] • A further heat exchange thanks to subcooler 2’ wherein the condensed fluid continues to decrease its temperature providing heat to the ambient air; and

[0058] • An isenthalpic wherein the condensed fluid decreases its pressure till reaching a pre-set temperature; and

[0059] • A constant temperature heat exchange (except for the pressure losses) wherein the fluid evaporates and superheats passing to vapor phase, thereby extracting heat from the media.

[0060] As shown in figure 4, the superheated vapor enters in inlet Ila, is distributed through the condenser 2' ’ and then flows in countercurrent with the air and flows out from outlet 11b. Then, fluid flows into inlet 12a and is distributed by the first collector 13' towards the upper portion of the subcooler 2’ and then flows opposite in the lower portion thereof thanks to the passage in intermediate collector 15 flowing out from outlet 12b. In view of the foregoing, the advantages of the proposed air-cooled refrigeration cycle arrangement 1 according to the invention are apparent.

[0061] Thanks to the proposed layout, it is possible to efficiently use tube and fins heat exchangers in substitution of micro-channels ones with reduced costs and similar thermal efficiency.

[0062] Moreover, the pressure drop is reduced and the fluid velocity is optimized, providing a good thermal exchange.

[0063] Such good thermal exchange is furthermore increased by the fact that the structure comprises two separated portions carrying the first and second heat exchangers. Indeed, in such manner, the thermal interference between subcooler and condenser is drastically reduced.

[0064] It is clear that modifications can be made to the described air arrangement apparatus 1 which do not extend beyond the scope of protection defined by the claims.

[0065] For instance, the air-cooled module 2 may comprise a variable number of heat exchangers that may be placed with respect to the structure 5 in a different manner, thereby leading to a different structure with respect to the disclosed V-shaped one.

[0066] Furthermore, even if a peculiar condenser-subcooler structure of the air-cooled refrigeration cycle arrangement is disclosed, clearly the proposed aerator may be used in different systems.

[0067] Furthermore, the number of lines of the heat exchangers as proposed may vary.

Claims

CLAIMS1. - Aerator ( 1 ) for an air-cooled refrigeration cycle arrangement, said aerator ( 1 ) comprising a structure (5) configured to define a first side (3a) and a second side (3b) opposite one to the other along a first axis (B), each side (3a, 3b) being configured to house an air-cooled module (2 ),said structure (5) being configured to support at least one plate (3c, 3d) configured to delimit a space together with said first and second sides (3a, 3b), wherein said at least one plate (3c, 3d) being configured to carry ventilation means (4 ) configured to suck air from said space through said air-cooled module (2 ) and flow such air towards the environment,wherein said structure (5) comprises a plurality of elements (5', 5' ’, 5' ’ ’ ) realized as separate elements and connected together to house said air-cooled module (2 ), said structure (5) comprises a pair of terminal plates (5' ) opposite along a second axis (A) perpendicular to said first axis (B) and a pair of axial plates (5'') opposite along a third axis (C) perpendicular to both said first and second axis (B, A), each axial plate (5'') comprising a first and a second portions ( 6', 6' ’ ) realized as separate elements and connected only to terminal portion thereof along said second axis (A) direction.

2. - Aerator according to claim 1, wherein said first and second portions ( 6 ', 6 ' ’ ) are spaced by a space ( 9 ) along said first axis (B ) direction.

3. - Aerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said air cooler module ( 2 ) comprises at least a tube and fins heat exchanger ( 2 ', 2 ’ ’ ), said first and second portions ( 6 ', 6 ' ’ ) comprising a plurality of holes ( 7, 8 ) allowing the passage of said tube and fins heat exchangers ( 2 ', 2 ' ' ).

4. - Aerator according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said air-cooled module ( 2 ) comprises a subcooler ( 2 ' ) and a condenser ( 2 ' ' ) respectively carried by said first portion ( 6 ' ) and said second portion ( 6'' ), wherein said subcooler ( 2 ' ) is fluidly downstream to said condenser ( 2 ' ' ) and faced to the environment.

5. - Aerator according to claims 3 or 4, wherein said first portion ( 6 ' ) defines a first line of holes ( 7 ) for said subcooler ( 2 ' ) and said second portion ( 6 ' ' ) defines a plurality of lines of holes ( 8 ) for said condenser ( 2 ' ' ).

6. - Aerator according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said elements ( 5 ', 5 ' ', 5 ' ' ' ) comprise metal pressed plates.

7. - Aerator according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said elements ( 5 ', 5 ' ', 5 ' ' ' ) are connected via reversible mechanical connection means.

8. - Aerator according to any of the preceding claims,wherein said support structure ( 5 ) comprises at least an intermediate portion ( 5 ' ' ' ) interposed along said third axis ( C ) between said axial plates ( 5 ' ), said intermediate portion ( 5 ' ' ' ) comprising a first and a second portions ( 6 ', 6 ' ’ ) reali zed as separate elements as claimed for axial plates in any of claims 2 to 5.

9. - Aerator according to claim 4, wherein at least one between said heat exchangers ( 2 ', 2 ' ' ) is divided into an upper and a lower portions along said second axis (A) direction, said aerator comprising an inlet ( 12a ) and an outlet ( 12b ) for said subcooler ( 2 ' ) and an inlet ( 11a ) and an outlet ( 11b ) for said condenser ( 2'' ) said inlets ( 11a, 12a ) being fluidly connected to said upper portions and said outlets ( 11b, 12b ) being fluidly connected to said lower portions.

10. - Aerator according to claim 9, wherein said inlets ( 11a, 12a ) and said outlets ( 11b, 12b ) are realized on the same side along said third axis ( C ) direction of said structure ( 5 ).

11. - Aerator according to any of claims 9 or 10, further comprising an intermediate collector ( 15 ) fluidly connecting said upper and lower portions of at least one between said heat exchangers ( 2 ', 2 ' ' ).

12. - Aerator according to claim 11 and 10, wherein said intermediate collector ( 15 ) is reali zed on opposite side tosaid inlets ( 11a, 12a) and said outlets ( 11b, 12b) along said third axis (C) direction of said structure (5).

13. - Aerator according to any of claims 9 to 12, comprising at least a pair of collectors ( 13', 14' ) each between such collectors ( 13', 14' ) being configured to fluidly connect said inlet ( 11a, 12a) and said outlets ( 11b, 12b) to said upper and lower portions of said at least one between said heat exchangers (2', 2’ ’ ).

14. - Aerator according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said first and second sides (3a, 3b) are converging in a V-shaped manner along said first axis (A).

15. - Air-cooled refrigeration cycle arrangement comprising a compressor means configured to increase the pressure of a refrigerant fluid, expansion means configured to decrease the pressure of said refrigerant fluid and an evaporator configured to allow the passage of phase from liquid to gaseous state of said refrigerant fluid, said aircooled refrigeration cycle apparatus comprising an aerator ( 1 ) according to any of the preceding claims.

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