Float-Sealed Conduit Trap for Dry Refrigeration Drain Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigeration system drain lines face challenges in preventing sewer gas back-up during dry weather or under-use, as traditional traps evaporate, allowing gases to enter occupied spaces, and there is a need for efficient condensation water recovery in water-restricted areas.
Innovation Solution
A conduit trap with a hollow body and a float-based sealing mechanism that forms a gas barrier in the absence of condensation flow, allowing for condensation collection and preventing sewer gas back-up, featuring a fluid path with a vertical upper conduit and a lower conduit connected to the drainage line, including a condensation collection outlet and a waste outlet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional P or S trap is used in refrigeration drain lines, then sewer gas can be blocked during normal operation, but the trap fluid evaporates during dry weather or under-use, allowing sewer gas to back up into occupied spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit trap uses the refrigeration system's own condensation water flow to automatically maintain the fluid barrier and prevent sewer gas backup, eliminating the need for manual refilling. The system serves itself by using its operational byproduct (condensate) to maintain the trap function.
Solution Approach 2:
The trap is pre-filled with fluid during installation, creating an initial barrier that prevents sewer gas until the system operates. The design ensures the barrier is established before use, and the system's first condensation cycles replenish the fluid automatically.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the refrigeration system is turned off or used intermittently, then energy is saved, but the trap fluid evaporates, permitting sewer gas back-up
Solution Approach 1:
The trap automatically replenishes its fluid barrier using condensation water generated during system operation, requiring no external intervention or additional energy input. The system maintains itself through its normal operational cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid barrier in the trap is continuously maintained through automatic replenishment by condensation water during system operation, ensuring uninterrupted sewer gas prevention even after periods of system inactivity.
3Reliability
If a water supply line is installed to refill the trap, then the trap can be maintained during dry periods, but the system becomes more complex and water sources are required at drain locations
Solution Approach 1:
The condensation water collection and redirection system serves multiple functions: it provides trap replenishment, prevents sewer gas backup, and recovers potable water, all through a single integrated mechanism without requiring separate water supply infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own condensation water output to refill the trap, making the trap self-sustaining without requiring external water supply lines or additional infrastructure at the drain location.
4Device complexity
If condensation is drained directly to sewer, then the system is simple, but pure water resources are wasted and sewage systems are burdened
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of discarding condensation water directly to the sewer, the system recovers the pure water by redirecting it through the conduit trap to a collection container, transforming waste into a recoverable resource.
Solution Approach 2:
The conduit trap acts as an intermediary device between the evaporator coil drain and the sewer system, capturing and redirecting condensation water to a collection container while maintaining sewer gas prevention functionality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively prevents sewer gas back-up and allows for the recovery of pure water condensation, reducing the burden on sewage systems and conserving water resources by maintaining a fluid barrier and facilitating condensation collection.
Implementation Method 1
a float (50) disposed within the hollow body that forms a barrier to back-up of sewer gas when there is no condensation flowing along the fluid path in the conduit trap
Implementation Method 2
the float is displaced upwardly by condensation fluid flowing along the fluid path
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a conduit trap, which can also operate as condensation recovery device when installed in a refrigeration system drainage line. The conduit trap is generally a hollow body defining a fluid path that includes an upper conduit 20, having a waste outlet 30 and optionally a condensation collection outlet 32. A lower conduit 22 extends downwardly from the upper conduit and has a narrowing that creates an inner sealing region for receiving a sealing means, such as float 50. Condensation can be directed from the refrigeration system through the conduit trap for recovery or for disposal without exposing the refrigeration drainage line and occupied space in which the refrigeration unit is located to sewer gasses even in dry weather when a gravity based, fluid-filled trap would fail.