초록 ▼

An air conditioning apparatus for isolated interior spaces of structures includes a hollow tubular-shaped enclosure which has a longitudinally elongated box-like shape. The enclosure has a transversely disposed inlet opening, a transversely disposed outlet opening, and a fan for drawing air through

An air conditioning apparatus for isolated interior spaces of structures includes a hollow tubular-shaped enclosure which has a longitudinally elongated box-like shape. The enclosure has a transversely disposed inlet opening, a transversely disposed outlet opening, and a fan for drawing air through the enclosure from the inlet side, the air being expelled from an outlet port in the outlet opening of the enclosure. The enclosure also includes an air filter, at least one evaporator connected to a refrigerant compressor and refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger/condenser, and an evaporative cooler assembly including a plurality of nozzles for converting water supplied under pressure to the nozzles to fine spray. Water supplied to and warmed by thermal contact with pressurized refrigerant in the water heat exchanger, as well as excess water spray which does not evaporate, is discharged to a location exterior to the enclosed space, such as a sewer drain, thus dumping heat energy to the exterior location.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An air conditioning apparatus for controlling properties of air in an isolated space, said apparatus comprising;A. a cooling enclosure having an inlet side, an interior, and an outlet side,B. a fan for moving air from said inlet side through said interior to said outlet side of said enclosure,C.

1. An air conditioning apparatus for controlling properties of air in an isolated space, said apparatus comprising;A. a cooling enclosure having an inlet side, an interior, and an outlet side,B. a fan for moving air from said inlet side through said interior to said outlet side of said enclosure,C. an evaporative cooler within said interior of said enclosure,D. at least one spray nozzle connected to a water inlet conduit for supplying water to said evaporative cooler,E. a drip tray for collecting water issuing from said evaporative cooler which does not evaporate,F. a water outlet conduit for discharging said collected water to a location exterior to said isolated space, andG. at least a first refrigeration apparatus for refrigerating air flowing through said enclosure, said first refrigeration apparatus including;I. a refrigerant compressor charged with a refrigerant,II. at least a first refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger/condenser which includes a housing that has a pressurized refrigerant inlet coupling connected by a refrigerant input line to a pressurized outlet port of said compressor, a length of coiled tubing within a chamber inside said housing coupled at a first end to said refrigerant inlet coupling and at a second end thereof to a refrigerant outlet coupling, a water inlet port and a water outlet port which both communicate with said housing chamber, a water source inlet tube connected to said water inlet port, and a water discharge tube connected to said water outlet port, andIII. a first refrigerant evaporator located within said cooling enclosure spaced longitudinally apart from said evaporative cooler, said evaporator having a serpentinely curved refrigerant flow path having an evaporator inlet port coupled through a pressurized refrigerant supply line to said outlet coupling of said condenser, said evaporator flow path having a larger flow cross section than that of said pressurized refrigerant supply line, and an evaporator outlet port coupled through a low pressure outlet suction line to a suction inlet port of said compressor. 2 .The air conditioning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said water outlet conduit is further described as connecting to a drain location exterior to said isolated space. 3. The air conditioning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first refrigerant evaporator is located between said inlet side of said enclosure and said evaporative cooler. 4. The air conditioning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first refrigerant evaporator is located between said outlet side of said enclosure and said evaporative cooler. 5. The air conditioning apparatus of claim 1 further including a second refrigeration apparatus for refrigerating air flowing through said enclosure, said second refrigeration apparatus including a second evaporator located within said enclosure spaced longitudinally apart from said evaporative cooler on a side thereof opposite that of said first evaporator. 6. The air conditioning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing of said refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger is further described as including a tank having an enclosed hollow interior space comprising said chamber which communicates with said water inlet port and said outlet port, and fluid pressure-tight pass-through fittings which communicate with said pressurized refrigerant input and output couplings and said length of coiled tubing within said housing. 7. The air conditioning apparatus of claim 6 wherein said water inlet port and said water outlet port of said refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger are further defined as being disposed through a bulkhead of said tank. 8. The air conditioning apparatus of claim 7 wherein said refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger is further defined as having a distribution tube disposed longitudinally within said tank, said distribution tube having a lower transverse open end adjacent to an upper inner surface of said lower base wall of said tank, and an inlet opening coupled in fluid communication with one of said water inlet and outlet ports. 9. The air conditioning apparatus of claim 8 wherein said coiled tubing of said pressurized refrigerant line is further defined as being helically disposed around said distribution tube. 10. The air conditioning apparatus of claim 9 wherein said water inlet and outlet ports of said heat exchanger are further described as being located near an upper wall surface of said upper bulkhead of said tank. 11. The air conditioning apparatus of claim 1 further including a second refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger/condenser which has a water outlet port and a water inlet port coupled to said water outlet port of said first refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger/condenser, a pressurized refrigerant input coupling connected by a pressurized refrigerant input line to a compressor-side source of pressurized refrigerant and an outlet refrigerant coupling connected by an outlet line to an evaporator-side destination for pressurized refrigerant. 12. The air conditioner apparatus of claim 11 further including a third refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger which has a water outlet port and water inlet port coupled to said water outlet port of said second refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger/condenser, a pressurized refrigerant input coupling connected by a pressurized input line to a compressor-side source of pressurized refrigerant and an outlet refrigerant coupling connected by an outlet line to an evaporator-side destination for pressurized refrigerant. 13. The air conditioning apparatus of claim 12 further including a first, inlet tee fitting having an inlet bore connected to said compressor-side source of pressurized refrigerant, a first outlet bore connected to said refrigerant inlet coupling of said second heat exchanger, a second outlet bore connected to said refrigerant inlet coupling of said third heat exchanger, a second, outlet tee fitting having a first inlet bore connected to said refrigerant outlet coupling of said second heat exchanger, a second inlet bore connected to said refrigerant outlet coupling of said third heat exchanger, and an outlet bore connected to said refrigerant inlet coupling of said first heat exchanger. 14. The air conditioning apparatus of claim 13 wherein said water inlet port of said first heat exchanger is connected to a source of water, said water outlet port of said first heat exchanger is connected to said water inlet port of said second heat exchanger, said water outlet port of said second heat exchanger is connected to said water inlet port of said third heat exchanger, and said water outlet port of said third heat exchanger is connected to a water discharge location. 15. An air conditioning apparatus for controlling properties of air in an isolated space, said apparatus comprising;a. a cooling enclosure having an inlet side, an interior, and an outlet side,b. a fan for moving air from said inlet side through said interior to said outlet side of said enclosure,c. at least a first refrigerant apparatus for refrigerating and/or dehumidifying air flowing said enclosure, said first refrigeration apparatus including,(I) a refrigerant compressor charged with a refrigerant,(ii) at least a first refrigerator-to-water heat exchanger/condenser which includes a housing that has a pressurized refrigerant input coupling connected by a refrigerant input line to a pressurized outlet port of said compressor, a length of coiled tubing within a chamber inside said housing coupled at a first end to said refrigerant inlet coupling and at a second end thereof to a refrigerant outlet coupling, a water inlet port and a water outlet port which both communicate with said housing chamber, a water inlet conduit connected to said water inlet port and a water outlet conduit connected to said water outlet port, and(iii) a first refrigerant evaporator located within said cooling enclosure, said evaporator having a serpentinely curved refrigerant-flow path having an inlet port coupled through a pressurized refrigerant supply line to said outlet coupling of said condenser, said evaporator flow path having a larger flow cross section than that of said pressurized refrigerant supply line, and an outlet port coupled through a low pressure outlet suction line to a suction inlet port of said compressor. 16. The air conditioning apparatus of claim 15 wherein said water outlet conduit is further described as connecting to a drain location exterior to said isolated space. 17. The air conditioning apparatus of claim 15 wherein said housing of said refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger is further described as including a tank having an enclosed hollow interior space comprising said chamber which communicates with said water inlet port and said outlet port, and fluid pressure-tight pass-through fittings which communicate with said pressurized refrigerant input and output couplings and said length of coiled tubing within said housing. 18. The air conditioning apparatus of claim 17 wherein said water inlet port and said water outlet port of said refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger are further defined as being disposed through a bulkhead of said tank. 19. The air conditioning apparatus of claim 18 wherein said refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger is further defined as having a distribution tube disposed longitudinally within said tank, said distribution tube having a lower transverse end adjacent to an upper inner surface of said lower base wall of said tank, and an inlet opening coupled in fluid communication with one of said water inlet and outlet ports. 20. The air conditioning apparatus of claim 19 wherein said coiled tubing of said pressurized refrigerant line is further defined as being helically disposed around said distribution tube. 21. The air conditioning apparatus of claim 20 wherein said water inlet and outlet ports of said heat exchanger are further described as being located near an upper wall surface of said upper bulkhead of said tank. 22. The air conditioning apparatus of claim 15 further including a second refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger/condenser which has a water outlet port and a water inlet port coupled to said water outlet port of said first refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger/condenser, a pressurized refrigerant input coupling connected by a pressurized refrigerant input line to a compressor-side source of pressurized refrigerant and an outlet refrigerant coupling connected by an outlet line to an evaporator-side destination for pressurized refrigerant. 23. The air conditioner apparatus of claim 22 further including a third refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger which has a water outlet port and water inlet port coupled to said water outlet port of said second refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger/condenser, a pressurized refrigerant input coupling connected by a pressurized input line to a compressor-side source of pressurized refrigerant and an outlet refrigerant coupling connected by an outlet line to an evaporator-side destination for pressurized refrigerant. 24. The air conditioning apparatus of claim 23 further including a first, inlet tee fitting having an inlet bore connected to said compressor-side source of pressurized refrigerant, a first outlet bore connected to said refrigerant inlet coupling of said second heat exchanger, a second outlet bore connected to said refrigerant inlet coupling of said third heat exchanger, a second, outlet tee fitting having a first inlet bore connected to said refrigerant outlet coupling of said second heat exchanger, a second inlet bore connected to said refrigerant outlet coupling of said third heat exchanger, and an outlet bore connected to said refrigerant inlet coupling of said first heat exchanger. 25. The air conditioning apparatus of claim 24 wherein said water inlet port of said first heat exchanger is connected to a source of water, said water outlet port of said first heat exchanger is connected to said water inlet port of said second heat exchanger, said water outlet port of said second heat exchanger is connected to said water inlet port of said third heat exchanger, and said water outlet port of said third heat exchanger is connected to a water discharge location. 26. A refrigerant heat exchanger/condenser assembly having at least a first refrigerant-to-water heat changer/condenser which includes a housing that has a pressurized refrigerant inlet coupling connectable by a refrigerant input line to a pressurized outlet port of a refrigerant-charged compressor, a length of coiled tubing within a chamber inside said housing coupled at a first end to said refrigerant inlet coupling and at a second end thereof to a refrigerant outlet coupling, a water inlet port and a water outlet port which both communicate with said housing chamber, water source means connected to said water inlet port, and a water discharge means connected to said water outlet port. 27. The assembly of claim 26 further including a second refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger/condenser which has a water outlet port and a water inlet port coupled to said water outlet port of said first refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger/condenser, a pressurized refrigerant input coupling connectable by a pressurized refrigerant input line to a compressor-side source of pressurized refrigerant and an outlet refrigerant coupling connectable by an outlet line to an evaporator-side destination for pressurized refrigerant. 28. The assembly of claim 27 further including a third refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger which has a water outlet port and water inlet port coupled to said water outlet port of said second refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger/condenser, a pressurized refrigerant input coupling connectable by a pressurized input line to a compressor-side source of pressurized refrigerant and an outlet refrigerant coupling connectable by an outlet line to an evaporator-side destination for pressurized refrigerant. 29. The assembly of claim 28 further including a first, inlet tee fitting having an inlet bore connectable to said compressor-side source of pressurized refrigerant, a first outlet bore connected to said refrigerant inlet coupling of said second heat exchanger, a second outlet bore connected to said refrigerant inlet coupling of said third heat exchanger, a second, outlet tee fitting having a first inlet bore connected to said refrigerant outlet coupling of said second heat exchanger, a second inlet bore connected to said refrigerant outlet coupling of said third heat exchanger, and an outlet bore connected to said refrigerant inlet coupling of said first heat exchanger. 30. The assembly of claim 29 wherein said water inlet port of said first heat exchanger is connected to a source of water, said water outlet port of said first heat exchanger is connected to said water inlet port of said second heat exchanger, said water outlet port of said second heat exchanger is connected to said water inlet port of said third heat exchanger, and said water outlet port of said third heat exchanger is connected to a water discharge location. 31. An air conditioning apparatus for controlling properties of air in an isolated space, said apparatus comprising,h. a cooling enclosure having an inlet side, an interior, and an outlet side,a fan for moving air from said inlet side through said interior to said outlet side of said enclosure,j. an evaporative cooler within said interior of said enclosure,k. means for supplying water to said evaporative cooler,l. means for collecting water issuing from said evaporative cooler which does not evaporate,m. means for discharging said collected water to a location exterior to said isolated space, andn. a spray eliminator structure for removing moisture droplets in an air stream flowing from said evaporative cooler to said outlet side of said enclosure, said spray eliminator structure comprising a plate having through its thickness dimension a plurality of perforations, said plate being disposed transverse ly to a longitudinal axis of said enclosure parallel to said air stream flow through said enclosure, said plate being located downstream of said evaporative cooler.