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Bottle cooler defroster and methods

Bottle cooler defroster and methods description/claims

Benefit is claimed of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/663,961, filed Mar. 18, 2005, and entitled “BOTTLE COOLER DEFROSTER AND METHODS”, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein as if set forth at length. Copending application docket 05-258-WO, entitled HIGH SIDE PRESSURE REGULATION FOR TRANSCRITICAL VAPOR COMPRESSION SYSTEM and filed on even date herewith, discloses prior art and inventive cooler systems. The disclosure of said application is incorporated by reference herein as if set forth at length. The present application discloses possible modifications to such systems.

The invention relates to refrigeration. More particularly, the invention relates to beverage coolers.

The CO2 bottle cooler utilizes a compressor, a gas cooler, an expansion device, and an evaporator to transfer heat energy from a low temperature energy reservoir to a high temperature energy sink. This transfer is achieved with the aid of electrical energy input at the compressor. A temperature difference between the outdoor air and the refrigerant drives the thermal energy transfer from the interior air to the refrigerant as it passes through the lower temperature heat exchanger (e.g., evaporator). The fan continues to move fresh air across the evaporator surface, maintaining the temperature difference, and evaporating the refrigerant. If the surface temperature of the evaporator is below the dew-point temperature of the moist air stream, water will condense onto the fins. When the surface of the evaporator is below freezing, water droplets that condense on the surface can freeze. Frost crystals then grow from the frozen droplets and begin to block the airflow passage through the evaporator fins. The blockage increases the pressure drop through the evaporator, which reduces the airflow. As a result of the insulating effect of frost and blockage of airflow, the refrigerant temperature in the evaporator decreases, which ultimately causes degradation in the bottle cooler performance and reduction of the cooling capacity and COP. Eventually, a defrost cycle must be initiated.

The existing method is to shut off the compressor and higher temperature (at least in a normal mode) heat exchanger (e.g., condenser) fan while still keep the evaporator fan running. By circulating the air inside the bottle cooler cabinet through the evaporator, the frost on the coil can be heated. Since the temperature of the air in the cabinet (nominally 3.3° C. (38° F.), more broadly 2-4° C. (36-39° F.)) is very close to the temperature of the frost (0° C. (32° F.)), the defrost process usually takes a long time.

If the bottle cooler is installed outdoors, an electric heater is usually needed to heat the air inside the cabinet to keep the beverage from freezing. Because the efficiency of the electric heater is at most 100%, the costs of heating the air in winter is quite significant.

A bottle cooler system includes means for switching the system to a second mode of operation wherein refrigerant in the evaporator defrosts an ice buildup on the evaporator. The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

FIG. 1 is a schematic of a first CO2 bottle cooler.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of a first alternate CO2 bottle cooler.

FIG. 3 is a pressure-enthalpy diagram of the defrost cycle of the CO2 bottle cooler of FIG. 2 in a defrost mode.

FIG. 4 is a schematic of a second alternate CO2 bottle cooler in a cooling mode.

FIG. 5 is a schematic of the CO2 bottle cooler of FIG. 4 in a defrost mode.

FIG. 6 is a side schematic view of a display case bottle cooler including a refrigeration and air management cassette.

FIG. 7 is a view of a refrigeration and air management cassette.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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