Patent ID: 6070423
Filing Date: 2000-06-06
Classification: F24F,F25B,Y02B

Abstract:
A heat exchange refrigerant subcool system that utilizes stored condensate water from an air conditioner or heat pump and make-up water that is then pumped across a heat exchanger while the cold, dry building exhaust air is passed over said heat exchanger for evaporatively subcooling a liquid refrigerant that has already passed through the condenser of said air conditioner or heat pump, comprising in combination:a) a subcooler connected in fluid communication with the output of the condenser enabling the refrigerant to flow through said subcooler after first flowing through the condenser;b) a reservoir the subcooler sits in that receives the condensate discharge from said air conditioner or heat pump and that also receives any needed make-up water;c) said subcooler connected in fluid communication with the output of a pump that pumps the stored condensate and make-up water through a control system that enables the correct amount of water to flow across and wet the surface of said subcooler for evaporative cooling thereof and then back to storage in the reservoir;d) said wetted subcooler connected in fluid communication with the cold, dry building exhaust air that subsequently cools by evaporation the condensate and make-up water flowing over the subcooler which in turn subcools the liquid refrigerant in the subcooler; ande) a means for said water to overflow to discharge,whereby said subcooler utilizes said evaporative cooling process for providing maximum available subcooling to the liquid refrigerant of an air conditioner or heat pump.