FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
The present subject matter relates to air conditioning units.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
Geographical regions, such as tropical regions are characterized by high temperature and
humid weather conditions. Owing to such uncomfortable weather conditions, day-to-day living
becomes difficult in such regions. Thus, air conditioning units have become an indispensable
commodity in such geographical regions.
An air conditioning unit operates to remove heat and moisture from a room or a closed
space, such as a vehicle. Operation of the air conditioning unit involves condensing a refrigerant
by a condenser of the air conditioning unit using ambient air. Temperature of ambient air in such
geographical regions is usually in the range of about 35-48 degrees. Owing to such high
temperature of the ambient air, efficiency of the condenser and thus, the air conditioning unit is
reduced. Thus, deployment of air conditioning units having large capacity condenser becomes
necessary to maintain cool temperature in small spaces. As a result, power consumption and in
turn monetary expenses increase proportionally.
Summary of the invention:
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified format that
are further described in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is not intended to
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identify key or essential inventive concepts of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for
determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In an embodiment, an air conditioning unit is disclosed. The air conditioning unit
comprises a condenser and an evaporator. The air conditioning unit further comprises a first
cooling pad adapted to at least partially cover a first surface of the condenser. The air
conditioning unit further comprises a second cooling pad adapted to at least partially cover a first
surface of the evaporator. Further, the air conditioning unit comprises a heat exchanger adapted
to at least partially cover a second surface of the evaporator.
Brief Description of the drawings:
To further clarify advantages and aspects of the invention, a more particular description
of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are
illustrated in the appended drawings, wherein:
Figure 1(a) illustrates an air conditioning unit, in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention; and
Figure 1(b) illustrates an air conditioning unit, in accordance with another embodiment
of the present invention.
It may be noted that to the extent possible, like reference numerals have been used to
represent like elements in the drawings. Further, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate
that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have been necessarily
drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the drawings may be
exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of aspects of the
invention. Furthermore, the one or more elements may have been represented in the drawings by
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conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent
to understanding the embodiments of the invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details
that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description
herein.
Detailed Description of the invention:
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention,
reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language
will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the
scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the
illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated
therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the
invention relates. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are explanatory of the invention and are not
intended to be restrictive thereof.
Reference throughout this specification to “an aspect”, “another aspect” or similar
language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with
the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus,
appearances of the phrase “in an embodiment”, “in another embodiment” and similar language
throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.
The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to
cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process or method that comprises a list of steps does
not include only those steps but may include other steps not expressly listed or inherent to such
process or method. Similarly, one or more devices or sub-systems or elements or structures or
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components proceeded by "comprises... a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the
existence of other devices or other sub-systems or other elements or other structures or other
components or additional devices or additional sub-systems or additional elements or additional
structures or additional components.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same
meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skilled in the art to which this invention
belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not
intended to be limiting. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1(a) illustrates an example air conditioning unit 100, in accordance with an
embodiment of the present subject matter. The air conditioning unit 100 includes a condenser
102, an evaporator 104, and a compressor 106. According to an aspect of the present subject
matter, the air conditioning unit 100 includes a first cooling pad 108, a second cooling pad 110,
and a heat exchanger 112. In an example, the first cooling pad 108 and the second cooling pad
110 are evaporative cooling pads, and may be referred to as evaporative cooling pads. The heat
exchanger 112, hereinafter, may interchangeably be referred to as pre-cooling heat exchanger.
The first cooling pad 108, hereinafter, is interchangeably referred to as cooling pad 108 and the
second cooling pad 110, hereinafter, is interchangeably referred to as cooling pad 110. In an
example, the cooling pad 108 and the cooling pad 110 are evaporative cooling pads.
In an example embodiment, the cooling pad 108 is adapted to at least partially cover a
first surface of the condenser 102. Similarly, the cooling pad 110 is adapted to at least partially
cover a first surface of the evaporator 104. Furthermore, the heat exchanger 112 is adapted to at
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least partially cover a second surface of the evaporator 104. The second surface of the evaporator
104 is a surface opposite to the first surface of the evaporator 104, in an embodiment.
The air conditioning unit 100 further includes a water supply unit. The water supply unit
includes a water pump 114 and a nozzle spray 116. In an example, the water supply unit is
adapted to circulate water between the heat exchanger 112, the cooling pad 108, and the cooling
pad 110. The air conditioning unit 100 further includes a first fan 118 and a second fan 120. In
an example, the air conditioning unit 100 is disposed in a room or closed space such that the first
fan 118 faces or is on the side of the interior of the closed space or room. While, the second fan
120 faces or is on the exterior side of the room or closed space. The exterior side may be an
outlet, for example, a vent, a window, a wall cavity, and the like, of the closed space or room. In
an example, the first fan 118 is adapted to draw a flow of air through the heat exchanger 112, the
evaporator 104, and the cooling pad 110. In an example, the second fan 120 is adapted to draw a
flow of air through the cooling pad 108 and the condenser 102.
In an example, the condenser 102 and the cooling pad 108 form a first unit 122.
Furthermore, the heat exchanger 112, the evaporator 104, and the cooling pad 110 form a second
unit 124. Further, in an example, the first unit 122 and the second unit 124 are mutually isolated
from each other such that exchange of water and refrigerant is allowed between components of
the first unit 122 and the second unit 124.
In an example, a vapour refrigerant flows through the evaporator 104. For aiding the flow
of the refrigerant, the evaporator 104 includes at least one of a set of tubes and a set of fins. By
gaining the heat from evaporator 104, the vapour refrigerant is converted to gaseous form. This
low-temperature refrigerant gas then goes to the compressor 106 where it is compressed and
subsequently high temperature, high pressure refrigerant gas is provided to the condenser 102.
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The condenser 102 includes at least one of a set of tubes and a set of fins and converts high
temperature, high pressure refrigerant gas to high temperature, high pressure liquid refrigerant.
The air conditioning unit further includes an expansion device 128 for aiding transfer of the high
temperature, high pressure liquid refrigerant from the condenser 102 to the evaporator 104.
During operation, the water pump 114 pumps water towards the heat exchanger 112. As
shown in the figure, the water is provided to the heat exchanger 112 from a top side of the heat
exchanger 112. In an example, the heat exchanger 112 includes at least one of a set of tubes and
a set of fins.
Consider an example where the heat exchanger 112 includes both the tubes and the fins.
In said example, the water flow through the tubes and the fins of the heat exchanger 112. Such
movement of the water through the heat exchanger 112 causes a reduction in the temperature of
the water. For instance, temperature of the water when entering the heat exchanger 112 may be
30 degree. Now, owing to the flow of the water through the heat exchanger 112, the temperature
of the water may get reduced to 20 degree. Thus, a drop of nearly 10 degree may be achieved.
Thus, cooled water is obtained from the heat exchanger 112.
The cooled water is subsequently provided to the nozzle spray 116. The nozzle spray 116
disperses the cooled water onto the cooling pad 108, and from the cooling pad 108 the cooled
water trickles down to the cooling pad 110. Such a flow of the cooled water further causes a
reduction in temperature of the cooled water by up to 7-8 degree.
As mentioned above, the first fan 118 is adapted to draw a flow of air through the heat
exchanger 112, the evaporator 104, and the cooling pad 110. In an example, the air that the first
fan 118 draws is the ambient air from outside of the closed space or room in which the air
conditioning unit 100 is deployed. Now, as the ambient air flows through the heat exchanger
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112, the temperature of the ambient air reduced because of the cooled water flowing through the
heat exchanger 112. In an example, the temperature of the ambient air is brought down to about
the wet bulb temperature of air.
This cooled down ambient air now passes through the evaporator 104 that further brings
down the temperature of the ambient air owing to the operation of the air conditioning unit 100.
Thereafter, the ambient air passes through the cooling pad 110 that further reduces the
temperature of the ambient air owing to the cooled water flowing through it. Now, the ambient
air that has been cooled down is passed into the room or closed space. As an example, the
ambient air may be cooled down from a temperature of about 43 degree to a temperature of
about 24 degree.
The cooling down of the ambient air by the heat exchanger 112 to wet bulb temperature
reduces the efforts involved in cooling of the ambient air by the evaporator 104. Further
reduction in temperature is brought about by the cooling pad 110. Thus, overall efforts in
reducing the temperature of the ambient air are reduced. Furthermore, drawing in of the ambient
air provides for supply of fresh air into the room or closed space.
As mentioned above, the second fan 120 is adapted to draw a flow of air through the
cooling pad 108 and the condenser 102. Continuing with the above operation, the second fan 120
draws the cool air from the room/closed space towards the condenser 102. The cool air when
drawn in is further cooled down owing to the cooled water flowing through the cooling pad 108.
Now, the cool air flows over the surface of the the condenser 102. The cool air from the room
serves as a cooling media for the refrigerant flowing through the condenser 102. Thus, the action
of condensation of the refrigerant is supported by cool air which is approximately 15-20 degree
cooler than ambient air (considering ambient air temperature of 43 degree). Thus, efficiency of
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refrigeration of the refrigerant is enhanced. In an example, the efficiency of the air conditioning
unit 100 is approximately in the order of 6 to 7 coefficient of performance (COP).
Thus, principles of the present subject matter, as explained above, facilitate in increasing
the efficiency of the air conditioning unit 100. Further, fresh air supply is provided into the room
or closed space.
Figure 1(b) illustrates an example air conditioning unit 150, in accordance with another
embodiment of the present subject matter. In said embodiment, the first surface and the second
surface of the evaporator are same. In other words, the second cooling pad 110 and the heat
exchanger 112 are provided on the same side of the evaporator 104. In said embodiment, the
ambient air, at first, passes through the heat exchanger 112 and subsequently, passes through the
second cooling pad 110. Thereafter, the cooled air then passes over a surface of the evaporator
104.
While specific language has been used to describe the present subject matter, any
limitations arising on account thereto, are not intended. As would be apparent to a person in the
art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the
inventive concept as taught herein. The drawings and the foregoing description give examples of
embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements
may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be
split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another
embodiment.

We Claim:
1. An air conditioning unit comprising:
a condenser;
an evaporator;
a first cooling pad adapted to at least partially cover a first surface of the condenser;
a second cooling pad adapted to at least partially cover a first surface of the
evaporator;
a heat exchanger adapted to at least partially cover a second surface of the
evaporator.
2. The air conditioning unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a water supply unit is
adapted to circulate water between the heat exchanger, the first cooling pad, and the second
cooling pad.
3. The air conditioning unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first fan adapted to
draw a flow of air through the heat exchanger, the evaporator, and the second cooling pad.
4. The air conditioning unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a second fan adapted
to draw a flow of air through the second cooling pad and the condenser.
5. The air conditioning unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first cooling pad and the
second cooling pad are disposed along the same vertical axis.
6. The air conditioning unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger comprises at
least one of a set of tubes and a set of fins.
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7. The air conditioning unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the condenser comprises at least
one of a set of tubes and a set of fins.
8. The air conditioning unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the evaporator comprises at least
one of a set of tubes and a set of fins.
9. The air conditioning unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
the condenser and the first cooling pad are provided in a first unit of the air
conditioning unit; and
the evaporator, the second cooling pad, and the heat exchanger are provided in a
second unit of the air conditioning unit, wherein the second unit is isolated from the first
unit.
10. The air conditioning unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first surface is same as the
second surface.