Passive defrost system using waste heat
US5269151A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 24, 1992 |
| Grant date | Dec 14, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 24, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25B47/022
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A passive defrost system uses a heat-exchanger/storage defrost module containing a thermal storage material such as a phase change material to capture and store low grade, waste heat contained in the liquid refrigerant line of a refrigeration system. The waste heat is stored during normal operation. Upon shut down of the refrigeration system, the stored heat in the defrost module is released by an automatic device for defrosting the evaporator. The preferred embodiment of this passive defrost system includes the defrost module and some device to transfer heat from the defrost module to the evaporator, preferably in the configuration of a gravity heat pipe. Since waste heat is taken out of the liquid refrigerant line, the efficiency of the refrigeration system is improved, and no additional energy is needed for the defrost operation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.