Modular refrigeration unit

Abstract

A modular refrigeration unit for use in an accessible compartment of a cooler, a cooler comprising a modular refrigeration unit, and a method for a modular refrigeration unit. The modular refrigeration unit can include a gas cooler assembly mounted to a support and positioned on one side of a dividing wall, and an evaporator assembly mounted to the dividing wall and positioned on the opposite side of the dividing wall from the gas cooler assembly. The modular refrigeration unit can include CO 2 refrigerant adapted to be circulated between the evaporator assembly and the gas cooler assembly.

1 . A modular refrigeration unit for use in an accessible compartment of a cooler, the accessible compartment including a first portion in communication with a display cabinet of the cooler and a second portion in communication with the environment, the modular refrigeration unit comprising: 
 a support removably positioned within the accessible compartment;    a dividing wall mounted to the support and positioned between the first and second portions, the dividing wall adapted to sealingly engage a portion of the accessible compartment to insulate the first and second portions from one another;    a gas cooler assembly mounted to the support and positioned on one side of the dividing wall, the gas cooler assembly positioned within the second portion of the accessible compartment;    an evaporator assembly mounted to the dividing wall and positioned on the opposite side of the dividing wall from the gas cooler assembly, the evaporator assembly positioned within the first portion of the accessible compartment; and    CO 2  refrigerant adapted to be circulated between the evaporator assembly and the gas cooler assembly.    
   
   
       2 . The modular refrigeration unit of  claim 1 , wherein the support is a wire-frame support.  
   
   
       3 . The modular refrigeration unit of  claim 1 , wherein the gas cooler assembly includes a compressor mounted to the support, a gas cooler mounted to the support, a motorized fan mounted to the gas cooler, and a collecting tray mounted to the support, the gas cooler in communication with the environment.  
   
   
       4 . The modular refrigeration unit of  claim 1 , wherein the evaporator assembly includes an evaporator coil mounted to the dividing wall, and a fan mounted to the evaporator coil, the evaporator coil in communication with the display cabinet.  
   
   
       5 . The modular refrigeration unit of  claim 1 , wherein the CO 2  refrigerant is circulated in a transcritical CO 2  refrigeration cycle.  
   
   
       6 . A cooler having a refrigerated display cabinet, the cooler comprising: 
 a display cabinet;    an accessible compartment including a first portion in communication with the display cabinet and a second portion in communication with the environment; and    a modular refrigeration unit removably positioned within the accessible compartment, the modular refrigeration unit including 
 an evaporator assembly adapted for use with a CO 2  refrigerant, the evaporator assembly positioned within the first portion such that the evaporator is in communication with the display cabinet, and  
 a gas cooler assembly adapted for use with a CO 2  refrigerant, the gas cooler assembly positioned within the second portion such that the gas cooler is in communication with the environment when the modular refrigeration unit is positioned within the accessible compartment.  
   
   
   
       7 . The cooler of  claim 6 , wherein the modular refrigeration unit includes: 
 a support coupled to the evaporator assembly and the gas cooler assembly, and    a dividing wall mounted to the support to separate the evaporator assembly and the gas cooler assembly.    
   
   
       8 . The cooler of  claim 7 , wherein the evaporator assembly includes an evaporator coil mounted to the dividing wall and a fan mounted to the evaporator coil.  
   
   
       9 . The cooler of  claim 7 , wherein the gas cooler assembly includes a compressor mounted to the support, a gas cooler mounted to the support, a fan mounted to the gas cooler, and a collecting tray mounted to the support.  
   
   
       10 . The cooler of  claim 6 , further comprising an additional modular refrigeration unit adapted to replace the modular refrigeration unit for at least one of repair and disposal of the modular refrigeration unit.  
   
   
       11 . A method for replacing a modular refrigeration unit of a cooler, the method comprising: 
 providing a first modular refrigeration unit removably positioned in an accessible compartment of the cooler, the first modular refrigeration unit having a first gas cooler assembly and a first evaporator assembly adapted for use with a CO 2  refrigerant;    providing a second modular refrigeration unit adapted to be removably positioned in an accessible compartment of the cooler, the second modular refrigeration unit having a second gas cooler assembly and a second evaporator assembly adapted for use with a CO 2  refrigerant;    removing the first modular refrigeration unit from the accessible compartment;    inserting the second modular refrigeration unit into the accessible compartment; and    operating the second modular refrigeration unit to circulate the CO 2  refrigerant through the second gas cooler assembly and the second evaporator assembly in a transcritical CO 2  refrigeration cycle.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 disconnecting the first modular refrigeration unit from at least one of a power source and a temperature sensor using quick disconnects; and    connecting the second modular refrigeration unit from at least one of a power source and a temperature sensor using quick disconnects.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 determining that the first modular refrigeration unit requires at least one of repair and replacement;    requesting the second modular refrigeration unit from a replacement location;    receiving the second modular refrigeration unit in packaging; and    shipping the first modular refrigeration unit to at least one of a repair location and a replacement location.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein shipping the first modular refrigeration unit includes shipping the first modular refrigeration unit in the packaging of the second modular refrigeration unit.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising repairing the first modular refrigeration unit for reuse.