Microchannnel evaporator assembly

Abstract

The present invention provides a unit cooler adapted for use in a refrigerated environment. The unit cooler includes a housing adapted to be positioned within the refrigerated environment and at least one microchannel evaporator coil supported by the housing. The at least one microchannel evaporator coil includes an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold. The inlet manifold has an inlet port for receiving refrigerant, and the outlet manifold has an outlet port for discharging the refrigerant.

1 . A unit cooler adapted for use in a refrigerated environment, the unit cooler comprising: 
 a housing adapted to be positioned within the refrigerated environment; and    at least one microchannel evaporator coil supported by the housing, the at least one microchannel evaporator coil including an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold, the inlet manifold having an inlet port for receiving refrigerant, and the outlet manifold having an outlet port for discharging the refrigerant.    
   
   
       2 . The unit cooler of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one fan supported by the housing, the fan being configured to generate an airflow at least partially through the microchannel evaporator coil.  
   
   
       3 . The unit cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the microchannel evaporator coil includes a plurality of fins spaced thereon between 12 and 24 fins per inch.  
   
   
       4 . The unit cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the microchannel evaporator coil includes a plurality of microchannels fluidly connecting the inlet manifold and the outlet manifold, the microchannels measuring between about 0.5 mm by about 0.5 mm and about 4 mm by about 4 mm in cross-section.  
   
   
       5 . A unit cooler adapted for use in a refrigerated environment, the unit cooler comprising: 
 a housing adapted to be positioned within the refrigerated environment;    a first microchannel evaporator coil supported by the housing and configured such that the refrigerant makes at least one pass therethrough; and    a second microchannel evaporator coil supported by the housing and fluidly coupled with the first microchannel evaporator coil, the second microchannel evaporator coil being configured such that the refrigerant makes at least one pass through the second microchannel evaporator coil after making at least one pass through the first microchannel evaporator coil.    
   
   
       6 . The unit cooler of  claim 5 , further comprising at least one fan supported by the housing, the fan being configured to generate an airflow at least partially through at least one of the first and second microchannel evaporator coils.  
   
   
       7 . The unit cooler of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first and second microchannel evaporator coils include a plurality of fins spaced thereon between 12 and 24 fins per inch.  
   
   
       8 . The unit cooler of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first and second microchannel evaporator coils include a plurality of microchannels fluidly connecting the inlet manifold and the outlet manifold, the microchannels measuring between about 0.5 mm by about 0.5 mm and about 4 mm by about 4 mm in cross-section.  
   
   
       9 . The unit cooler of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second microchannel evaporator coils each include an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold, and wherein the outlet manifold of the first microchannel evaporator coil is fluidly connected with the inlet manifold of the second microchannel evaporator coil.  
   
   
       10 . The unit cooler of  claim 9 , wherein the respective inlet manifolds each include at least one inlet port, and the respective outlet manifolds each include at least one outlet port, and wherein the outlet port of the first microchannel evaporator coil is coupled to the inlet port of the second microchannel evaporator coil.  
   
   
       11 . The unit cooler of  claim 5 , wherein the second microchannel evaporator coil is in a fluid series connection with the first microchannel evaporator coil.  
   
   
       12 . A unit cooler adapted for use in a refrigerated environment, the unit cooler comprising: 
 a housing adapted to be positioned within the refrigerated environment;    a first microchannel evaporator coil supported by the housing and configured such that refrigerant makes at least one pass therethrough;    a second microchannel evaporator coil supported by the housing and configured such that the refrigerant makes at least one pass therethrough;    a distributor fluidly coupled with the first and second microchannel evaporator coils, the distributor being configured to deliver the refrigerant to the first and second microchannel evaporator coils;    an outlet header fluidly coupled with the first and second microchannel evaporator coils, the outlet header being configured to receive refrigerant from the first and second microchannel evaporator coils.    
   
   
       13 . The unit cooler of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one fan supported by the housing, the fan being configured to generate an airflow at least partially through at least one of the first and second microchannel evaporator coils.  
   
   
       14 . The unit cooler of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first and second microchannel evaporator coils include a plurality of fins spaced thereon between 12 and 24 fins per inch.  
   
   
       15 . The unit cooler of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second microchannel evaporator coils each include an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold.  
   
   
       16 . The unit cooler of  claim 15 , wherein the inlet and outlet manifolds of the first and second microchannel evaporator coils are fluidly connected by a plurality of microchannels, the microchannels measuring between about 0.5 mm by about 0.5 mm and about 4 mm by about 4 mm in cross-section.  
   
   
       17 . The unit cooler of  claim 15 , wherein the inlet manifolds of the first and second microchannel condenser coils are fluidly connected with the distributor.  
   
   
       18 . The unit cooler of  claim 17 , wherein the inlet manifolds of the first and second microchannel evaporator coils each include at least one inlet port, the at least one inlet port of the first microchannel evaporator coil being coupled to the distributor, and the at least one inlet port of the second microchannel evaporator coil being coupled to the distributor.  
   
   
       19 . The unit cooler of  claim 15 , wherein the outlet manifolds of the first and second microchannel evaporator coils are fluidly connected with the outlet header.  
   
   
       20 . The unit cooler of  claim 19 , wherein the outlet manifolds of the first and second microchannel evaporator coils each include at least one outlet port, the at least one outlet port of the first microchannel evaporator coil being coupled to the outlet header, and the at least one outlet port of the second microchannel evaporator coil being coupled to the outlet header.  
   
   
       21 . A method of assembling a unit cooler adapted for use in a refrigerated environment, the method comprising: 
 providing a first microchannel evaporator coil configured such that refrigerant makes at least one pass therethrough;    fluidly connecting the first microchannel evaporator coil to a second microchannel evaporator coil configured such that the refrigerant makes at least one pass through the second microchannel evaporator coil after making at least one pass through the first microchannel evaporator coil; and    substantially enclosing the first and second microchannel evaporator coils in a housing.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising positioning at least one fan over at least one of the first and second microchannel evaporator coils, the fan being configured to generate an airflow through the at least one of the first and second microchannel evaporator coils.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein fluidly connecting the first microchannel evaporator coil to the second microchannel evaporator coil includes coupling an outlet port of the first microchannel evaporator coil with an inlet port of the second microchannel evaporator coil.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 calculating a total refrigeration capacity of the refrigeration system; and    determining how many microchannel evaporator coils should be fluidly interconnected.    
   
   
       25 . A method of assembling a unit cooler adapted for use in a refrigerated environment, the method comprising: 
 providing a first microchannel evaporator coil configured such that refrigerant makes at least one pass therethrough;    providing a second microchannel evaporator coil configured such that the refrigerant makes at least one pass therethrough;    fluidly connecting a distributor to the first and second microchannel evaporator coils, the distributor being configured to deliver the refrigerant to the first and second microchannel evaporator coils;    fluidly connecting an outlet header to the first and second microchannel evaporator coils, the outlet header being configured to receive the refrigerant from the first and second microchannel evaporator coils; and    substantially enclosing the first and second microchannel evaporator coils in a housing.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising positioning at least one fan over at least one of the first and second microchannel evaporator coils, the fan being configured to generate an airflow through the at least one of the first and second microchannel evaporator coils.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein fluidly connecting the distributor to the first and second microchannel evaporator coils includes coupling respective inlet ports of the first and second microchannel evaporator coils to the distributor.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein fluidly connecting the outlet header to the first and second microchannel evaporator coils includes coupling respective outlet ports of the first and second microchannel evaporator coils to the outlet header.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 calculating a total refrigeration capacity of the refrigeration system; and    determining how many microchannel evaporator coils should be fluidly interconnected.