Low profile marine air conditioner

Abstract

A low profile, self-contained air conditioning unit for a nautical vehicle comprises a base pan, an air handler, a substantially horizontal compressor and a second heat exchanger. The air handler comprises a first heat exchanger with a medium conduit for channeling a refrigerating medium, an air moving apparatus within a shroud. The shroud includes a front wall having an air outlet and a rear wall having an air inlet and the first heat exchanger is located adjacent to the air inlet of the first wall. The second heat exchanger has an inner tube and an outer tube. The inner tube circulates water and the outer tube is in fluid communication with the medium conduit, coaxially encloses a substantial portion of the inner tube, and has an inlet and an outlet. The compressor and the second heat exchanger are adjacent to the air handler and the second heat exchanger is above the compressor.

1 . A low profile, self-contained air conditioning unit for a nautical vehicle, comprising:
 a base pan;   an air handler comprising:
 a first heat exchanger with a medium conduit for channeling a refrigerating medium, 
 an air moving apparatus, and 
 a shroud housing the first heat exchanger and the air moving apparatus, the shroud including a front wall having an air outlet and a rear wall having an air inlet, the first heat exchanger located adjacent to the air inlet of the first wall; 
   a substantially horizontal compressor, the air handler and the compressor mounted on the base pan; and   a second heat exchanger having an inner tube and an outer tube, the inner tube circulating water, the outer tube being in fluid communication with the medium conduit for channeling the refrigerating medium, the outer tube coaxially enclosing a substantial portion of the inner tube, the outer tube having an inlet and an outlet,   wherein the compressor and the second heat exchanger are adjacent to the air handler and the second heat exchanger is above the compressor.   
     
     
         2 . The self-contained air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein mounting of the air conditioning unit does not substantially decrease occupant space in the nautical vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The self-contained air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein the air conditioning unit does not exceed a height of 8 inches (203 mm). 
     
     
         4 . The self-contained air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein the air moving apparatus is a centrifugal fan and the rear wall of the shroud is parallel to the rotational axis of the air moving apparatus. 
     
     
         5 . The self-contained air conditioning unit of  claim 4 , wherein a plurality of centrifugal fans is placed side-by-side in a coaxial manner. 
     
     
         6 . The self-contained air conditioning unit of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of fans is operated by a single motor. 
     
     
         7 . The self-contained air conditioning unit of  claim 5 , wherein the self-contained air conditioning unit is connected via a duct to a supply air grill. 
     
     
         8 . The self-contained air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein the air inlet extends over substantially all of the rear wall. 
     
     
         9 . The self-contained air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein orientation of air from the air outlet is controlled by a plenum attachment. 
     
     
         10 . The self-contained air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first heat exchanger comprises the medium conduit passing through a set of parallel fins repeatedly thereby forming a bank of medium conduits. 
     
     
         11 . The self-contained air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein the self-contained air conditioning unit further includes a reversing valve and provides heating and cooling. 
     
     
         12 . The self-contained air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein an inlet of the inner tube is connected to a pump for circulating water. 
     
     
         13 . The self-contained air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein the inner tube circulates water from a body of water neighboring the nautical vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The self-contained air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein the air conditioning unit can be installed at various height-critical locations of the nautical vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . An air handler for a nautical vehicle, comprising:
 a first heat exchanger including a medium conduit channeling a refrigerating medium, the medium conduit having a medium inlet and a medium outlet;   an air moving apparatus; and   a shroud housing the first heat exchanger and the air moving apparatus, the shroud including a front wall containing an air outlet and a rear wall containing an air inlet, the first heat exchanger located adjacent to the air inlet of the rear wall,   wherein mounting of the air handler does not substantially decrease occupant space in the nautical vehicle.   
     
     
         16 . The air handler of  claim 15 , wherein the air handler further comprises a base pan with a condensate drain. 
     
     
         17 . The air handler of  claim 15 , wherein the air first heat exchanger is in fluid communication with a compressor and a second heat exchanger that are not adjacent to the air handler and wherein the air handler is part of a centralized air conditioning system. 
     
     
         18 . The air handler of  claim 17 , wherein the refrigerating medium is water and the air handler is part of a chilled-water air conditioning system. 
     
     
         19 . The air handler of  claim 17 , wherein the refrigerating medium is a refrigerant and the air handler is part of a direct expansion air conditioning system.