Condensate Evaporation Device Having Evaporation Coil

Abstract

A condensate evaporation device for a refrigerator is provided. The device comprises a container, a heat exchanger, a chamber, a suction pump, a condensate spraying device, an evaporation coil, and a blower. The suction pump is for sucking up the condensate from the container. The condensate spraying device is for spraying the condensate sucked up by the suction pump within the chamber. The evaporation coil is disposed around the condensate spraying device such that the condensate from the suction pump lands on an inner surface of the evaporation coil and evaporates the condensate. The blower is for inducing air flow within the chamber, whereby the evaporated condensate is exhausted from the chamber.

1 . A condensate evaporation device for a refrigerator, wherein the refrigerator includes a storage space that is cooled by refrigerant, and a compressor that compresses the refrigerant, the device comprising:
 a container with a pan for containing condensate from the storage space;   a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and the condensate;   a chamber disposed above the container;   a suction pump for sucking up the condensate from the container;   a condensate spraying device for spraying the condensate sucked up by the suction pump within the chamber;   an evaporation coil disposed around the condensate spraying device such that the condensate from the suction pump lands on an inner surface of the evaporation coil and evaporates the condensate; and   a blower for inducing air flow within the chamber, whereby the evaporated condensate is exhausted from the chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The condensate evaporation device of  claim 1 , wherein the evaporation coil forms a cylindrical shape with a hollow space. 
     
     
         3 . The condensate evaporation device of  claim 2 , wherein the condensate spraying device is partially enclosed by the evaporation coil such that the sprayed condensate lands on an inner surface of the cylindrical evaporation coil. 
     
     
         4 . The condensate evaporation device of  claim 3 , wherein the evaporation coil is powered to be thermally hot so as to facilitate evaporation of the condensate touching the evaporation coil. 
     
     
         5 . The condensate evaporation device of  claim 3 , wherein the evaporation coil comprises an electrical wire with a high resistance and a circular shape of cross-section. 
     
     
         6 . The condensate evaporation device of  claim 3 , wherein the evaporation coil comprises an electrical wire with a high resistance and an oblong shape of cross-section. 
     
     
         7 . The condensate evaporation device of  claim 3 , wherein the evaporation coil comprises an electrical wire with a high resistance and a rectangular shape of cross-section. 
     
     
         8 . The condensate evaporation device of  claim 7 , wherein a long side of the rectangular shape of cross-section of the electrical wire is aligned with an axis of the cylindrical shape of the evaporation coil. 
     
     
         9 . The condensate evaporation device of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber comprises one or more meshed walls disposed around the evaporation coil. 
     
     
         10 . The condensate evaporation device of  claim 9 , wherein the meshed walls is configured and disposed, such that the condensate spattered from the evaporation coil lands on the meshed walls. 
     
     
         11 . The condensate evaporation device of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more meshed walls are configured to anchor the evaporation coil onto a shelf plate provided horizontally engaging the one or more meshed walls. 
     
     
         12 . The condensate evaporation device of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber includes one or more air vents that allow air flow into or out of the chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The condensate evaporation device of  claim 12 , wherein the condensate spraying device comprises a condensate sprayer cone and a condensate sprayer plate, wherein the sprayer cone is hollow and comprises a flow-in opening near the apex of the sprayer cone, and a flow-out opening at the base of the sprayer cone, wherein the condensate sprayer plate is fixed to the condensate sprayer cone at the base of the sprayer cone. 
     
     
         14 . The condensate evaporation device of  claim 13 , wherein the condensate spraying device further comprises a motor that rotates the condensate sprayer plate and the condensate sprayer cone. 
     
     
         15 . The condensate evaporation device of  claim 13 , wherein the condensate sprayer plate comprises a plate disc and one or more projections that protrudes from the plate disc, wherein the condensate sprayer cone further comprises a flange at the base of the sprayer cone, wherein the projections abut the flange, whereby the condensate is sprayed through openings between the sprayer cone, the plate disc of the condensate sprayer plate and the projections of the condensate sprayer plate. 
     
     
         16 . The condensate evaporation device of  claim 13 , wherein the suction pump is disposed in the condensate sprayer cone. 
     
     
         17 . The condensate evaporation device of  claim 1 , further comprises a top cover configured to cover the chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The condensate evaporation device of  claim 17 , wherein the blower is disposed in the top cover.