Refrigeration device with evaporative condensate dissipation system

Abstract

A refrigerated device has an evaporative condensate dissipation system for disposing water from its cooling element during defrosting. Progressive stages operating at increasing temperatures provide a cascading evaporative dissipation. One pan receives water from the cooling coil and operates at ambient temperature for a first evaporative dissipation. Overflow from the pan flows through a first standpipe to a second stage. The second stage includes another pan that receives water from the first standpipe, and is heated by hot gas refrigerant for operation at a higher second temperature to provide a second evaporative dissipation. Overflow from the second pan is directed through a second standpipe to a third stage. The third stage includes a third pan that receives the water from the second pan via the second standpipe, and is heated by an electric heater for operation at a higher third temperature to provide a third evaporative dissipation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerated display device, comprising
 a temperature-controlled space configured for the storage and display of products;   a refrigeration system operable in a cooling mode and a defrost mode, the refrigeration system having at least a compressor and a cooling element, the compressor configured to circulate a refrigerant through the cooling element during the cooling mode to provide cooling to the temperature-controlled space;   a condensate dissipation system configured to receive a condensate liquid from an external surface of the cooling element during the defrost mode, and to dissipate the condensate liquid by evaporation, the condensate dissipation system comprising:   a first receptacle having a first overflow device, the first receptacle configured to receive the liquid condensate from the cooling element;   a second receptacle having a second overflow device, the second receptacle disposed lower than the first receptacle and configured to receive the liquid condensate from the first receptacle when a first level of the liquid condensate in the first receptacle reaches the first overflow device, the second receptacle including a heat exchanger configured to receive a hot gas refrigerant supply from the compressor; and   a third receptacle disposed lower than the second receptacle and configured to receive the liquid condensate from the second receptacle when a second level of the liquid condensate in the second receptacle reaches the second overflow device, the third receptacle having an electric heating element operably controlled by a switch responsive to a third level of the liquid condensate in the third receptacle.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerated display device of  claim 1 , wherein the first receptacle and the second receptacle and the third receptacle each comprise pans disposed in a substantially vertically-aligned relationship with one another. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerated display device of  claim 1 , wherein the first overflow device comprises a first standpipe having a first opening that substantially corresponds to the first level of the liquid condensate in the first receptacle. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerated display device of  claim 3 , wherein the second overflow device comprises a second standpipe having a second opening that substantially corresponds to the second level of the liquid condensate in the second receptacle. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerated display device of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a tubing arrangement coupled to a discharge of the compressor. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerated display device of  claim 1 , wherein the switch comprises a float switch. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerated display device of  claim 1 , wherein the first receptacle is configured to raise a temperature of the liquid condensate to a first temperature for a first evaporative dissipation. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerated display device of  claim 7 , wherein the second receptacle is configured to raise a temperature of the liquid condensate to a second temperature, greater than the first temperature, for a second evaporative dissipation. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerated display device of  claim 8 , wherein the third receptacle is configured to raise a temperature of the liquid condensate to a third temperature, greater than the second temperature, for a third evaporative dissipation. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerated display device of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one fan configured to increase at least one of the first evaporative dissipation, the second evaporative dissipation, and the third evaporative dissipation. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerated display device of  claim 1 , wherein the condensate dissipation system is configured to be installed in the refrigerated display device as a unitary module. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerated display device of  claim 1 , wherein the first receptacle further comprises a plurality of fins disposed thereon. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerated display device of  claim 1 , wherein the first receptacle further comprises a heat exchanger configured to receive condensed liquid refrigerant configured to warm the liquid condensate in the first receptacle. 
     
     
         14 . A refrigerated display device, comprising
 a temperature-controlled space configured for the storage and display of products;   a cooling system having a cooling element operable in a cooling mode and a defrost mode, the cooling system configured to circulate a coolant through the cooling element during the cooling mode to provide cooling to the temperature-controlled space;   a condensate dissipation system configured to receive a condensate liquid from the cooling element during the defrost mode, and to dissipate the condensate liquid by evaporation, the condensate dissipation system comprising:   a first pan having a first overflow device, the first pan configured to receive the liquid condensate from the cooling element;   a second pan having a second overflow device, the second pan configured to receive the liquid condensate from the first pan when a first level of the liquid condensate in the first pan reaches the first overflow device, the second pan including a heat exchanger; and   a third pan configured to receive the liquid condensate from the second pan when a second level of the liquid condensate in the second pan reaches the second overflow device, the third pan having a heating element operably controlled by a switch responsive to a third level of the liquid condensate in the third pan.   
     
     
         15 . The refrigerated display device of  claim 14 , wherein the first pan and the second pan and the third pan are disposed in a substantially vertically-aligned relationship with one another. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerated display device of  claim 15 , wherein the overflow devices comprise standpipes. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerated display device of  claim 14 , wherein the cooling system comprises a compressor and the coolant comprises a refrigerant and the heat exchanger is configured to receive the refrigerant after being discharged from the compressor. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerated display device of  claim 17 , wherein the first pan comprises a heat exchanger configured to receive the refrigerant in a condensed liquid state. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerated display device of  claim 14 , wherein the liquid condensate in the first pan is configured to be warmed to a first temperature for a first evaporative dissipation. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerated display device of  claim 19 , wherein the liquid condensate in the second pan is configured to be warmed to a second temperature, greater than the first temperature, by exposure to the heat exchanger for a second evaporative dissipation. 
     
     
         21 . The refrigerated display device of  claim 20 , wherein the liquid condensate in the third pan is configured to be warmed to a third temperature, greater than the second temperature, by exposure to the heating element for a third evaporative dissipation.