System for Reducing the Condensing Temperature of a Refrigeration or Air Conditioning System by Utilizing Harvested Rainwater

Abstract

An evaporative air conditioning heat transfer apparatus comprising a collection surface for diverting liquid into a channel, a reservoir capable of receiving and storing the diverted liquid, at least one conduit for transferring liquid from the reservoir to a liquid dispersion point, and a regulator positioned between the reservoir and the liquid dispersion point and configured to control the amount of liquid released at the liquid dispersion point, wherein the liquid dispersion point is configured to distribute the liquid over a condensing coil.

1 . An evaporative air conditioning heat transfer apparatus comprising:
 a collection surface for diverting liquid into a channel;   a reservoir capable of receiving and storing the diverted liquid;   at least one conduit for transferring liquid from the reservoir to a liquid dispersion point; and   a regulator positioned between the reservoir and the liquid dispersion point, the regulator being configured to control the amount of liquid released at the liquid dispersion point,   wherein the liquid dispersion point is configured to distribute the liquid over a condensing coil.   
     
     
         2 . The evaporative air conditioning heat transfer apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the regulator is a valve or a pump. 
     
     
         3 . The evaporative air conditioning heat transfer apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the collection surface is a roof. 
     
     
         4 . The evaporative air conditioning heat transfer apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the channel is a gutter. 
     
     
         5 . The evaporative air conditioning heat transfer apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one conduit is a pipe. 
     
     
         6 . The evaporative air conditioning heat transfer apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid is substantially mineral free rainwater. 
     
     
         7 . The evaporative air conditioning heat transfer apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid dispersion point is positioned proximate the condensing coil. 
     
     
         8 . The evaporative air conditioning heat transfer apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller that is configured to mechanically or electronically drive the regulator. 
     
     
         9 . A method for cooling refrigeration condensing coils comprising:
 collecting rainwater in a reservoir;   fluidly coupling the reservoir to one or more dispersion units;   distributing the rainwater from the one or more dispersion units onto a condensing coil of an air conditioning unit; and   regulating the amount of rainwater distributed by the one or more dispersion units onto the condensing coil.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising positioning the reservoir above the one or more dispersion units to permit gravity to provide sufficient water flow and pressure for distributing the rainwater onto the condensing coil from the one or more dispersion units. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising positioning the reservoir below the one or more dispersion units and using a pump to provide sufficient water flow and pressure for distributing the rainwater onto the condensing coil from the one or more dispersion units. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising collecting and returning excess rainwater to the reservoir after the rainwater has been distributed onto the condensing coil. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of regulating the amount of rainwater distributed by the one or more dispersion units onto the condensing coil comprises interpreting one or more sensors to determine when to distribute the rainwater onto the condensing coil. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of regulating the amount of rainwater distributed by the one or more dispersion units onto the condensing coil comprises determining what quantity of rainwater is required to achieve a desired condensing temperature. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of minimizing effects of suspended solids in the rainwater. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of minimizing effects of suspended solids in the rainwater comprises filtering the rainwater with a filtration device selected from a barrier filtration device, a screen, a cartridge, a bag, a centrifugal separator device and a settling filtration device. 
     
     
         17 . A system for cooling refrigeration condensing coils comprising:
 a reservoir for receiving and storing rainwater;   at least one conduit connected to the reservoir for transferring the rainwater to a liquid dispersion point; and   a regulator having a controller that is configured to distribute a specific amount of the rainwater over a condensing coil from the dispersion point.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the regulator is a valve or a pump. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising one or more sensors for determining when to distribute the rainwater over the condensing coil. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one conduit is a pipe.