Condensate management systems and methods

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to present disclosure relates to a heating and cooling system having a duct liner configured to be disposed within an air duct and at least partially downstream of a heat exchanger coil relative to a direction of airflow within the air duct. The duct liner includes a tube and is configured to flow fluid from the heat exchanger coil toward a drain of the heating and cooling system.

1 . A heating and cooling system, comprising:
 a duct liner configured to be disposed within an air duct and at least partially downstream of a heat exchanger coil relative to a direction of airflow within the air duct, wherein the duct liner comprises a tube, and wherein the duct liner is configured to flow fluid from the heat exchanger coil toward a drain of the heating and cooling system.   
     
     
         2 . The heating and cooling system of  claim 1 , comprising a drain pan configured to collect the fluid and flow the fluid to the drain, wherein the drain pan is disposed within the air duct beneath the heat exchanger coil. 
     
     
         3 . The heating and cooling system of  claim 2 , wherein the duct liner is disposed vertically above the drain pan. 
     
     
         4 . The heating and cooling system of  claim 2 , wherein the duct liner is disposed at an angle relative to the drain pan to direct the fluid to the drain pain. 
     
     
         5 . The heating and cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the duct liner substantially matches a curvature of an interior surface of the air duct. 
     
     
         6 . The heating and cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the duct liner is a curvilinear tube. 
     
     
         7 . The heating and cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the duct liner is a rectilinear tube. 
     
     
         8 . The heating and cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the duct liner is conical. 
     
     
         9 . The heating and cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the duct liner is cylindrical. 
     
     
         10 . The heating and cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the duct liner comprises a lip extending radially inward from a downstream edge of the duct liner. 
     
     
         11 . The heating and cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the duct liner is configured to encircle a downstream portion of the heat exchanger coil. 
     
     
         12 . The heating and cooling system of  claim 1 , comprising an evaporator, wherein the evaporator comprises the heat exchanger coil. 
     
     
         13 . The heating and cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional area of the duct liner is adjustable. 
     
     
         14 . The heating and cooling system of  claim 1 , comprising an air gap disposed between the duct liner and the air duct. 
     
     
         15 . A heat exchanger system, comprising:
 an evaporator coil configured to condense a vapor within air flowing through the heat exchanger system; and   a duct liner configured to encircle the evaporator coil and extend downstream of the evaporator coil, wherein the duct liner is configured to guide condensate from the vapor toward a drain of the heat exchanger system.   
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 15 , comprising a drain pan, wherein the duct liner is disposed vertically above the drain pan. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 16 , wherein the duct liner is sloped downward toward the drain pan. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 15 , wherein the evaporator coil is configured to be disposed in a horizontal right heat exchanger configuration and a horizontal left heat exchanger configuration, and wherein duct liner is configured to encircle the evaporator coil in the horizontal right heat exchanger configuration and the horizontal left heat exchanger configuration in a common position within an air duct of the heat exchanger system. 
     
     
         19 . A heating and cooling system, comprising:
 a duct configured to flow air in a downstream direction, comprising:
 a heat exchanger coil; and 
 a drain pan configured to surround the heat exchanger coil and configured to guide condensate from the air to a drain of the heating and cooling system. 
   
     
     
         20 . The heating and cooling system of  claim 19 , wherein the drain pan comprises a conical tube. 
     
     
         21 . The heating and cooling system of  claim 19 , wherein the drain pan extends approximately 12 to 18 inches downstream of the heat exchanger coil. 
     
     
         22 . The heating and cooling system of  claim 19 , wherein the drain pan comprises the drain, wherein the drain is configured to direct the condensate to a location external to the duct. 
     
     
         23 . The heating and cooling system of  claim 19 , wherein the drain pan comprises a separation along a length of the drain pan. 
     
     
         24 . The heating and cooling system of  claim 19 , wherein the drain pan comprises a lip extending radially inward from a downstream edge of the drain pan.