Dual-source intake air-conditioning systems

Abstract

Methods and systems for drawing air from different sources into an air-conditioner or an air-conditioning (AC) system based on control logic and to use condensate water formed on an evaporator to improve the heat rejection of a condenser coil, thereby improving energy efficiency, are described. Some implementations may include a configurable internal ducting system configured to draw air from at least one of an indoor source or an outdoor source. In some implementations, the air-conditioning system may include a control logic to determine whether the air is to be drawn from the indoor source or the outdoor source.In some implementations, the air-conditioning system may include an evaporator condensate reservoir to store condensate water collected from one or more evaporator coils of the air-conditioning system and an evaporator condensate pump to spray the stored condensate water on one or more condenser coils of the air-conditioning system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air-conditioning system comprising:
 a configurable internal ducting system, wherein the configurable internal ducting system can be configured to draw air from at least one of an indoor source or an outdoor source; and   a control logic to determine whether the air is to be drawn from the indoor source or the outdoor source.   
     
     
         2 . The air-conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the control logic is configured to reduce energy consumption of the air-conditioning system. 
     
     
         3 . The air-conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the control logic causes the air to be drawn from the indoor source when indoor air from the indoor source is cooler than outdoor air from the outdoor source. 
     
     
         4 . The air-conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the control logic causes the air to be drawn from the outdoor source when outdoor air from the outdoor source is cooler than indoor air from the indoor source. 
     
     
         5 . The air-conditioning system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an evaporator, wherein the air is drawn from at least one of the indoor source or the outdoor source through the evaporator.   
     
     
         6 . The air-conditioning system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an interior intake fan, wherein the air from the indoor source is recirculated through the interior intake fan; and   an exterior intake fan, wherein the air from the outdoor source is circulated through the exterior intake fan.   
     
     
         7 . The air-conditioning system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an interior intake fan, wherein the air from the indoor source is vented out through the interior intake fan.   
     
     
         8 . The air-conditioning system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a single motor to operate an interior fan and an exterior fan,   wherein the configurable internal ducting system includes a single moveable plate that controls an intake air source and is moveable to select an interior air source or an exterior air source.   
     
     
         9 . An air-conditioning system comprising:
 an evaporator condensate reservoir to store condensate water collected from one or more evaporator coils of the air-conditioning system;   an evaporator condensate pump to spray the stored condensate water on one or more condenser coils of the air-conditioning system; and   a control logic configured to control the air-conditioning system.   
     
     
         10 . The air-conditioning system of  claim 9 , wherein the control logic determines whether the evaporator condensate reservoir is full. 
     
     
         11 . The air-conditioning system of  claim 9 , wherein the control logic determines a time during which the evaporator condensate pump should be in operation. 
     
     
         12 . The air-conditioning system of  claim 9 , wherein the control logic determines a duration for which the evaporator condensate pump should be in operation. 
     
     
         13 . The air-conditioning system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a configurable internal ducting system, wherein the configurable internal ducting system can be configured to draw air from at least one of an indoor source or an outdoor source; and   an evaporator, wherein the air is drawn from at least one of the indoor source or the outdoor source via the configurable internal ducting system through the evaporator,   wherein the control logic is further configured to determine whether the air is to be drawn from the indoor source or the outdoor source.   
     
     
         14 . The air-conditioning system of  claim 13 , wherein the control logic determines whether a temperature of the air from the outdoor source is below a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         15 . The air-conditioning system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 an interior intake fan, wherein the air from the indoor source is recirculated through the interior intake fan.   
     
     
         16 . The air-conditioning system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 an interior intake fan, wherein the air from the indoor source is vented out through the interior intake fan.   
     
     
         17 . The air-conditioning system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 an exterior intake fan, wherein the air from the outdoor source is circulated through the exterior intake fan.   
     
     
         18 . The air-conditioning system of  claim 13 , wherein the control logic causes the air to be drawn from the indoor source when indoor air from the indoor source is cooler than outdoor air from the outdoor source. 
     
     
         19 . The air-conditioning system of  claim 9 , wherein the control logic causes the air to be drawn from an outdoor source when outdoor air from the outdoor source is cooler than indoor air from an indoor source. 
     
     
         20 . An air-conditioning system comprising:
 a configurable internal ducting system, wherein the configurable internal ducting system can be configured to draw air from at least one of an indoor source or an outdoor source;   an evaporator condensate reservoir to store condensate water collected from one or more evaporator coils of the air-conditioning system;   an evaporator condensate pump to spray the stored condensate water on one or more condenser coils of the air-conditioning system; and   a control logic to determine, based on a selection of a user, whether the air is to be drawn from the indoor source or the outdoor source.