Temperature-controlled system with thermally isolated components

Abstract

Disclosed and described herein are example refrigeration units having an interior conditioned space and a refrigeration circuit charged with a refrigerant, such as an A3 refrigerant. The refrigeration circuit includes a compressor-condenser assembly that is thermally isolated from an ambient environment of the conditioned space. An air plenum structure may thermally isolate the compressor-condenser assembly from the ambient environment of the conditioned space and direct heated rejection from refrigeration system. In an operational configuration in which the refrigeration system is installed in a structure, the compressor-condenser assembly may be thermally isolated from the ambient environment of the conditioned space via at least a portion of the structure, such as by positioning the compressor-condenser assembly on an exterior wall of the structure and coupling the compressor-condenser with the refrigeration circuit and conditioned space through the wall.

1 . A refrigeration system comprising:
 a conditioned space; and   a refrigeration circuit configured to receive an A3 refrigerant, wherein the refrigeration circuit comprises:   a compressor-condenser assembly comprising:
 a compressor configured to be coupled to the refrigeration circuit; and 
 a condenser configured to be coupled to the refrigeration circuit, 
   wherein at least a portion of the compressor-condenser assembly is thermally isolated from an ambient environment of the conditioned space.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , further comprising an air plenum structure configured to thermally isolate the compressor-condenser assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigeration system  claim 2 , wherein the air plenum structure is configured to substantially envelop the compressor-condenser assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigeration system of  claim 2 , wherein the compressor-condenser assembly is configured to be positioned at a top surface of the conditioned space, and the air plenum structure is configured to be attached to the top surface. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigeration system of  claim 4 , further comprising an evaporator positioned within the conditioned space. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigeration system of  claim 4 , wherein the air plenum structure is removably attached to the top surface of the conditioned space. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigeration system of  claim 4 , wherein the attachment between the air plenum structure and the top surface is configured to substantially seal the compressor-condenser assembly within the air plenum structure. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigeration system of  claim 2 , wherein the air plenum structure defines:
 at least one plenum input in fluid communication with an external environment of the air plenum structure; and   at least one plenum output in fluid communication with the external environment of the air plenum structure.   
     
     
         9 . The refrigeration system of  claim 8 , wherein the external environment of the air plenum structure is thermally isolated from the ambient environment of the conditioned space. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigeration system of  claim 8 , wherein the air plenum structure defines a first air plenum input and a second air plenum input each of which are in fluid communication with the external environment of the air plenum structure. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigeration system of  claim 8 , further comprising an exhaust fan coupled to the at least one plenum output, wherein the exhaust fan is configured to force heated air within the air plenum structure to the external environment. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigeration system of  claim 2 , wherein a temperature within the air plenum structure is greater than a temperature of the external environment. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein, in an operational configuration in which the refrigeration system is installed in a structure, the compressor-condenser assembly is thermally isolated from the ambient environment of the conditioned space via at least a portion of the structure. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigeration system of  claim 13 , wherein the portion of the structure defines:
 a first surface proximate the conditioned space; and   a second surface opposite the first surface proximate the compressor-condenser assembly.   
     
     
         15 . The refrigeration system of  claim 13 , wherein the portion of the structure comprises an exterior wall of the structure. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigeration system of  claim 15 , wherein the exterior wall defines:
 a first surface proximate the conditioned space; and   a second surface opposite the first surface proximate the compressor-condenser assembly.   
     
     
         17 . The refrigeration system of  claim 16 , where the compressor-condenser assembly is disposed in an external environment of the structure proximate the second surface. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigeration system of  claim 13 , wherein the support structure defines one or more openings configured to at least partially receive a fluid line set therein, wherein the fluid line set is configured to provide fluid communication between compressor-condenser assembly and the conditioned space through the structure. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the compressor-condenser assembly and the refrigeration circuit comprise a full charge of the A3 refrigerant. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the compressor-condenser assembly further comprises:
 a first disconnect fitting coupling the compressor input to the refrigeration circuit; and   a second disconnect fitting coupling the condenser output to the refrigeration circuit.   
     
     
         21 . The refrigeration system of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of the first and the second disconnect fittings is a double shut-off quick disconnect fitting. 
     
     
         22 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the condenser further comprises a condenser output communicably coupled to a first end of a capillary tube; and   the compressor further comprises a compressor input and a compressor output.   
     
     
         23 . The refrigeration system of  claim 22 , further comprising an evaporator comprising an evaporator input and an evaporator output, wherein the evaporator input is communicably coupled to a second end of the capillary tube and the evaporator output is communicably coupled to a first end of a suction line, wherein at least a portion of the suction line and at least a portion of the capillary tube are thermally coupled. 
     
     
         24 . The refrigeration system of  claim 22 , wherein the compressor input is communicably coupled to a second end of the suction line. 
     
     
         25 . The refrigeration system of  claim 22 , wherein the compressor output is communicably coupled to the condenser. 
     
     
         26 . The refrigeration system of  claim 23 , wherein the portion of the suction line and the portion of the capillary tube are adjacent or coupled to a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         27 . The refrigeration system of  claim 22 , wherein the compressor input is communicably coupled to the suction line via a first disconnect fitting. 
     
     
         28 . The refrigeration system of  claim 21 , wherein the condenser output is communicably coupled to the capillary tube. 
     
     
         29 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the A3 refrigerant has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) value less than 10. 
     
     
         30 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigeration system further comprises a maximum charge of 5.3 ounces (150 grams) of the A3 refrigerant per compressor.