Temperature-controlled cabinet with quick-connect compressor-condenser assembly

Abstract

Disclosed and described here are example temperature-controlled display cabinets having an interior conditioned space and a refrigeration circuit communicably coupled to a controller and charged with a refrigerant. The refrigeration circuit includes a compressor-condenser assembly removably coupled to the refrigeration circuit and/or temperature-controlled display cabinet. An evaporator is operably coupled to the refrigeration circuit, the evaporator is positioned at a bottom surface of the temperature-controlled display cabinet, and the compressor-condenser assembly is removably coupled to a top surface of the temperature-controlled display cabinet. Methods of installing temperature-controlled display cabinet with a charge of A3 refrigerant utilize disconnect fittings coupling the compressor-condenser assembly with the refrigeration circuit are further disclosed.

1 . A refrigeration system comprising:
 a display cabinet 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 comprising a compressor input and a first disconnect fitting coupling the compressor input to the refrigeration circuit; and 
 a condenser comprising a condenser output and a second disconnect fitting coupling the condenser output to the refrigeration circuit; 
   wherein the compressor-condenser assembly is configured to be removably coupled to the refrigeration circuit.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the compressor-condenser assembly and the refrigeration circuit comprise a full charge of the A3 refrigerant. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the compressor-condenser assembly is removably coupled to the display cabinet. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and the second disconnect fittings is a double shut-off quick disconnect fitting. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigeration system of  claim 4 , wherein the first and the second disconnect fittings are double shut-off quick disconnect fittings. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigeration circuit further comprises a suction line and a capillary tube configured to minimize a dimension of a liquid line. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigeration system of  claim 6 , wherein the compressor input is communicably coupled to the suction line via the first disconnect fitting. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigeration system of any one of  claim 6 , wherein the condenser output is communicably coupled to the capillary tube. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one evaporator. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigeration system of  claim 9 , wherein the evaporator is configured to be positioned at a bottom surface of the display cabinet. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigeration system of  claim 10 , wherein the compressor-condenser assembly is configured to be positioned at a top surface of the display cabinet opposite the bottom surface. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigeration system of  claim 9 , wherein the compressor-condenser assembly is configured to be positioned at a top surface of the display cabinet, and the evaporator is configured to be positioned at a bottom surface of the display cabinet opposite the top surface. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigeration system of any one of  claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of the suction line and at least a portion of the capillary tube are thermally coupled. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigeration system of  claim 13 , wherein the portion of the suction line and the portion of the capillary tube are adjacent to or coupled to a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigeration system of  claim 9 , wherein the evaporator is positioned within the conditioned space and the condenser is positioned exterior to the conditioned space. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigeration system  claim 1 , wherein the A3 refrigerant has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) value less than 10. 
     
     
         17 . 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. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the A3 refrigerant comprises propane. 
     
     
         19 . A temperature controlled display cabinet comprising:
 a conditioned space configured for temperature control; and   at least a portion of a refrigeration circuit containing a charge of an A3 refrigerant, the refrigeration circuit comprising:
 a suction line having a first end and a second end; 
 a first disconnect fitting coupled to the first end of the suction line, the first disconnect fitting configured to operably couple to a compressor input; 
 a capillary tube having a first end and a second end; and 
 a second disconnect fitting coupled to the first end of the capillary tube, the second disconnect fitting configured to operably couple to a condenser output. 
   
     
     
         20 . The temperature controlled display cabinet of  claim 19 , wherein the temperature controlled display cabinet is configured to operably couple to a compressor-condenser assembly, the compressor-condenser assembly comprising:
 a compressor comprising the compressor input; and   a condenser comprising the condenser output.   
     
     
         21 . The temperature controlled display cabinet of  claim 19 , wherein the compressor-condenser assembly is configured to be coupled to the display cabinet and the refrigeration circuit. 
     
     
         22 . The temperature controlled display cabinet of  claim 19 , wherein the A3 refrigerant comprises a maximum charge of 5.3 ounces (150 grams) per compressor. 
     
     
         23 . The temperature controlled display cabinet of  claim 19 , wherein the refrigerant comprises propane.