Heat Exchanger With Improved Condensate Disposal Arrangement

Abstract

A plate-finned coil unit diverges upwardly from the drain pan at an angle of less than 45.degree. in the direction of the airflow. The lower end of the coil terminates in the pan in close spaced relation to an end wall thereof. The pan has a top wall extending from that end wall toward the lower end of the coil. This arrangement provides a sump for the collection of condensate from the coil when the fan coil unit is installed in either the vertical or horizontal position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fan coil units are used as evaporators in air conditioning systems, especially in domestic installations for dispensing chilled air into room areas. Generally, fan coil units are installed in horizontal position. Such units include a coil positioned in a sheet metal cabinet which also contains a blower or the like for creating an airflow through the coil which is supplied with refrigerant or chilled water. A drain pan is arranged below the coil to collect condensation therefrom.

In some instances, it is desirable to install the fan coil unit in vertical position to better provide for the connection of ductwork to the unit. At present, it is the custom to manufacture and stock the units in two types, one for horizontal mounting and the other for vertical mounting. In lieu of stocking two types of complete fan coil units, two different types of drain pans may be produced for assembly into the units on order to provide a desired type of unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The fan coil unit of my invention embodies a structural arrangement whereby the fan coil unit may be manufactured and stocked as a standard item and can be installed in either the vertical or horizontal position. The plate-finned coil is mounted in the cabinet and inclines upwardly from the drain pan at an angle of less than 45.degree. to the horizontal and in the direction of the airflow from the fan. The lower end of the coil terminates adjacent one end of the pan which is formed with a top wall extending from that end toward the pan whereby the unit, including the pan, is installed in vertical position. A sump is provided for collecting the condensation from the coil.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the fan coil unit in horizontal position with a sidewall of the cabinet and the drain pan removed;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line II-II of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating the unit in vertical position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The unit comprises an open-ended cabinet having a bottom wall 10, sidewalls 11, and a top wall 12. Conventionally, insulating material 13 is attached to the inner surfaces of the cabinet walls. A motor-driven blower fan 15 is mounted in one end of the cabinet and is effective to create an airflow in a direction lengthwise through the cabinet.

A fan coil unit 17 is mounted in the cabinet intermediate the fan 15 and the opposite end of the cabinet. The coil unit consists of a multiplicity of tubes 20 extending transversely of the cabinet and connected at their ends by headers 21. A series of thin metallic plates 23 are apertured for mounting on the tubes 20 to effectively increase the heat transfer. The coil unit 17 is supported in the cabinet by brackets 27 and inclines upwardly from a drain pan 30 mounted in the cabinet contiguous to the bottom wall 10. The inclination of the coil unit 17 is less than 45.degree. to the cabinet bottom wall 10. This inclination of the coil unit is advantageous in that the height of the unit, when mounted horizontally, is minimized which allows installation of the unit in soffit areas over living spaces with no additional overall height in single or multiple-story buildings. Another advantage in mounting the coil unit 17 at an angle of less than 45.degree. to the cabinet wall 10 is that when the unit is mounted in vertical position as shown in FIG. 3, the moisture will gravitate down the fin plates 23 without dripping off the unit, and the moisture will be discharged into the drain pan 30.

The lower end of the fan coil unit terminates in the drain pan 30 adjacent the end wall 33 of the pan. The pan is also formed with a top wall 35 which extends from the end wall 33 toward the lower end of the coil unit 17. (See FIG. 1.) With this arrangement, when the unit is mounted vertically as in FIG. 3, the top wall 35 then in vertical position forms in conjunction with the end wall 33, and contiguous portion of the bottom wall 37 of the pan, a sump for the collection of condensate from the coil unit. As shown in FIG. 1, this sump portion of the pan is formed with a primary drainage outlet located in proximity to the end wall 33 and the bottom wall 37. The pan is also formed with a secondary drainage outlet 41. The drainage outlets 40, 41 are formed in a sidewall 43 of the pan.

The secondary outlet 41 is located in spaced relation to the end wall 33 and in proximity to the inner edge of the top wall 35. Accordingly, the drainage outlet 41 is located above the outlet 40 with the unit disposed horizontally as in FIG. 1 and also above the drainage outlet 40 when the unit is installed in vertical position (FIG. 3). The outlets 40, 41 are connected to a suitable drain and the outlet 41 is connected in such manner that any drainage from it is visible and serves as an indication that the primary drain 40 has become plugged. This arrangement is of importance in view of the fact that these fan coil units are often mounted in ceiling structures in homes, and it is accordingly important that the sump portion of the pan does not overflow.

Claims

I claim:

1. A fan coil structure for use in air-conditioning systems comprising a cabinet open at the ends and having bottom, side, and top walls; means for creating an airflow through said cabinet from end to end; a drain pan mounted in said cabinet contiguous to the bottom wall thereof and extending in a direction lengthwise of the cabinet, said pan being formed with bottom, side, and end walls; a plate-finned coil unit mounted above said drain pan and inclining upwardly therefrom at an angle of less than 45.degree. to the horizontal and in the direction of said airflow, the lower end of said coil unit terminating in said pan and spaced in proximity to one end wall thereof, said pan having a top wall extending outwardly from the upper edge of said one end wall along the upper edges of said sidewalls toward the lower end of said coil and forming in conjunction with the contiguous portions of the pan a drainage sump portion when said cabinet is disposed in vertical position; and a drain aperture formed in said sump portion contiguous to the bottom wall of said pan and said one end wall thereof, and a second drain aperture located in a sidewall of said pan in proximity to the outer edge of said top wall.