Method and apparatus for cooling and dehumidifying air

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for rapidly cooling and dehumidifying air within a space. In this method, air to be cooled and dehumidified is forced into a cooling zone including an evaporator ( 101 ) having fins ( 103 ) forming air channels. The fins and the air channels are preferably substantially vertical. Air is circulated above method and apparatus for carrying out the same between the space and the cooling zone in such a manner is that the evaporator can be completely cleaned and sanitized in a few minutes. Since the apparatus allows rapid shedding of any condensation off of the evaporator, freeze-ups never occur. Defrosting is thus eliminated, saving precious time and electrical energy. The above apparatus is particularly adapted for rapidly cooling food.

1 . A method for cooling and dehumidifying air within a space, comprising the steps of: 
 forcing said air to be dehumidified into a cooling zone, said cooling zone including an evaporator plate having a plurality of fins forming air channels;    continuously evacuating from said cooling zone droplets of condensed water resulting from condensation; and    circulating air within said cooling zone in such a manner that said air circulates within said air channels, said air being cooled and dehumidified by said evaporator plate, the humidity within said air being condensed on said evaporator plate.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the following step: 
 preventing formation of a cold water layer on the surface of said evaporator plate by rapidly removing said droplets of condensed water from said surface of said evaporator plate.    
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said droplets of condensed water are rapidly removed from said evaporator plate by circulating said air along said air channels, and are evacuated from said cooling zone before freezing.  
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said air channels are being substantially vertical in such a manner that said air circulates substantially vertically downward.  
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said fins are covered by a hydrophobic coating.  
   
   
       6 . An apparatus for cooling and dehumidifying air within a space, comprising: 
 a housing;    at least one cooling zone located within said housing, said at least one cooling zone having at least one inlet in communication with said space, said at least one cooling zone also having at least one outlet in communication with said space;    at least one fan for circulating air between said space and said at least one cooling zone; and    means located within said at least one cooling zone for continuously evacuating droplets of condensed water resulting from condensation,    said at least one cooling zone including at least one evaporator plate located between said at least one inlet and outlet of said at least one cooling zone, said at least one evaporator plate having a plurality of fins forming air channels within which said air circulates.    
   
   
       7 . An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said air channels are being substantially vertical in such a manner that said air circulates substantially vertically downward.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said fins are covered by a hydrophobic coating.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said fan is devised to circulate air with enough velocity to remove said droplets of condensed water from said at least one evaporator plate.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said at least one evaporator plate comprises an internal refrigerant circuit embedded therein.  
   
   
       11 . An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein each of said fins has a base and a tip and said fins are thicker at the base than at the tip.  
   
   
       12 . An apparatus according to any one of claims  claim 6  toll, wherein said means for evacuating droplets of condensed water comprises a drain.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said means for evacuating droplets of condensed water comprises a recipient for collecting water.  
   
   
       14 . A cooling apparatus for food comprising: 
 an insulated housing;    at least one food zone located in said insulated housing for receiving food to be cooled, said at least one food zone having at least one inlet and at least one outlet;    at least one cooling zone located within said insulated housing, said at least one cooling zone having at least one inlet in communication with said at least one outlet of said at least one food zone, said at least one cooling zone also having at least one outlet in communication with said at least one inlet of said at least one food zone;    at least one fan for circulating air between said at least one food zone and said at least one cooling zone; and    means located within said at least one cooling zone for continuously evacuating droplets of condensed water resulting from condensation,    said at least one cooling zone including at least one evaporator plate located between said at least one inlet and outlet of said at least one cooling zone, said at least one evaporator plate having a plurality of fins forming air channels within which said air circulates.    
   
   
       15 . A cooling apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein said air channels are being substantially vertical in such a manner that said air circulates substantially vertically downward.  
   
   
       16 . A cooling apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein said fins are covered by a hydrophobic coating.  
   
   
       17 . A cooling apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein said fan is devised to circulate air with enough velocity to remove said droplets of condensed water from said at least one evaporator plate.  
   
   
       18 . A cooling apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein said at least one evaporator plate comprises an internal refrigerant circuit embedded therein.  
   
   
       19 . A cooling apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein each of said fins has a base and a tip and said fins are thicker at the base than at the tip.  
   
   
       20 . A cooling apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein said means for evacuating droplets of condensed water comprises a drain.  
   
   
       21 . A cooling apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein said means for evacuating droplets of condensed water comprises a recipient for collecting water.  
   
   
       22 . A cooling apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the housing comprises two sides opposite to each other, each of said sides having one of said at least one food zone with said at least one outlet of said one food zone located on top of it, each of said sides also comprising one of said at least one cooling zone and at least one opening located at a bottom of said at least one cooling zone, said opening defining said inlet of said at least one food zone and said outlet of said at least one cooling zone.  
   
   
       23 . A cooling apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein each of said sides is provided with a plate defining a plenum located within said at least one food zone, said plenum being in communication with said at least one inlet of said food zone, each of said plates being provided with a plurality of openings, the openings of each of said plates at one end being offset with respect to the openings of the same plate at the other end.