Modular refrigeration system

Abstract

A refrigerated merchandiser and a method for operating a refrigerated merchandiser. The refrigerated merchandiser can include a case, a first modular refrigeration unit, and a second modular refrigeration unit. The first modular refrigeration unit can be removably coupled to the case in fluid communication with a first refrigeration zone to maintain the first refrigeration zone at a first temperature. The second modular refrigeration unit can be removably coupled to the case in fluid communication with a second refrigeration zone to maintain the second refrigeration zone at a second temperature. The method can include removably positioning the first modular refrigeration unit and the second modular refrigeration unit in the refrigerated merchandiser, and maintaining the first refrigerated zone at a first temperature and the second refrigerated zone at a second temperature.

1 . A refrigerated merchandiser comprising: 
 a case including a first accessible compartment and a second accessible compartment spaced from the first accessible compartment;    a first modular refrigeration unit configured to be installed into the first accessible compartment such that the first modular refrigeration unit is in fluid communication with a first refrigeration zone when installed in the first accessible compartment to maintain the first refrigeration zone at a first temperature, the first modular refrigeration unit comprising a first evaporator assembly and a first condenser assembly; and    a second modular refrigeration unit configured to be installed into the second accessible compartment such that the second modular refrigeration unit is in fluid communication with a second refrigeration zone when installed in the second accessible compartment to maintain the second refrigeration zone at a second temperature, the second modular refrigeration unit comprising a second evaporator assembly and a second condenser assembly.    
   
   
       2 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein the second temperature is different from the first temperature.  
   
   
       3 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein the first refrigeration zone and the second refrigeration zone define at least a portion of a product display area.  
   
   
       4 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein the first modular refrigeration unit and the second modular refrigeration unit are interchangeable.  
   
   
       5 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein the first modular refrigeration unit and the second modular refrigeration unit each include a pre-selected refrigeration capacity.  
   
   
       6 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein the first modular refrigeration unit and the second modular refrigeration unit each include a variable refrigeration capacity.  
   
   
       7 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein the first evaporator assembly and the second evaporator assembly each include an evaporator.  
   
   
       8 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein the first condenser assembly and the second condenser assembly each include a compressor and a condenser.  
   
   
       9 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the first modular refrigeration unit at least partially defines the first refrigeration zone when installed in the first accessible compartment, and    the second modular refrigeration unit at least partially defines the second refrigeration zone when installed in the second accessible compartment.    
   
   
       10 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the first modular refrigeration unit comprises a first shelf that at least partially defines at least one of: 
 the first refrigeration zone, and  
 an air passage through which air is circulated between the first modular refrigeration unit and the first refrigeration zone  
   when the first modular refrigeration unit is installed in the first accessible compartment.    
   
   
       11 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the first modular refrigeration unit creates a first airflow to maintain the first temperature of the first refrigeration zone,    the second modular refrigeration unit creates a second airflow to maintain the second temperature of the second refrigeration zone, and    at least a portion of the first airflow is separated from at least a portion of the second airflow by at least one dividing wall.    
   
   
       12 . A method for operating a refrigerated merchandiser, the method comprising: 
 providing a first refrigerated zone in a case of the refrigerated merchandiser;    providing a second refrigerated zone in the case;    removably positioning a first modular refrigeration unit in the refrigerated merchandiser such that the first modular refrigeration unit is in fluid communication with the first refrigerated zone, the first modular refrigeration unit comprising an evaporator assembly and a condenser assembly;    maintaining the first refrigerated zone at a first temperature with the first modular refrigeration unit;    removably positioning a second modular refrigeration unit in the refrigerated merchandiser such that the second modular refrigeration unit is in fluid communication with the second refrigerated zone, the second modular refrigeration unit comprising an evaporator assembly and a condenser assembly; and    maintaining the second refrigerated zone at a second temperature with the second modular refrigeration unit.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising 
 removing the first modular refrigeration unit from the refrigerated merchandiser, and    removably positioning a third modular refrigeration unit in the refrigerated merchandiser such that the third modular refrigeration unit is in fluid communication with the first refrigerated zone.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first modular refrigeration unit has a first refrigeration capacity and the second modular refrigeration unit has a second refrigeration capacity, and further comprising varying at least one of the first refrigeration capacity and the second refrigeration capacity.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising interchanging the first modular refrigeration unit and the second modular refrigeration unit.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 maintaining the first refrigeration zone at the second temperature; and    maintaining the second refrigeration zone at the first temperature.    
   
   
       17 . A refrigerated merchandiser comprising: 
 a case;    a first modular refrigeration unit removably coupled to the case in fluid communication with a first refrigeration zone to maintain the first refrigeration zone at a first temperature, the first modular refrigeration unit comprising an evaporator assembly and a condenser assembly; and    a second modular refrigeration unit removably coupled to the case in fluid communication with a second refrigeration zone to maintain the second refrigeration zone at a second temperature, the second modular refrigeration unit comprising an evaporator assembly and a condenser assembly.    
   
   
       18 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 17 , wherein the second temperature is different from the first temperature.  
   
   
       19 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 17 , wherein the first refrigeration zone and the second refrigeration zone define at least a portion of a product display area.  
   
   
       20 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 17 , wherein the first modular refrigeration unit and the second modular refrigeration unit are interchangeable.  
   
   
       21 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 17 , wherein the first modular refrigeration unit and the second modular refrigeration unit each include a pre-selected refrigeration capacity.  
   
   
       22 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 17 , wherein the first modular refrigeration unit and the second modular refrigeration unit each include a user-manipulatable refrigeration capacity.  
   
   
       23 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 17 , wherein the first evaporator assembly and the second evaporator assembly each include an evaporator.  
   
   
       24 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 17 , wherein the first condenser assembly and the second condenser assembly each include a compressor and a condenser.  
   
   
       25 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 17 , wherein: 
 the first modular refrigeration unit at least partially defines the first refrigeration zone, and    the second modular refrigeration unit at least partially defines the second refrigeration zone.    
   
   
       26 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 17 , wherein: 
 the first modular refrigeration unit comprises a first shelf that at least partially defines at least one of: 
 the first refrigeration zone, and  
 an air passage through which air is circulated between the first modular refrigeration unit and the first refrigeration zone.  
   
   
   
       27 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 a first air passage defined in the refrigerated merchandiser through which air is circulated between the first refrigeration zone and the first modular refrigeration unit; and    a second air passage defined in the refrigerated merchandiser through which air is circulated between the second refrigeration zone and the second modular refrigeration unit, and wherein at least a portion of the second air passage is separated from at least a portion of the first air passage by at least one dividing wall.    
   
   
       28 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 17 , wherein: 
 the first refrigeration zone and the second refrigeration zone are two of a plurality of refrigeration zones, and    the first modular refrigeration unit and the second modular refrigeration unit are two of a plurality of modular refrigeration units, each of the plurality of modular refrigeration units removably coupled to the case in fluid communication with one of the plurality of refrigeration zones.    
   
   
       29 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 17 , wherein the first refrigeration zone and the second refrigeration zone are each independently controlled.