Capillary tube/plate refrigerant/air heat exchanger for use in conjunction with a method and apparatus for inhibiting ice accumulation in HVAC systems

Abstract

A non-stick coating, which inhibits frozen moisture accumulation, is applied to the exterior exposed portions of a refrigerant/air heat exchanger, which heat exchanger is comprised of a capillary tube/plate means/design, which plate has an exterior surface that is comprised of at least one of raised dots, ridges, trenches, and a flat surface, which means/design facilitates the shedding of frozen moisture and maximizes heat exchanger surface area exposure to the air; for use in conjunction with an air source heat pump system, an evaporative cooling system or a chiller, or as a supplement to a water-source heat pump system or to a direct expansion heat pump system; and for use with any other refrigerant-based heating system or cooling system.

1 . A heat transfer system comprising at least one heat exchange component having at least one heat exchange surface plate and a non-stick coating applied to the at least one heat exchange surface plate, the non-stick coating adapted to inhibit adherence of frozen moisture to the at least one heat exchange surface plate.  
     
     
         2 . The heat transfer system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one heat exchange surface plate component comprises at least one heat conductive plate, which plate contains at least one of refrigerant fluid transport tubing and refrigerant fluid transport passageways.  
     
     
         3 . The heat exchange surface plate component of  claim 2  wherein the surface of the plate is comprised of at least one of raised dots, ridges, trenches, and a flat surface.  
     
     
         4 . The heat transfer system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one heat exchange surface plate component is oriented to promote gravity flow of frozen moisture away from the at least one heat exchange component.  
     
     
         5 . In a heat exchange system such as an air-source heat pump system, an open loop or closed loop water-source heat pump system, a direct expansion heat pump system, or an evaporative cooling system, the heat exchange system having at least one heat exchange component comprised of at least one heat exchange surface plate, which plate contains at least one of refrigerant transport tubing and refrigerant transport passageways, and a non-stick coating applied to the exterior of the at least one heat exchange surface plate, with such heat exchange surface plate component being oriented to promote gravity flow of frozen moisture away from the at least one heat exchange component.  
     
     
         6 . A heat transfer method comprising having at least one heat exchange component, which component has at least one heat exchange surface plate, with a non-stick coating applied to the at least one heat exchange surface plate, with the non-stick coating adapted to inhibit adherence of frozen moisture to the at least one heat exchange surface plate.  
     
     
         7 . The heat transfer method of  claim 6  wherein the at least one heat exchange surface plate component is comprised of at least one heat conductive plate, which plate contains at least one of refrigerant fluid transport tubing and refrigerant fluid transport passageways.  
     
     
         8 . The heat transfer method of  claim 7  comprising at least one heat exchange surface plate wherein the surface of the plate is comprised of at least one of raised dots, ridges, trenches, and a flat surface.  
     
     
         9 . The heat transfer method of  claim 6  comprising at least one heat exchange surface plate component that is oriented to promote gravity flow of frozen moisture away from the at least one heat exchange component.  
     
     
         10 . A heat exchange method utilizing an air-source heat pump system, an open loop or closed loop water-source heat pump system, a direct expansion heat pump system, or an evaporative cooling system, comprising a method where the heat exchange system has at least one heat exchange component comprised of at least one heat exchange surface plate, which plate contains at least one of refrigerant transport tubing and refrigerant transport passageways, and a non-stick coating applied to the exterior of the at least one heat exchange surface plate, with such heat exchange surface plate component being oriented to promote gravity flow of frozen moisture away from the at least one heat exchange component.