Air conditioner condenser cooler

Abstract

An air conditioner condenser cooler is disclosed that includes a source of cooling fluid, means for atomizing the fluid, and means for directing the atomized fluid adjacent an associated air conditioner. The atomized fluid reduces the temperature of the ambient air drawn across the condenser through the adiabatic process. The reduced temperature of the air facilitates the efficient transfer of heat energy from the condenser to the ambient air minimizing the energy consumption required for the air conditioner to provide a desired level of cooling.

1 . An air conditioner condenser cooler comprising:
 a source of cooling fluid;   means for atomizing the fluid; and   means for directing the atomized fluid adjacent an associated air conditioner, wherein the atomized fluid causes an adiabatic cooling of the air drawn across the condenser facilitating an efficient transfer of heat energy from the condenser to the ambient air.   
   
   
       2 . The air conditioner condenser cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooling fluid is water. 
   
   
       3 . The air conditioner condenser cooler according to  claim 2 , including a water softener disposed between the source of cooling fluid and the means for atomizing the fluid. 
   
   
       4 . The air conditioner condenser cooler according to  claim 3 , wherein the water softener softens the fluid to be atomized to four grains of hardness or less. 
   
   
       5 . The air conditioner condenser cooler according to  claim 2 , including a water filter disposed between the source of cooling fluid and the means for atomizing the fluid. 
   
   
       6 . The air conditioner condenser cooler according to  claim 5 , wherein the water filter filters the fluid to be atomized of particles five microns and greater. 
   
   
       7 . The air conditioner condenser cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for atomizing the fluid includes:
 a pump in fluid communication with the source of fluid;   an expansion tank in fluid communication with the pump, the expansion tank adapted to maintain a volume of pressurized fluid received from the pump;   at least one fluid distribution conduit in fluid communication with the expansion tank; and   at least one nozzle disposed in the distribution conduit to discharge atomized fluid into the ambient air.   
   
   
       8 . The air conditioner condenser cooler according to  claim 7 , wherein the expansion tank includes a normally closed solenoid actuated valve to selectively release the pressurized fluid from the expansion tank into the at least one distribution conduit. 
   
   
       9 . The air conditioner condenser cooler according to  claim 7 , wherein the expansion tank includes a pressure switch in electrical communication with the pump, the switch effective to selectively energize the pump to maintain a desired fluid pressure within the expansion tank. 
   
   
       10 . The air conditioner condenser cooler according to  claim 9 , wherein the desired water pressure is between about 125 and 150 psi. 
   
   
       11 . The air conditioner condenser cooler according to  claim 7 , wherein the nozzle atomizes the fluid to a mean diameter droplet size between about 5 and 30 microns. 
   
   
       12 . The air conditioner condenser cooler according to  claim 8 , including an electronic controller in electrical communication with the air conditioner and the solenoid actuated valve of the expansion tank, the controller effective to open the solenoid actuated valve. 
   
   
       13 . The air conditioner condenser cooler according to  claim 12 , wherein the electronic controller is in electrical communication with an ambient temperature sensor, an ambient relative humidity sensor, a condenser exhaust air temperature sensor, and a rain sensor, the electrical input from the sensors employed to calculate the discharge of the atomized fluid for the adiabatic cooling of the air drawn across the condenser. 
   
   
       14 . The air conditioner condenser cooler according to  claim 13 , including a solenoid actuated drainage valve disposed in the at least one distribution channel and in electrical communication with the controller, the controller effective to selectively open the solenoid actuated valve. 
   
   
       15 . The air conditioner condenser cooler according to  claim 7 , wherein the means for directing the atomized fluid includes a frame adjacent the air conditioner. 
   
   
       16 . The air conditioner condenser cooler according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least one distribution conduit is secured to the frame. 
   
   
       17 . The air conditioner condenser cooler according to  claim 15 , wherein a plurality of the distribution conduits are secured to the frame having respective nozzles disposed therein to provide at least one nozzle for about each 288 square inches of an outer surface area of an air conditioner condenser. 
   
   
       18 . The air conditioner condenser cooler according to  claim 15 , wherein a covering is attached to the frame, the covering adapted to shield the discharged atomized fluid from wind. 
   
   
       19 . An air conditioner condenser cooler comprising:
 a source of cooling water;   a pump in fluid communication with the source of water;   a water softener and a water filter disposed between the source of water and the pump;   an expansion tank in fluid communication with the pump, the expansion tank adapted to maintain a volume of pressurized water received from the pump;   at least one fluid distribution conduit in fluid communication with the expansion tank;   a normally closed solenoid actuated valve disposed between the expansion tank and the distribution conduit to selectively release the pressurized water from the expansion tank into the distribution conduit;   at least one nozzle disposed in the distribution conduit to discharge atomized water into the ambient air;   an electronic controller in electrical communication with the air conditioner, the solenoid actuated supply valve, and an ambient temperature sensor, an ambient relative humidity sensor, a condenser exhaust air temperature sensor, and a rain sensor, the electrical input from the sensors employed to calculate the necessity to open and close the solenoid actuated supply valve; and   a frame adjacent the air conditioner, the distribution conduit attached to the frame to direct the atomized water adjacent the air conditioning unit, the frame including a covering attached to thereto, wherein the atomized water causes an adiabatic cooling of the air drawn across the condenser facilitating an efficient transfer of heat energy from the condenser to the ambient air.   
   
   
       20 . A method of absorbing heat energy from the condenser of an air conditioning unit including the steps of:
 providing a source of evaporative fluid;   providing means for atomizing the fluid; and   providing means for directing the atomized fluid adjacent the air conditioning unit, wherein the atomized fluid causes an adiabatic cooling of the air drawn across the condenser facilitating an efficient transfer of heat from the condenser to the air.