Foul-Resistant Finned Tube Condenser

Abstract

A condenser coil for a refrigerated merchandiser includes a plurality of refrigerant carrying members and a first plurality of fins and a second plurality of fins connected in heat transfer relationship with the refrigerant carrying members. The first and second pluralities of fins are disposed alternately in generally parallel, laterally spaced relationship. In order to reduce the likelihood of fouling by the bridging of fibers between fins at the face of the condenser coil, the leading edge of the first plurality of fins extending upstream with respect to flow of air passing through the condenser coil beyond the leading edges of the second plurality of fins.

1 . A condenser coil for connection in refrigerant flow communication with a refrigerant vapor compression system for passing refrigerant in heat exchange relationship with air passing through said condenser coil, said condenser coil including:
 a plurality of refrigerant carrying members aligned in generally parallel relationship; and   a plurality of fins connected in heat transfer relationship with said plurality of refrigerant carrying members, said plurality of fins extending generally orthogonally relative to said plurality of refrigerant carrying members and disposed in generally parallel, laterally spaced relationship in general alignment with the flow of air passing through said condenser coil; characterized in that said plurality of fins comprises a first plurality of fins and a second plurality of fins disposed alternately in generally parallel, laterally spaced relationship, each of said first plurality of fins and said second plurality of fins having a leading edge, the leading edge of said first plurality of fins extending upstream with respect to flow of air passing through said condenser coil beyond the leading edges of said second plurality of fins.   
   
   
       2 . A condenser coil as recited in  claim 1  further characterized in that said fins are disposed in laterally spaced relationship at a fin spacing of less than about 0.4 inches. 
   
   
       3 . A condenser coil as recited in  claim 1  further characterized in that said fins are disposed in laterally spaced relationship at a fin spacing in the range from about 0.2 inches to about 0.75 inches. 
   
   
       4 . A condenser coil as recited in  claim 1  further characterized in that each fin of said first plurality of fins include a fin extension member affixed to a forward portion thereof. 
   
   
       5 . A condenser coil as recited in  claim 1  further characterized in that each fin of said second plurality of fins has a leading portion that is folded back upon itself. 
   
   
       6 . A condenser coil for connection in refrigerant flow communication with a refrigerant vapor compression system for passing refrigerant in heat exchange relationship with air passing through said condenser coil, said condenser coil including:
 a plurality of refrigerant carrying members aligned in generally parallel relationship; and   a plurality of fins connected in heat transfer relationship with said plurality of refrigerant carrying members, said plurality of fins extending generally orthogonally relative to said plurality of refrigerant carrying members and disposed in generally parallel, laterally spaced relationship in general alignment with the flow of air passing through said condenser coil; characterized in that said plurality of fins comprises a first plurality of fins, a second plurality of fins and a third plurality of fins disposed alternately in generally parallel, laterally spaced relationship, each of said first plurality of fins, said second plurality of fins and said third plurality of fins having a leading edge, the leading edge of said first plurality of fins extending upstream with respect to flow of air passing through said condenser coil beyond the leading edges of said second plurality of fins and said third plurality of fins.   
   
   
       7 . A condenser coil as recited in  claim 4  further characterized in that the leading edge of said second plurality of fins extends upstream with respect to flow of air passing through said condenser coil beyond the leading edge of said third plurality of fins. 
   
   
       8 . A condenser coil as recited in  claim 6  further characterized in that said fins are disposed in laterally spaced relationship at a fin spacing of less than about 0.4 inches. 
   
   
       9 . A condenser coil as recited in  claim 6  further characterized in that said fins are disposed in laterally spaced relationship at a fin spacing in the range from about 0.2 inches to about 0.75 inches. 
   
   
       10 . A refrigerated merchandiser including:
 an enclosure defining a refrigerated display cabinet;   an evaporator coil disposed in operative association with the refrigerated display cabinet; and   a condenser coil connected in refrigerant flow communication with said evaporator coil, said condenser coil having a plurality of refrigerant carrying members aligned in generally parallel relationship, and a plurality of fins connected in heat transfer relationship with said plurality of refrigerant carrying members, said plurality of fins extending generally orthogonally relative to said plurality of refrigerant carrying members and disposed in generally parallel, laterally spaced relationship in general alignment with a flow of air passing through said condenser coil; characterized in that said plurality of fins comprises a first plurality of fins and a second plurality of fins disposed alternately in generally parallel, laterally spaced relationship, each of said first plurality of fins and said second plurality of fins having a leading edge, the leading edge of said first plurality of fins extending upstream with respect to flow of air passing through said condenser coil beyond the leading edges of said second plurality of fins.   
   
   
       11 . A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 10  further characterized in that said fins of said condenser coil are disposed in laterally spaced relationship at a fin spacing of less than about 0.4 inches. 
   
   
       12 . A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 10  further characterized in that said fins of said condenser coil are disposed in laterally spaced relationship at a fin spacing in the range from about 0.2 inches to about 0.75 inches. 
   
   
       13 . A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 10  further characterized in that each fin of said first plurality of fins of said condenser coil includes a fin extension member affixed to a forward portion thereof. 
   
   
       14 . A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 10  further characterized in that each fin of said second plurality of fins of said condenser coil has a leading portion that is folded back upon itself. 
   
   
       15 . A method for reducing the susceptibility to airside of a condenser coil having a plurality of refrigerant carrying members aligned in generally parallel relationship, and a plurality of fins connected in heat transfer relationship with said plurality of refrigerant carrying members, said plurality of fins extending generally orthogonally relative to said plurality of refrigerant carrying members and disposed in generally parallel, laterally spaced relationship in general alignment with a flow of air passing through said condenser coil; said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a first plurality of fins and a second plurality of fins, each of said first plurality of fins and said second plurality of fins having a leading edge; and   disposing said first plurality of fins and said second plurality of fins alternately in generally parallel, laterally spaced relationship with the leading edge of said first plurality of fins extending upstream with respect to flow of air passing through said condenser coil beyond the leading edges of said second plurality of fins.   
   
   
       16 . A method as recited in  claim 15  wherein the step of disposing said first plurality of fins and said second plurality of fins alternately in generally parallel, laterally spaced relationship with the leading edge of said first plurality of fins extending upstream with respect to flow of air passing through said condenser coil beyond the leading edges of said second plurality of fins comprises the step of affixing a fin extension member to a forward portion of each fin of said first plurality of fins. 
   
   
       17 . A method as recited in  claim 15  wherein the step of disposing said first plurality of fins and said second plurality of fins alternately in generally parallel, laterally spaced relationship with the leading edge of said first plurality of fins extending upstream with respect to flow of air passing through said condenser coil beyond the leading edges of said second plurality of fins comprises the step of folding the leading portion of each fin of said second plurality of fins back upon itself.