System and method for increasing air conditioner efficiency

Abstract

A screen of evaporative cooling media (“screen cooler”) is provided that may be adapted to partially surround the exterior compressor unit of an air conditioner. In some embodiments, the screen cooler may screen the AC unit from the sun and exposure to other forces or events that could potentially harm the AC unit. In some embodiments, the screen cooler is adapted to receive an input of a liquid, such as, for example, water and periodically emit the liquid onto the evaporative cooling media to keep the media moist and cool the air being pulled through the condensing coil and entering the compressor. By cooling the air prior to the air entering the compressor, the efficiency of the AC unit may thereby be increased.

1 . A stand-alone system for evaporatively cooling air entering an air conditioning (AC) unit, the system comprising:
 a plurality of cooling screen panels disposed near an AC unit, each cooling screen panel comprising:
 a plurality of vertical posts having upper ends and lower ends; 
 a top rail secured between the upper ends of the vertical posts; 
 a bottom rail secured between the lower ends of the vertical posts; 
 a decorative lattice secured between the top and bottom rails; and 
 an evaporative cooling media secured between the top and bottom rails and adjacent to the decorative lattice; 
   a first cooling screen panel of the plurality of cooling screen panels disposed on a first side of the AC unit;   second and third cooling screen panels disposed at opposite ends of the first cooling screen panel at an angle thereto to form a generally U-shaped assembly to enclose less than all of the AC unit; and   a drip hose disposed along a top surface of the evaporative cooling media of the plurality of cooling screen panels, the drip hose having a plurality of holes disposed therealong, a connector on a first end thereof for connecting to a source of cooling fluid and an end cap at an opposite end thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The stand-alone system of  claim 1  and further comprising a trough disposed below the evaporative cooling media for collecting unevaporated cooling fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The stand-alone system of  claim 2  and further comprising a tube connecting the trough to the drip hose for delivering the unevaporated cooling fluid to the top surface of the evaporative cooling media. 
     
     
         4 . The stand-alone system of  claim 3  and further comprising a fluid pump for pumping the unevaporated cooling fluid from the trough to the drip hose. 
     
     
         5 . The stand-alone system of  claim 3  and further comprising a Venturi valve coupled to the tube for facilitating the delivery of the unevaporated cooling fluid from the trough to the drip hose. 
     
     
         6 . The stand-alone system of  claim 1  and further comprising an airflow baffle extending from a top surface of the top rail for decreasing the airflow around the evaporative cooling media. 
     
     
         7 . The stand-alone system of  claim 6 , wherein the airflow baffle extends from the top surface of the top rail to a top surface of the AC unit. 
     
     
         8 . The stand-alone system of  claim 1  and further comprising an airflow baffle extending from a bottom surface of the bottom rail for decreasing the airflow around the evaporative cooling media. 
     
     
         9 . The stand-alone system of  claim 1  and further comprising a V-shaped channel disposed along a top surface of the evaporative cooling media for facilitating dispersion of the cooling fluid. 
     
     
         10 . The stand-alone system of  claim 1  and further comprising:
 a flange around the interior surfaces of each of the plurality of cooling screen panels for securing the lattice thereagainst; and 
 a bracket securing the evaporative cooling media against the lattice, the ends of the bracket being secured to the vertical posts. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method of evaporatively cooling air entering an air conditioning (AC) unit, the method comprising:
 providing a plurality of cooling screen panels, each cooling screen panel comprising:
 a plurality of vertical posts having upper ends and lower ends; 
 a top rail secured between the upper ends of the vertical posts; 
 a bottom rail secured between the lower ends of the vertical posts; 
 a decorative lattice secured between the top and bottom rails; and 
 an evaporative cooling media secured between the top and bottom rails and adjacent to the decorative lattice; 
   securing a first cooling screen panel of the plurality of cooling screen panels approximately 2-4 inches from an AC unit;   securing second and third cooling screen panels of the plurality of cooling screen panels to opposite ends of the first cooling screen panel at an angle thereto to form a generally U-shaped assembly to enclose less than all of the AC unit;   disposing a drip hose along a top surface of the evaporative cooling media of the plurality of cooling screen panels, the drip hose having a plurality of holes disposed therealong; and   connecting the drip hose to a water source for intermittently providing a flow of water to moisten the evaporative cooling media to cool air flowing thereacross.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  and further comprising adjusting the flow of water to the evaporative cooling media by changing a length of time water is provided to the evaporative cooling media, changing a frequency of providing water to the evaporative cooling media, and changing a pressure of the water being provided to the evaporative cooling media. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  and further comprising providing a trough below the evaporative cooling media for collecting unevaporated water. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  and further comprising connecting the trough to the drip hose with a tube. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  and further comprising recirculating the unevaporated water from the trough to the drip hose via the tube. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  and further comprising providing an airflow baffle extending from a top surface of the top rail for decreasing the airflow around the evaporative cooling media. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the airflow baffle extends from the top surface of the top rail to a top surface of the AC unit. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  and further comprising providing an airflow baffle extending from a bottom surface of the bottom rail for decreasing the airflow around the evaporative cooling media. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  and further comprising providing a V-shaped channel disposed along a top surface of the evaporative cooling media for facilitating dispersion of the cooling fluid. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11  and further comprising:
 providing a flange around the interior surfaces of each of the plurality of cooling screen panels for securing the lattice thereagainst; and 
 providing a bracket to secure the evaporative cooling media against the lattice, the ends of the bracket being secured to the vertical posts.