System using outdoor ambient air to cool walk in coolers and other areas

Abstract

A system cools a desired region, such as a walk-in cooler, by taking cool ambient outdoor air and delivering that air into the desired region. The system uses an outdoor temperature sensor so that any time the outdoor temperature falls below a desired degree, the thermostat can turn on fans and open backdraft dampers to bring in cold air. This process by-passes existing coolers, compressors and the like of an existing system, saving the user the high cost associated with conventional walk-in coolers.

1 . A system for regulating temperature in an interior region, the system comprising:
 an outdoor temperature sensor operable to obtain an outdoor air temperature reading;   a thermostat control operable to receive the outdoor air temperature reading from the outdoor temperature sensor;   an air intake communicating the interior region with outdoor air;   an exhaust communicating the interior region with outdoor air; and   at least one fan moving outdoor air into the interior region, wherein   the thermostat control controls operation of the at least one fan when the outdoor air temperature reading is at or below a predetermined temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first fan in the air intake and a second fan in the exhaust, the first fan pushing outside air into the interior region and the second fan pulling air from the interior region to the outside air. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first damper disposed in the air intake and a second damper disposed in the exhaust, the first damper preventing air from escaping from the interior region to the outside air and the second damper preventing outside air from entering the interior region. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a screen disposed on the air intake and on the exhaust. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sliding vent cover operable to cover at least one of the air intake and the exhaust. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the air intake includes an intake duct and the exhaust includes an exhaust duct. 
     
     
         7 . A system for regulating temperature in an interior region, the system comprising:
 an outdoor temperature sensor operable to obtain an outdoor air temperature reading;   a thermostat control operable to receive the outdoor air temperature reading from the outdoor temperature sensor;   an air intake communicating the interior region with outdoor air;   an exhaust communicating the interior region with outdoor air; and   an air intake fan moving outdoor air into the interior region;   an exhaust fan moving air in the interior region to outdoor air;   a first damper disposed in the air intake and a second damper disposed in the exhaust, the first damper preventing air from escaping from the interior region to the outside air and the second damper preventing outside air from entering the interior region;   a screen disposed on the air intake and on the exhaust; and   a sliding vent cover operable to cover at least one of the air intake and the exhaust, wherein   the thermostat control controls operation of the at least one fan when the outdoor air temperature reading is at or below a predetermined temperature.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the air intake includes an intake duct and the exhaust includes an exhaust duct. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the interior region is a walk-in cooler. 
     
     
         10 . A method for cooling an interior region, comprising:
 measuring an outdoor air temperature;   sending the outdoor air temperature to a thermostat control;   flowing air into and out of the interior region when the outdoor air temperature is cold enough to cool to or maintain a desired temperature in the interior region.