Refrigeration system with indoor condenser and remote fan

Abstract

A refrigeration system for a refrigerated merchandiser includes a refrigerated merchandiser disposed within an indoor environment, the refrigerated merchandiser including a case defining a product display area. The refrigeration system also includes a condenser coupled to the refrigerated merchandiser and disposed within the indoor environment, an evaporator coupled to the condenser and disposed within the indoor environment, a compressor coupled to the evaporator and disposed within the indoor environment, and a condenser fan assembly coupled to the condenser. The condenser fan assembly is disposed remote from the condenser in an ambient environment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigeration system for a refrigerated merchandiser, the refrigeration system comprising:
 a refrigerated merchandiser positioned in an indoor environment, the refrigerated merchandiser including a case defining a product display area;   a condenser coupled to the refrigerated merchandiser within the indoor environment;   an evaporator coupled to the condenser and positioned within the indoor environment;   a compressor coupled to the evaporator and positioned within the indoor environment; and   a condenser fan assembly coupled to the condenser, the condenser fan assembly disposed remote from the condenser in an ambient environment.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigeration system includes a ductwork that provides airflow communication between the condenser and the ambient environment. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigeration system of  claim 2 , wherein the condenser includes a condenser housing and a condenser coil, and wherein the ductwork is coupled at one end to the condenser housing adjacent the condenser coil. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigeration system of  claim 3 , wherein the ductwork is coupled at an opposite end to the condenser fan assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigeration system of  claim 2 , wherein the ductwork has a primarily tubular construction. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigeration system of  claim 2 , wherein the ductwork extends generally vertically between a top of the refrigerated merchandiser and a roof of a building. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigeration system of  claim 2 , wherein the condenser fan assembly includes a fan that generates an airflow within the ductwork. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigeration system of  claim 2 , wherein the condenser fan assembly includes a fan disposed adjacent an end of the ductwork. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the condenser fan assembly is disposed on a roof of a building. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller that is coupled to the condenser fan assembly that directs the condenser fan assembly to move air both in and out of the indoor environment. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the condenser is a single condenser, and wherein the refrigeration system is a parallel refrigeration system that includes a plurality of merchandisers disposed within the indoor environment, each of the merchandisers coupled to the single condenser. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigeration system of  claim 11 , wherein the parallel refrigeration system includes a plurality of compressors and evaporators, and wherein the compressors and the single condenser are connected in series with the evaporators in each merchandiser so that a refrigerated airflow is provided to the product display area in each refrigerated merchandiser. 
     
     
         13 . A method of operating a refrigeration system comprising:
 cooling an airflow with an evaporator in an indoor environment;   directing the cooled airflow into a product display area of a refrigerated merchandiser positioned within the indoor environment; and   directing a warmed airflow from a condenser in the indoor environment to an ambient environment with a condenser fan assembly disposed in the ambient environment, the condenser coupled to both the evaporator and the condenser fan assembly.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of directing warmed air includes first detecting a temperature inside the indoor environment with a sensor disposed in the indoor environment, and based on the detected temperature, directing the warmed air to the ambient environment. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of directing warmed air includes first detecting a temperature in the ambient environment with a sensor disposed in the ambient environment, and based on the detected temperature, directing the warmed air to the ambient environment. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of directing warmed air includes first determining that the refrigerated merchandiser is in a cooling mode, and based on the determination that the refrigerated merchandiser is in a cooling mode, directing the warmed air to the ambient environment. 
     
     
         17 . A method of moving air with a refrigeration system, the method comprising:
 cooling air with an evaporator in an indoor environment and directing the cooled air into a product display area of a refrigerated merchandiser in the indoor environment;   directing outside air from an ambient environment into the indoor environment with a condenser fan assembly disposed in the ambient environment, the condenser fan assembly coupled to a condenser disposed in the indoor environment; and   warming the outside air with the condenser.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of directing outside air includes first detecting a temperature in the indoor environment with a sensor disposed in the indoor environment, and based on the detected temperature, directing the outside air into the indoor environment. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of directing outside air includes first detecting a temperature in the ambient environment with a sensor disposed in the ambient environment, and based on the detected temperature, directing the outside air into the indoor environment. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of directing outside air includes first determining that the refrigerated merchandiser is in a heating mode, and based on the determination that the refrigerated merchandiser is in a heating mode, directing the outside air into the indoor environment.