Air-temperature conditioning system having a frost resistant heat exchanger

Abstract

An air-temperature conditioning system includes a frost resistant heat exchanger that has an exterior heat transfer surface covered by a hydrophobic coating. An anti-frost device of the air-temperature conditioning system is constructed and arranged to mitigate frost accumulation on the heat exchanger by leveraging characteristics of the hydrophobic coating.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 an exterior heat transfer surface;   a hydrophobic coating covering at least a portion of the exterior heat transfer surface; and   an anti-frost device constructed and arranged to mitigate frost accumulation on the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger set forth in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a plurality of fins, and wherein the exterior heat transfer surface is carried by the plurality of fins. 
 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is an evaporator. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the anti-frost device is constructed and arranged to at least remove condensate from the hydrophobic coating. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the anti-frost device comprises a vibrator. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the vibrator comprises a fan. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the vibrator includes a rotating mass. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the vibrator comprises a linear resonator. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the vibrator comprises a piezoelectric device. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the anti-frost device is an acoustic device configured to emit acoustic waves directly upon the hydrophobic coating. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the anti-frost device includes an optical sensor configured to detect at least one of condensate and frost disposed on the hydrophobic coating. 
     
     
         12 . An air-temperature conditioning system comprising:
 a heat exchanger including an exterior heat transfer surface and a hydrophobic coating covering the exterior heat transfer surface; and   an anti-frost device constructed and arranged to mitigate frost accumulation on the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         13 . The air-temperature conditioning system set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the air-temperature conditioning system comprises a refrigeration system. 
     
     
         14 . The air temperature conditioning system set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the air-temperature conditioning system comprises a heat pump system. 
     
     
         15 . The air temperature conditioning system set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the heat exchanger is an evaporator. 
     
     
         16 . The air temperature conditioning system set forth in  claim 12  further comprising:
 a sensor configured to detect at least one of condensate and frost upon the hydrophobic coating and outputting a detection signal; and 
 an electronic controller configured to receive and process the detection signal, and output an initiation signal to the anti-frost device. 
 
     
     
         17 . The air temperature conditioning system set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the anti-frost device comprises a vibrator. 
     
     
         18 . The air temperature conditioning system set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the vibrator comprises a fan. 
     
     
         19 . The air temperature conditioning system set forth in  claim 12  further comprising:
 a condenser, and wherein the anti-frost device includes a condenser bypass device. 
 
     
     
         20 . The air temperature conditioning system set forth in  claim 12  further comprising:
 refrigerant lines configured to flow refrigerant to and from the heat exchanger; and 
 an electronic controller configured to initiate an anti-frost mode to the anti-frost device configured to reverse the flow of refrigerant through the refrigerant lines and through the heat exchanger when in the anti-frost mode.