Cylindrical air handler and cylindrical refrigerant coil

Abstract

A refrigerant coil comprises a first pipe, a second pipe substantially parallel to the first pipe, and a plurality of coil segment pipes substantially parallel to each other. Each coil segment pipe has a first end connected to and in fluid communication with the first pipe and a second end connected to and in fluid communication with the second pipe. Each coil segment pipe forms a spiral with the first end being an outer end of the spiral and the second end being an inner end of the spiral such that the second pipe extends through a center of each of the coil segment pipe.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A refrigerant coil comprising:
 a first pipe;   a second pipe substantially parallel to the first pipe; and   a plurality of coil segment pipes substantially parallel to each other, each coil segment pipe having a first end connected to and in fluid communication with the first pipe and a second end connected to and in fluid communication with the second pipe, each coil segment pipe forming a spiral with the first end being an outer end of the spiral and the second end being an inner end of the spiral such that the second pipe extends through a center of each of the coil segment pipe.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerant coil of  claim 1 , wherein the first pipe is a supply pipe and the second pipe is a return pipe such that refrigerant is adapted to flow into the refrigerant coil via the first pipe, from the first pipe into each of the coil segment pipes, and from each of the coil segment pipes into the return pipe from which the refrigerant exits the refrigerant coil. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerant coil of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of thermal sink structures affixed to or integral with at least a portion of an outer surface of each of the coil segment pipes. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerant coil of  claim 3 , wherein the thermal sink structures comprise fins or wires. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerant coil of  claim 1 , wherein all of the coil segment pipes are substantially a same size such that the refrigerant coil has an overall cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         6 . An air handler for a cooling system, the air handler comprising:
 (a) a housing; and   (b) a refrigerant coil positioned within the housing, the refrigerant coil comprising:
 (i) a first pipe; 
 (ii) a second pipe substantially parallel to the first pipe; and 
 (iii) a plurality of coil segment pipes substantially parallel to each other, each coil segment pipe having a first end connected to and in fluid communication with the first pipe and a second end connected to and in fluid communication with the second pipe, each coil segment pipe forming a spiral with the first end being an outer end of the spiral and the second end being an inner end of the spiral such that the second pipe extends through a center of each of the coil segment pipe. 
   
     
     
         7 . The air handler of  claim 6 , further comprising a fan positioned within or adjacent the housing to blow or draw air across the refrigerant coil. 
     
     
         8 . The air handler of  claim 6 , wherein the housing is cylindrical. 
     
     
         9 . The air handler of  claim 8 , wherein the air handler is arranged such that a longitudinal axis of the housing is substantially horizontal. 
     
     
         10 . The air handler of  claim 9 , further comprising a drain in a bottom surface of the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The air handler of  claim 10 , further comprising dam structures positioned within the housing on opposing sides of the drain to contain condensate in a desired lower portion of the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The air handler of  claim 6 , wherein the first pipe is a supply pipe and the second pipe is a return pipe such that refrigerant flows into the refrigerant coil via the first pipe, from the first pipe into each of the coil segment pipes, and from each of the coil segment pipes into the return pipe from which the refrigerant exits the refrigerant coil. 
     
     
         13 . The air handler of  claim 6 , wherein the refrigerant coil further comprises a plurality of thermal sink structures affixed to or integral with at least a portion of an outer surface of each of the coil segment pipes. 
     
     
         14 . The air handler of  claim 13 , wherein the thermal sink structures comprise fins or wires. 
     
     
         15 . The air handler of  claim 6 , wherein all of the coil segment pipes are substantially a same size such that the refrigerant coil has an overall cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         16 . A method of cooling air, the method comprising:
 activating a fan to draw air to be cooled into a first end of an air handler, across a refrigerant coil positioned within a housing of the air handler, and out a second end of the air handler;   wherein the refrigerant coil comprises:
 a first pipe; 
 a second pipe substantially parallel to the first pipe; and 
 a plurality of coil segment pipes substantially parallel to each other, each coil segment pipe having a first end connected to and in fluid communication with the first pipe and a second end connected to and in fluid communication with the second pipe, each coil segment pipe forming a spiral with the first end being an outer end of the spiral and the second end being an inner end of the spiral such that the second pipe extends through a center of each of the coil segment pipe. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the housing is cylindrical. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the air handler is arranged such that a longitudinal axis of the housing is substantially horizontal. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising a drain in a bottom surface of the housing. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising dam structures positioned within the housing on opposing sides of the drain to contain condensate in a desired lower portion of the housing. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first pipe is a supply pipe and the second pipe is a return pipe such that refrigerant flows into the refrigerant coil via the first pipe, from the first pipe into each of the coil segment pipes, and from each of the coil segment pipes into the return pipe from which the refrigerant exits the refrigerant coil. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the refrigerant coil further comprises a plurality of thermal sink structures affixed to or integral with at least a portion of an outer surface of each of the coil segment pipes. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the thermal sink structures comprise fins or wires. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein all of the coil segment pipes are substantially a same size such that the refrigerant coil has an overall cylindrical shape.