Portable air cooler

Abstract

A portable air cooler for cooling air circulated in a designated area. The portable air cooler comprises an air inlet; an air outlet; a refrigeration unit including a cooling coil, a compressor, a heating coil and an expansion valve operatively interconnected with each other; a receptacle for containing water; and a centrifugal fan preferably positioned between an evaporative pad and the air outlet. The cooling coil is configured for placement in the receptacle for cooling water contained therein. A water pump delivers cooled water to the evaporative pad mounted proximate the air inlet through at least one conduit. The centrifugal fan draws ambient air through the evaporative pad from the air inlet and directs cooled air into the designated area through the air outlet. A part of the cooled air is channeled through an air duct to cool the heating coil, reducing waste heat generated by the heating coil.

1 . A portable air cooler ( 1 ) for cooling air circulated in a designated area comprising:
 a refrigeration unit ( 100 ), the refrigeration unit ( 100 ) includes a cooling coil ( 110 ), a compressor ( 130 ), a heating coil ( 150 ) and an expansion valve ( 170 ) operatively interconnected with each other, wherein the cooling coil ( 110 ) is placed in a receptacle ( 200 ) for cooling water contained therein;   a water pump ( 300 ) configured to deliver and supply the cooled water to an evaporative pad ( 400 ) mounted proximate an air inlet ( 500 ) through at least one conduit ( 10 ); and   a centrifugal fan ( 600 ) positioned between the evaporative pad ( 400 ) and an air outlet ( 700 ), the centrifugal fan ( 600 ) is configured to draw ambient air through the evaporative pad ( 400 ) from the air inlet ( 500 ) and direct the cooled air into the designated area through the air outlet ( 700 ), characterized in that:   a part of the cooled air is channeled through at least one air duct ( 30 ) to cool the heating coil ( 150 ) of the refrigeration unit ( 100 ) so as to reduce waste heat generated by the heating coil ( 150 ) of the refrigeration unit ( 100 ).   
     
     
         2 . The portable air cooler ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the portable air cooler ( 1 ) has an upper compartment ( 50 ) and a lower compartment ( 70 ) separated from each other by a partition ( 90 ). 
     
     
         3 . The portable air cooler according to  claim 2 , wherein the heating coil ( 150 ) extends within the upper compartment ( 50 ) of the portable air cooler ( 1 ) in helical form prior to being deposited at the lower compartment ( 70 ) of the portable air cooler ( 1 ) so as to increase the heat transfer surface. 
     
     
         4 . The portable air cooler according to  claim 2 , wherein the air duct ( 30 ) extends through the upper compartment ( 50 ) into the lower compartment ( 70 ) so as to supply cooled air to the lower compartment ( 70 ). 
     
     
         5 . The portable air cooler ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein the heating coil ( 150 ) is deposited at the lower compartment ( 70 ) of the portable air cooler ( 1 ) and is surrounded by at least one heat transfer fin ( 151 ) so as to facilitate heat transfer to the atmosphere. 
     
     
         6 . The portable air cooler ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the evaporative pad ( 400 ) is a multilayer fiber pad or a cellulose pad or a wood wool pad or corrugated cardboard. 
     
     
         7 . The portable air cooler ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle ( 200 ) is insulated. 
     
     
         8 . The portable air cooler ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle ( 200 ) is sited below the evaporative pad ( 400 ) so as to collect leaked water from the evaporative pad ( 400 ). 
     
     
         9 . The portable air cooler ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooling coil ( 110 ) is submerged in the water contained in the receptacle ( 200 ). 
     
     
         10 . The portable air cooler ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one conduit ( 10 ) is extended to the top of the evaporative pad ( 400 ), wherein the at least one conduit ( 10 ) sited on top of the evaporative pad ( 400 ) is provided with a plurality of perforations ( 11 ) configured to distribute the cooled water to the evaporative pad ( 400 ). 
     
     
         11 . The portable air cooler ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the portable air cooler ( 1 ) is further provided with a water receiving tray ( 20 ) having a plurality of distribution nozzles ( 21 ), wherein the water receiving tray ( 20 ) is suitably positioned above the evaporative pad ( 400 ) and is configured to retain and dispense the cooled water supplied from the at least one conduit ( 10 ) onto the evaporative pad ( 400 ) through the plurality of distribution nozzles ( 21 ). 
     
     
         12 . The portable air cooler ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the compressor ( 130 ) of the refrigeration unit ( 100 ) is provided with a heat dissipation element ( 131 ) suitably covering the top portion of the compressor ( 130 ). 
     
     
         13 . The portable air cooler ( 1 ) according to  claim 12 , wherein the heat dissipation element ( 131 ) of the compressor ( 130 ) of the refrigeration unit ( 100 ) is made from gypsum powder. 
     
     
         14 . The portable air cooler ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the conduit ( 10 ) of the portable air cooler ( 1 ) is provided with a branch tube ( 13 ), wherein the branch tube ( 13 ) is integrally extended from the conduit ( 10 ) and suitably positioned above the compressor ( 130 ). 
     
     
         15 . The portable air cooler ( 1 ) according to  claim 14 , wherein the branch tube ( 13 ) is configured to deliver cooled water droplets to the heat dissipation element ( 131 ) of the compressor ( 130 ). 
     
     
         16 . The portable air cooler ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the portable air cooler ( 1 ) is provided with a thermostat so as to control the operation of the compressor ( 130 ).