Refrigeration system with reclaim heat circuit

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to a temperature-controlled displays and refrigeration systems for temperature-controlled displays. For instance, in one implementation a temperature-controlled display includes a multi-loop refrigeration system with reclaim heating and a condensation control system. The refrigeration system includes a refrigeration loop and a cooling loop in thermal communication with the refrigeration loop. The refrigeration loop is configured to refrigerate the temperature-controlled display. The cooling loop is configured to remove heat from the refrigeration loop and provide the heat removed from the refrigeration loop as reclaim heat. The condensation control system includes a heat exchanger in thermal communication with the cooling loop. The heat exchanger is configured to transfer the reclaim heat from the cooling loop to a flow of air directed over a transparent surface of the temperature-controlled display.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A temperature-controlled display comprising:
 a multi-loop refrigeration system with reclaim heating comprising a refrigeration loop configured to refrigerate the temperature-controlled display, and a cooling loop in thermal communication with the refrigeration loop and configured to remove heat from the refrigeration loop and provide the heat removed from the refrigeration loop as reclaim heat; and   a condensation control system comprising a heat exchanger in thermal communication with the cooling loop and configured to transfer the reclaim heat to a flow of air directed over a transparent surface of the temperature-controlled display.   
     
     
         2 . The temperature-controlled display of  claim 1 , wherein the condensation control system comprises a fan arranged to convey air through the heat exchanger and along and airflow path that directs the flow of air over the transparent surface. 
     
     
         3 . The temperature-controlled display of  claim 1 , wherein the condensation control system comprises ducting arranged to direct the flow of air over the transparent surface. 
     
     
         4 . The temperature-controlled display of  claim 1 , comprising a controller configured to control operation of the condensation control system in response to signals received from one or more condensation sensors positioned to detect condensation on the transparent surface. 
     
     
         5 . The temperature-controlled display of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to balance a flow of a heat exchange fluid in the cooling loop between the heat exchanger of the condensation control system and a second heat exchanger in the cooling loop responsive to changes in operation of the condensation control system. 
     
     
         6 . The temperature-controlled display of  claim 1 , wherein the condensation control system directs the flow of air over an outer surface of a transparent panel of the temperature-controlled display. 
     
     
         7 . The temperature-controlled display of  claim 6 , wherein the condensation control system directs the flow of air along a vertical path over the transparent panel. 
     
     
         8 . The temperature-controlled display of  claim 6 , wherein the condensation control system directs the flow of air along a horizontal path over the transparent panel. 
     
     
         9 . The temperature-controlled display of  claim 8 , wherein the outer surface of the transparent panel is a curved surface. 
     
     
         10 . The temperature-controlled display of  claim 1 , comprising at least one door and wherein the condensation control system directs the flow of air along a transparent surface of the door. 
     
     
         11 . The temperature-controlled display of  claim 10 , wherein the door comprises at least one inlet vent and the condensation control system directs the flow of air into the at least one inlet vent with the door in a closed position. 
     
     
         12 . The temperature-controlled display of  claim 11 , wherein the door comprises a transparent panel assembly comprising at least two transparent panels,
 wherein the at least one inlet vent is arranged to direct the flow of air into a gap between a first panel and a second panel of the transparent panel assembly, and   wherein the at least one inlet vent comprises a one-way valve.   
     
     
         13 . The temperature-controlled display of  claim 10 , comprising a controller configured to initiate operation of the condensation control system responsive to a door position detector indicating that the at least one door has been closed after having been opened. 
     
     
         14 . A temperature-controlled display comprising:
 a condensation control system comprising a heat exchanger in thermal communication with a reclaim heat circuit of a refrigeration system, the heat exchanger configured to transfer reclaim heat from the refrigeration system to a flow of air directed along a transparent surface of the temperature-controlled display.   
     
     
         15 . A refrigeration system comprising:
 a refrigeration circuit including a first heat exchanger and a cooling unit in fluid communication using a first working fluid, the cooling unit arranged to cool air circulated in a temperature-controlled display;   a cooling circuit including a second heat exchanger in thermal communication with the first heat exchanger using a second working fluid to transfer heat from the first working fluid to the second working fluid; and   a reclaim heat circuit in fluid communication with the cooling circuit and comprising one or more reclaim heat loads, the reclaim heat circuit arranged to transfer heat from the second working fluid to the one or more reclaim heat loads.   
     
     
         16 . The refrigeration system of  claim 15 , comprising a controller configured to control operation at least one of the reclaim heat loads. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigeration system of  claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the at least one of the reclaim heat loads including by operating a valve in the reclaim heat circuit to adjust a flow of the second working fluid to the at least one of the reclaim heat loads. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigeration system of  claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured to balance a flow of the second working fluid between the at least one of the reclaim heat loads and a second heat exchanger in the cooling circuit responsive to changes in operation of the at least one of the reclaim heat loads. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigeration system of  claim 17 , wherein the heat reclaim circuit comprises a temperature sensor arranged to measure a temperature of the second working fluid at an outlet of the at least one of the reclaim heat loads, and wherein the controller is configured to operate the valve to control the flow of the second working fluid to the at least one of the reclaim heat loads responsive to the temperature measured by the temperature sensor. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigeration system of  claim 17 , wherein the heat reclaim circuit comprises a first temperature sensor arranged to measure an inlet temperature of the second working fluid at an inlet of at least one of the reclaim heat loads and a second temperature sensor arranged to measure an outlet temperature of the second working fluid at an outlet of the at least one of the reclaim heat loads, and wherein the controller is configured to operate the valve to control the flow of the second working fluid to the at least one of the reclaim heat loads responsive to a difference in temperature between the inlet temperature and the outlet temperature of the at least one of the reclaim heat loads.