REFRIGERATED DISPLAY CABINET

Abstract

A refrigerated display cabinet (10) includes a refrigeration loop including a compressor, a condenser, a throttling element and an evaporator which are connected; a main body (12) including a storage space (14), wherein the evaporator (16) is located within the main body and is for supplying cooling to the storage space (14); and a container (18) located outside of the storage space (12) and containing at least one of the compressor, condenser and throttling element, wherein the container (18) comprises a vent (20) configured to discharge any build-up of gases within the container (18) outwardly.

Claims

1. A refrigerated display cabinet, comprising: a refrigeration loop comprising a compressor, a condenser, a throttling element and an evaporator which are connected; a main body comprising a storage space, wherein the evaporator is located within the main body and is for supplying cooling to the storage space; and a container located outside of the storage space and containing at least one of the compressor, condenser and throttling element, wherein the container comprises a vent configured to discharge any build-up of gases within the container outwardly.

2. The refrigerated display cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the container is located above the main body.

3. The refrigerated display cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the container is located below the storage space.

4. The refrigerated display cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the condenser is a liquid cooled condenser.

5. The refrigerated display cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the vent is located on an inner wall of the container and is configured to enable fluid communication between the interior of the container and the interior of the storage space such that any build-up of gases within the container is discharged into the storage space.

6. The refrigerated display cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the vent is located on an outer wall of the container and is configured to discharge any build-up of gases from within the container in a direction outwards.

7. The refrigerated display cabinet of claim 6, wherein the container comprises a second vent, the second vent being located on an inner wall of the container and is configured to enable fluid communication between the container and the storage space such that higher pressure within the storage space causes an increase in the flow rate of any build-up of gases exiting the first vent from within the container.

8. The refrigerated display cabinet of claim 1, wherein the vent is configured to discharge any build-up of gases within the container in a high velocity stream.

9. The refrigerated display cabinet of claim 1, wherein the container is configured to be air tight with the exception of the vent(s).

10. The refrigerated display cabinet of claim 1, comprising: a venting fan for discharging any build-up of gases within the container outwardly from the container.

11. The refrigerated display cabinet of claim 10, comprising: a second venting fan for discharging any build-up of gases within the container outwardly from the container; and an air inlet.

12. The refrigerated display cabinet of claim 10, comprising: a second venting fan located at an air inlet for drawing air into the container from outside.

13. A method of refrigerant leak mitigation for a refrigerated display cabinet, the method comprising: capturing leaking refrigerant from refrigerant loop components of a refrigerated display cabinet within a container; and venting the build-up of refrigerant from the container outwardly.

14. A method for manufacturing a refrigerated display cabinet with refrigerant leak mitigation, the method comprising: providing a refrigerated display cabinet including: a refrigeration loop comprising a compressor, a condenser, a throttling element and an evaporator which are connected; a main body comprising a storage space, wherein the evaporator is located within the main body and is for supplying cooling to the storage space; a container located outside of the storage space and containing at least one of the compressor, condenser and throttling element; and forming a vent in the container configured to discharge any build-up of gases within the container outwardly.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] Certain preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example only and with reference to the following figures, in which:

[0050] FIG. 1 shows a refrigerated display cabinet with refrigerant leak mitigation;

[0051] FIG. 2 shows the refrigerant leak mitigation of FIG. 1;

[0052] FIG. 3 shows a refrigerated display cabinet with refrigerant leak mitigation;

[0053] FIG. 4 shows the internal arrangement of refrigerant loop components within a container; and

[0054] FIG. 5 shows another view of the internal arrangement of refrigerant loop components within a container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0055] FIG. 1 shows an example of a refrigerated display cabinet 10 with refrigerant leak mitigation. The refrigerated display cabinet 10 includes a main body 12 which comprises a storage space 14 and heat absorption heat exchangers (evaporators) 16. The refrigerated display cabinet 10 also includes a container 18 located on top of the main body 12. The container 18 having a vent 20 and is configured to be air tight with the exception of the vent 20.

[0056] The evaporators 16 are configured to chill the storage space 14 such that products can be maintained at a desired cool temperature when stored within the refrigerated display cabinet 10. The evaporators 16 form part of a refrigeration loop which further comprises at least a compressor, a condenser and a throttling element which are connected to one another (not visible in FIG. 1).

[0057] In the example shown in FIG. 1 at least the condenser and compressor are housed within the container 18. In this example the condenser is a liquid cooled heat exchanger which receives cooling fluid from an external source via cooling supply pipes 22.

[0058] By housing components of the refrigerant loop within the container 18 if any of those components were to leak refrigerant the leaking refrigerant will build up within the container 18. As the refrigerant builds up within the container 18 the pressure within the container 18 increases relative to the atmosphere surrounding the refrigerated display cabinet 10. This increase in pressure subsequently causes the built up refrigerant to be ejected in a jet from the vent 20.

[0059] The ejection of leaked refrigerant from the container 18 via the vent 20 is shown in more detail in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows the evolution of a refrigerant leak from a component of the refrigerant loop housed within the container 18 against time to demonstrate the ejection of leaked refrigerant via the vent 20. It will be appreciated that the timing of the leak development and ejection from the container 18 will be dependent on the rate at which the refrigerant leaks from a component of the refrigerant loop.

[0060] In this example, at 19 seconds it can be seen that a jet 26 of refrigerant begins to form at the vent 20. From 19 seconds to 750 seconds it can be seen that the jet 26 becomes more defined. The jet 26 is caused by the increase in pressure within the container due to the leak relative to the atmosphere outside of the container in combination with the vent 20 having a cross sectional area that provides flow resistant at a predetermined pressure.

[0061] As refrigerant is heavier than air the jet 26 decelerates as it leaves the vent 20. That is, the jet 26 of refrigerant slows as it moves away from the vent 20. Due to gravity the refrigerant jet 26 will eventually change direction from being opposed to gravity to in the gravitational direction. This change in direction resembles a fountain and causes significant mixing of the refrigerant with the ambient air, which hence dilutes the refrigerant.

[0062] Advantageously, leaking refrigerant, which may be flammable or explosive, does not build up in the vicinity of the refrigerated display cabinet but instead is held with the container 18 before being diluted with the atmosphere surrounding the refrigerated display cabinet. That is, the present invention avoids leaked refrigerant building up to a dangerous concentration proximate to the leak source without any mitigation measures.

[0063] FIG. 3 shows another example of a refrigerated display cabinet 10 with refrigerant leak mitigation. In this example the container 28 comprises two venting fans 30 and two air inlets 32.

[0064] Venting fans 30 are configured to operate continuously to expel fluid from within the container 28. That is fluid is drawn in to the container via air inlets 32 and expelled from the container 28 via the venting fans 30.

[0065] Advantageously any leaking refrigerant is entrained within the fluid flow generated by the drawing in of fluid at the air inlets 32 and is expelled at the venting fans 30. This prevents leaking refrigerant from building up with the container 28. It also prevents leaking refrigerant from building up in the vicinity of the refrigerated cabinet 10 as it mixes and dilutes with surrounding air when blown from the container.

[0066] In having two venting fans 30 and two air inlets 32 redundancy is provided to ensure that even in the event of a venting fan 30 failing or an air inlet 32 being blocked that leak mitigation can be provided.

[0067] Venting fans 30 may be configured to expel fluid in a direction substantially horizontally as shown in FIG. 3 or may be configured to expel fluid in a vertical direction, for example and as shown in FIG. 4, via a flow director 40 placed proximate the venting fans 30 to direct the fluid flow in a desired direction.

[0068] FIGS. 4 and 5 show the internal arrangement of components within container 28 of the refrigerated display cabinet 10 shown in FIG. 3. The internal arrangement of components within the container shown in FIG. 1 are broadly the same. The container 28 contains compressor 34, condenser 36 and refrigerant supply pipes 38. In this example the condenser 36 is a liquid cooled condenser wherein cooling fluid is provided by cooling supply pipes 22.

[0069] Therefore a leak of refrigerant from any of the compressor 34, condenser 36 or refrigerant supply pipes 38 can be contained within the container 28 and ejected via venting fans 30. The leaked refrigerant diluting with the surrounding air when ejected.

[0070] In the examples shown the container 18, 28 has a somewhat flag shape, that is the container 18, 28 has a narrow rectangular shape extending into a larger more square portion. In the examples provided this shape is to ensure that the interface where the refrigerant supply pipes 38 enter the main body 12 are contained within the container 18, 28. It will be appreciated however that the container may be any other suitable shape dependent on the precise location that it is installed and the arrangement of refrigeration components within the container 18, 28.