System and method for removing condensation from air conditioning units
An system is disclosed herein. The system includes a compressor configured to pump a refrigerant in a defrosting mode, a heat exchanging coil configured to receive the refrigerant from the compressor so as to operate in the defrosting mode and melt ice formed on the heat exchanging coil into condensate, a condensate pump, and a water transport system. The condensate pump is configured to pump the condensate via the water transport system. In some instances, a portion of the water transport system is disposed such that residual heat from the compressor heats the condensate being pumped by the condensate pump.
1 . A system comprising:
a compressor configured to pump a refrigerant;
a heat exchanging coil configured to receive the refrigerant from the compressor in a defrosting mode and melt ice formed on the heat exchanging coil into condensate;
a condensate pump; and
a water transport system,
wherein the condensate pump is configured to pump the condensate via the water transport system,
wherein a heat exchanging pipe section of the water transport system contacts an outer surface of the compressor such that residual heat from the compressor heats the condensate being pumped by the condensate pump, and
wherein the heat exchanging pipe section comprises a plurality of vertical pipes extending parallel to one another and vertically along the outer surface of the compressor.
2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a drip pan arranged to receive the condensate from the heat exchanging coil, wherein the condensate pump is configured to pump the condensate from the drip pan.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the water transport system further comprises:
an inlet pipe section disposed in the drip pan and connected to the heat exchanging pipe section; and
an outlet pipe section connected to the heat excanging pipe section.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanging pipe section further comprises:
a top circumferential pipe extending around the compressor and connected to the plurality of vertical pipes; and
a bottom circumferential pipe extending around the compressor and connected to the plurality of vertical pipes.
5 . The system of claim 3 , further comprising a filter disposed about at least a portion of the length of the inlet pipe section disposed within the drip pan and configured to filter the condensate.
6 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the heat exchanging pipe section encircles the compressor.
7 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the inlet pipe section has a first open end disposed within the drip pan.
8 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a flashing connected to the compressor and covering the heat exchanging pipe section, wherein the flashing is configured to sink heat from the compressor to the heat exchanging pipe section.
9 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a vaporizer,
wherein the condensate pump is configured to pump the condensate to the vaporizer, and
wherein the vaporizer is configured to convert the condensate to vapor.
10 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising a fan configured to blow the vapor.
11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the vaporizer comprises an ultrasonic atomizer.
12 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising a controller configured to: instruct a reversing valve to shuttle the refrigerant as a compressed gas from the compressor to the heat exchanging coil in the defrosting mode, instruct the condensate pump to operate, and instruct the vaporizer to operate.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to instruct the condensate pump to operate for (i) a first predetermined period of time and (ii) a second predetermined period of time after instructing the reversing valve to provide the refrigerant as the compressed gas to the heat exchanging coil in the defrosting mode.
14 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a filter configured to filter the pumped condensate.
15 . A system comprising:
a compressor configured to pump a refrigerant;
a heat exchanging coil configured to receive the refrigerant from the compressor in a defrosting mode and melt ice formed on the heat exchanging coil into condensate;
a vaporizer:
a condensate pump; and
a water transport system,
wherein the condensate pump is configured to pump the condensate via the water transport system,
wherein a portion of the water transport system is disposed about the compressor such that residual heat from the compressor heats the condensate being pumped by the condensate pump,
wherein the condensate pump is configured to pump the condensate to the vaporizer, and
wherein the vaporizer is configured to convert the condensate to vapor.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the portion of the water transport system contacts an outer surface of the compressor.
17 . A method of operating a system, the method comprising:
operating a heat exchanging coil in a defrosting mode to melt ice formed on the heat exchanging coil into condensate; and
pumping, via a condensate pump and a water transport system, the condensate,
wherein a heat exchanging pipe section of the water transport system contacts an outer surface of a compressor such that residual heat from the compressor heats the condensate being pumped by the condensate pump, and
wherein the heat exchanging pipe section comprises a plurality of vertical pipes extending parallel to one another and vertically along the outer surface of the compressor.
18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising filtering the condensate entering the water transport system.
19 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising converting the condensate to vapor.
20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising discharging the vapor outside.