Patent attributes
A self-contained air-conditioning unit is modified to effect conservation of energy during operation of the unit. Refrigerant is moved along a refrigerant circuit for circulation through a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator within a housing which includes a base. The evaporator is raised above the base a distance sufficient to enable collection of condensate from the evaporator and transfer of the collected condensate by gravity to a condensate reservoir tray located adjacent the base. A heat exchange conduit is inserted into the refrigerant circuit, between the compressor and the condenser, and is placed in the condensate reservoir tray so as to be immersed in the condensate transferred to the condensate reservoir tray for enabling transfer of heat from the heat exchange conduit to condensate in the condensate reservoir tray during operation of the air-conditioning unit, thereby reducing the amount of energy needed to operate the unit.
