Patent attributes
A refrigeration system includes a supplemental heat exchanger operably disposed between a condenser and an evaporator. This supplemental heat exchanger is located in selective fluid communication with the air in the conditioned space, and can be toggled between an “invisible” mode in which the heat exchanger acts as a simple fluid conduit between the condenser and evaporator, and a “humidity reduction” mode in which the heat exchanger operates to transfer heat from hot refrigerant to the colder conditioned space. This addition of heat into the conditioned space decreases the relative humidity of the conditioned space and subcools the refrigerant leading to the expansion valve and evaporator. This subcooling of the liquid enables the evaporator to operate at a lower temperature which enhances the moisture removal from the air moving through the evaporator. The supplemental heat exchanger may be located in a physically elevated position relative to the remainder of the conditioned space to utilize stratification of hot air to create a default “invisible mode” without inducing airflow.
