Title: "ANTI-CONDENSATION SYSTEM AND REFRIGERATOR".

The present invention refers to an anti-condensation system for cooling equipment. More particularly, the invention refers to an anti- condensation system having a configuration capable of conducting the heat dissipated by the hot part of the cooling circuit, to parts of the cooling cabinet. The present invention also refers to a solution for the problems of condensation existing in household and commercial cooling systems. DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE QF THE ART

Normally, the basic internal structure of a refrigerator comprises at least a cooling cabinet, an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, an expansion valve and ventilator, besides pipes and wings. These elements characterize a cooling circuit in which a cooling fluid circulates so as to permit the lowering of the temperature in an indoor environment, withdrawing the heat from this environment and discharging it to an outside environment based on its constituent elements. COOLING CIRCUIT

The fluid that circulates in the cooling circuit generally follows this sequence of passage: compressor, condenser, expansion valve, evaporator and the compressor again, thus characterizing a closed circuit. During circulation, the fluid undergoes variations in pressure and temperature, which are responsible for altering its state, and can be gaseous or liquid.

In a cooling circuit the compressor raises the pressure of the fluid which passes inside it and, consequently, the temperature of this fluid also rises. In the condenser, the fluid originating from the compressor is refrigerated and condensed. In it, the heat exchange occurs with the outside environment, which absorbs the hot air present around the condenser. Normally the condenser is known as the hot part of the cooling circuit; however the motor-compressor combination could be treated as a hot part of the cooling circuit. An axial ventilator may assist in this process, expelling the hot air to the outside environment.

In the expansion valve, the condensed cooling fluid originating

from the condenser undergoes an abrupt drop in pressure and, consequently, the temperature of this fluid also decreases.

The evaporator has coiled tubing through which the cooling fluid circulates. The hot air originating from the environment and that is found inside the cooling cabinet should be refrigerated, so it enters into contact with the cold coiled pipes and has its temperature lowered by way of heat exchange. The radial ventilator delivers the cooled air to the indoor environment (cooling cabinet). In the evaporator, the liquid part of this fluid evaporates and transforms into gas, which, in turn, will follow on to the compressor again. The evaporator is known as the cold part of the cooling circuit. THE EFFECT OF CONDENSATION

The effect of condensation occurs at certain moments of the day when there is a high relative humidity of the air. In this case, the air enters into contact with a certain surface having a lower temperature, providing condensation of humidity on said surface, which implies in the formation of water.

In a refrigerator having a cooling circuit such as the one described above, the problem of condensation may occur on the outside of the parts that make up the cooling cabinet of the refrigerator, such as its flanges, frames, partitions or doors, causing the formation of water droplets.

In a small refrigerator, for example, with the door made of a translucent material, condensation may compromise the visibility of the products stored on the inside, making the door misted over. In a larger refrigerator, the effect of condensation is also undesirable, since the humidity generated may come into contact with objects or products near the refrigerator, potentially causing damage or inconveniences. BACKGROUND OF THE ART

Currently certain cooling systems, or refrigerators, having a cooling cabinet, have an anti-condensation system to keep the surfaces of the flanges, frames, partitions, doors, as well as other surfaces, at a temperature slightly higher than the temperature of the outside environment.

Normally, current anti-condensation systems operate based on two basic principles:

1 - ) The use of tubes, originating from the cooling circuit, that transport the heat from the compressor, using the intrinsic heat of the cooling fluid, to parts of the cooling cabinet or;

2- ) The use of electrical resistances in order to keep the temperature of the surfaces of interest within previously established limits.

The first solution uses the closed cooling circuit. The transport of heat is carried out from the evaporator to the condenser by way of the circulation of the cooling fluid provided by the compressor.

In this first solution, the heat located in the compressor is diverted to the parts to be heated in the cooling cabinet, through the diversion of pipes which link the compressor to the condenser, or through the diversion of pipes that link the condenser to the expansion device. The use of tubes in this first solution is not suitable when using autonomous cooling modules, also known as decks or cassettes, since the entire system is compact, which would make it difficult to install. In this case it would be necessary to use flexible pipes, or assemble additional pipes after mounting the cooling module. The second solution has the drawback of increasing the consumption of electric power required by the entire cooling system.

Document US 5,277,035, for example, describes an anti- condensation system which makes use of a pipe installed in parts of a cooling cabinet. Said tabulation allows the conduction of heat from a gas burning source. Although simple, the system has the drawback of requiring an additional system to avoid the process of condensation, since the equipment itself burns the gas, besides the fuel needed.

Therefore, the subject matter explored in the state of the art reveals solutions that do not satisfactorily meet the problem of condensation, considering technical and/or economic aspects. OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the present invention is to propose an efficient

anti-condensation system for cooling equipment, using the heat dissipated by the hot part of the cooling circuit.

It is also an objective of this invention that said system does not use additional electric power in relation to that required by the cooling circuit, not compromising the total load required by the cooling circuit, although it is optionally possible to install an electric resistance inside an air duct in order to boost the anti-condensation effect.

Lastly, it is a further objective of the present invention that the system be easily implemented in refrigeration equipment that uses an autonomous cooling module or not.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A first way of achieving the objective of the present invention is by means of an anti-condensation system for the cooling equipment. The cooling equipment comprises a cooling circuit associated to the cooling cabinet. The anti-condensation system comprises at least one air duct, the air duct being disposed on at least one surface of the cooling cabinet, the air duct having at least a first end associated to the hot part of the cooling circuit, the air duct having an open end to the environment outside the cooling cabinet, and the air duct being capable of conducting the heat dissipated by the hot part of the cooling circuit to parts of the cooling cabinet.

A second way of achieving the objective of the present invention is by means of a refrigerator, comprising an anti-condensation system, the anti-condensation system comprising a cooling circuit associated to the cooling cabinet, the cooling cabinet comprising at least one surface. The refrigerator comprises at least one air duct associated to the at least one surface of the cooling cabinet, the air duct having at least one first end associated to the hot part of the cooling circuit, and the air duct being capable of conducting the heat dissipated by the cooling circuit to parts of the cooling cabinet. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described in greater detail, with reference to the drawings appended hereto, wherein:

Figure 1 - represents a perspective view of an anti-condensation system used in the state of the art;

Figure 2 - represents a perspective view of an anti-condensation system used in cooling equipment with an autonomous cooling module, the object of the present invention, highlighting the air duct in the partition of the cooling cabinet;

Figure 3 - represents a front view of an anti-condensation system used in cooling equipment with an autonomous cooling module, the object of the present invention, highlighting the air duct in the partition of the cooling cabinet;

Figure 4 - represents a side view of an anti-condensation system used in cooling equipment with an autonomous cooling module, the object of the present invention, highlighting the air duct in the partition of the cooling cabinet; Figure 5 - represents a perspective view of an anti-condensation system, used in cooling equipment, with an autonomous cooling module, the object of the present invention, highlighting the air duct in the lower part of the cooling cabinet;

Figure 6 - represents a front view of an anti-condensation system, used in cooling equipment, with an autonomous cooling module, the object of the present invention, highlighting the air duct in the lower part of the cooling cabinet;

Figure 7 - represents a side view of an anti-condensation system, used in cooling equipment, with an autonomous cooling module, the object of the present invention, highlighting the air duct in the lower part of the cooling cabinet;

Figure 8 - represents a perspective view of an anti-condensation system, the object of the present invention, highlighting the air duct in the upper part of the cooling cabinet; Figure 9 - represents a front view of an anti-condensation system, used in cooling equipment, with an autonomous cooling module, the object of the present invention, highlighting the air duct in the upper part of

the cooling cabinet;

Figure 10 - represents a side view of an anti-condensation system, the object of the present invention, highlighting the air duct in the upper part of the cooling cabinet; and Figure 11 - represents a cut view of the air duct, highlighting the main components of the anti-condensation system, the object of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 illustrates an anti-condensation system used in the state of the art, in which the heat generated by the circulation of the cooling fluid is used to avoid the process of condensation in parts of the cooling cabinet 4. In this setup, the pipes that link the condenser 6 and the compressor, comprised by the cooling circuit, is used to carry out the condensation process. As mentioned previously, in this type of application, installing the pipes that conduct the cooling fluid inside the cooling cabinet 4 becomes relatively complex when an autonomous cooling module is used.

A solution to the problem of condensation in cooling systems is achieved by means of the present invention. One of the ways of embodying the invention is through an anti- condensation system, as illustrated in figures 2 to 11. The present solution presents an anti-condensation system for cooling equipment. The cooling equipment comprises a cooling circuit 3, which is associated to a cooling cabinet 4. The anti-condensation system comprises at least one air duct 5, and the air duct 5 is disposed on at least one surface 10 of the cooling cabinet 4.

Said air duct 5 is associated to the lower part of the cooling cabinet 4, as illustrated in figures 5, 6 and 7, in which case the freezer may be located in the lower part of the cooling cabinet 4. Optionally, the air duct 5 is associated to the upper part of the cooling cabinet 4, as illustrated in figures 8, 9 and 10, in which case the freezer may be located in the upper part of the cooling cabinet 4.

In another possible embodiment, the air duct 5 is associated in the partition of the cooling cabinet 4, as illustrated in figures 2, 3 and 4.

The air duct 5 has at least a first end 15 associated to the hot part of the cooling circuit 3, the air duct 5 having a second end open 25 towards the environment outside the cooling cabinet 4, allowing the release of the hot air that circulates in the air duct 5. Figures 6 and 9 illustrate a second open end 25 of the air duct 5.

The second open end 25 of the air duct 5 is pointed towards various parts of the cooling cabinet 4, such as its upper or lower part, or to its side walls, in accordance with the setup and installation needs of the air duct 5.

In the present invention, the air duct 5 is capable of conducting the heat dissipated by the hot part of the cooling circuit 3, to parts of the cooling cabinet 4. The circulation of the hot air inside the air duct 5 increases the temperature of the surfaces 10 of the cooling cabinet 4, always keeping the desired surfaces dry, with a minimum of energy needed for operating the system.

Said hot air is collected from the cooling circuit 3, and it is possible to use it for the air duct 5. In any case, an optional setup could take into account the use of the hot air originating from other parts, such as that originating from the motor-compressor combination, whereupon it would be necessary to adapt the collection of the air. A combination in the collection of hot air originating from the motor-compressor combination and condenser 6 could also be implemented.

In the present invention the anti-condensation system comprises an air displacement device 100, capable of transferring the hot air to inside the air duct 5.

The air displacement device 100 may comprise a ventilator or any other device capable of directing the hot air towards the air duct 5.

Preferably, the air displacement device 100 is installed in the front position in relation to the hot part of the cooling circuit 3, yet the device can be installed

in any other position that provides the possibility of collecting the hot air, in order to direct it inside the air duct 5. The air duct 5 also comprises flow control means 7 capable of controlling the flow of hot air inside the air duct 5, as illustrated in figure 11. The flow control means 7 comprises a butterfly valve, also known as a damper.

Optionally, said valve or damper is controlled by mechanical actuators, or by electric signals, in which case the working of the damper can be regulated based on reading the ambient temperature and relative humidity sensors. The ambient temperature or relative humidity sensors can be specified for a digital or analogical operation in terms of controlling the device damper, providing a more robust and precise control of the anti-condensation system.

Alternatively, a reference value for the ambient temperature and the relative humidity is adjusted by the user by means of an electronic interface or by means of an electro-mechanical device, according to the acclimatization of the environment in which the cooling equipment is housed. Preferably, the damper is adjusted by means of the mechanical actuators, but based on sensors it is possible to have automatic control of the flow of hot air displaced in the air duct 5, and consequently a more efficient control for the entire anti-condensation system.

Optionally, the electronic control of the flow of hot air using a damper is regulated by sensors by means of a dedicated electronic device, or by commercial electronic equipment, designed to automate small machines, with low implementation costs.

Alternatively, working the damper is also adjusted to operate in hybrid form, that is, with automatic and also mechanical actuation when there is outside interference by humans.

In this case, the flow control can be adjusted in an interface for manual operation (damper with mechanical actuation), or automatic operation.

As an alternative, the damper can be removably associated to

the air displacement device 100 or to the air duct 5 itself, which generates potential advantages in the maintenance of the anti-condensation system 1.

Optionally, it is possible to reduce the effect of the condensation by means of an electrical resistance installed inside the air duct 5, near the flow control means 7, or along the air duct 5. The resistance heats the air contained inside the air duct 5 to assist in the anti-condensation process. In this case, the resistance is only turned on when air humidity is high, so as not to compromise the total power load required by the cooling equipment. It is therefore an additional solution in relation to the object of the proposed invention, in order to boost the anti-condensation effect.

A refrigerator 200 is used, preferably, based on an anti- condensation system having the features mentioned above, and the anti- condensation system comprises a cooling circuit 3 associated to the cooling cabinet 4 of the refrigerator 200. The cooling cabinet 4 also comprises at least one surface 10 and at least one air duct 5, having at least an end portion associated to the hot part of the cooling circuit 3. The end portion of the air duct 5 is associated to the discharge of the air displacement device 100.

Said air duct 5 is capable of conducting the heat dissipated by the cooling circuit 3 to parts of the cooling cabinet 4.

Preferably, the refrigerator 200 is assembled based on autonomous cooling module, yet the present invention provides the possibility of installing the anti-condensation system in a conventional cooling equipment, provided that its hot parts are available to collect air and subsequently direct it towards the air duct 5.

Having described examples of preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the scope of the present invention encompasses other possible variations, and is only limited by the content of the claims appended hereto, including potential equivalents therein.