US 12,239,248 B2
Grid interactive micro-distributed refrigerated display case
Ramin Teimouri Faramarzi, Pacific Palisades, CA (US); Sammy Houssainy, Mission Viejo, CA (US); Jason David Woods, Boulder, CO (US); and Eric Kozubal, Superior, CO (US)
Assigned to Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, Golden, CO (US)
Filed by Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, Golden, CO (US)
Filed on Mar. 17, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/697,126.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/162,074, filed on Mar. 17, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0299242 A1, Sep. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. A47F 3/04 (2006.01); F25B 7/00 (2006.01); F25B 25/00 (2006.01); F25D 16/00 (2006.01); F25D 17/02 (2006.01)
CPC A47F 3/0443 (2013.01) [F25B 7/00 (2013.01); F25B 25/005 (2013.01); F25D 16/00 (2013.01); F25D 17/02 (2013.01); F25B 2400/22 (2013.01); F25B 2400/24 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An open vertical display case (OVDC) comprising:
a backwall comprising perforations passing through the backwall;
a first side wall disposed adjacent to a first side of the backwall;
a second side wall disposed adjacent to a second side of the backwall;
a canopy disposed adjacent to a top of the backwall;
a base disposed adjacent to a bottom of the backwall;
a shelf disposed between and parallel to the canopy and the base, wherein the shelf is constructed of a perforated/porous material;
a fan disposed on the backwall to direct an air flow to a heat exchanger;
a phase change material (PCM) characterized by a high thermal conductivity and a high thermal energy storage;
a first refrigeration circuit comprising:
a first refrigerant;
first plurality of piping positioned within at least one the first side wall, the second side wall, the canopy, the base, or a combination thereof;
the first refrigerant is disposed in the first plurality of piping to cool food products on the shelf by radiant heat transfer; and
the plurality of piping is configured to thermally contact the first refrigerant with the PCM; and
a second refrigeration circuit comprising:
a second refrigerant; and
a second plurality of piping configured to thermally contact the second refrigerant with the PCM, wherein:
the heat exchanger is disposed to cool the air flow by transferring heat from the air flow to the first refrigerant, forming a cooled air flow;
the fan and the backwall comprising perforations direct the cooled air flow through the perforations into the OVDC, and
the backwall and the shelf direct the cooled air flow through the perforated/porous material of the shelf, such that the cooled air flow cools food products on the shelf by convective heat transfer.