Integrated evaporative cooler and flat plate air to air heat exchanger

Abstract

This invention is an integrated system comprised of a flat plate, air-to-air heat exchanger, ducting and controls, and an AZFlow™ direct evaporative cooler in configurations where the system is able to provide air that has been cooled well below the ambient wet-bulb to temperatures approaching the dew point. These include: A) a two stage cooler where one evaporative cooler performs the stage one cooling by direct evaporative cooling, of the ambient air. This air is directed to the secondary side of the air to air heat exchanger where it indirectly and sensibly cools primary air which is then cooled by a second evaporative cooler which is able to produce the desired cool air approaching the dew point; B) an energy recovery cooling system where building exhaust is collected and directed to the secondary side of the air to air heat exchanger where it indirectly and sensibly cools primary air which is then cooled by an evaporative cooler which is able to produce the desired cool air approaching the dew point; C) an indirect evaporative cooler where an evaporative cooler performs direct evaporative cooling of the ambient air. This air is directed to the secondary side of the air to air heat exchanger where it indirectly and sensibly cools primary air. This sensibly cooled primary air can be used as input to a broad number of applications including but not limited to: inlet air to cooling towers producing water chilled to temperatures approaching the dew point which itself has a broad range of uses, and building makeup air in areas other than the most humid where cooling the air below ambient conditions reduces the energy required to maintain the building environment.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is related to and claims priority of a provisional application entitled “INTEGRATED EVAPORATIVE COOLER AND FLAT PLATE AIR TO AIR HEAT EXCHANGER SYSTEMS”, filed Jul. 14, 2006, and assigned Ser. No. 60 / 807,414, disclosing an invention by the present inventor.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to systems and components specifically designed and configured to systematically condition the indoor air of buildings and facilities by evaporatively cooling air and directing this air into the building, the air gains sensible heat from lighting and other heat loads and is then recovered and directed through a flat plat heat exchanger where it is still cool enough to sensibly cool the inlet air prior to its being evaporative cooled. By sensibly cooling the ambient air the dry bulb and wet bulb are lowered such that the system is able to produce desirable cool temperatur...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0046]This invention is an integrated system comprised of a flat plate, air-to-air heat exchanger, ducting and controls, and an AZFlow™ direct evaporative cooler in configurations where the system is able to provide air that has been cooled well below the ambient wet-bulb to temperatures approaching the dew point. These include: A) a two stage cooler where one evaporative cooler performs the stage one cooling by direct evaporative cooling of the ambient air. This air is directed to the secondary side of the air to air heat exchanger where it indirectly and sensibly cools primary air which is then cooled by a second evaporative cooler which is able to produce the desired cool air approaching the dew point; B) an energy recovery cooling system where building exhaust is collected and directed to the secondary side of the air to air heat exchanger where it indirectly and sensibly cools primary air which is then cooled by an evaporative cooler which is able to produce the desired cool air approaching the dew point; C) an indirect evaporative cooler where an evaporative cooler performs direct evaporative cooling of the ambient air. This air is directed to the secondary side of the air to air heat exchanger where it indirectly and sensibly cools primary air. This sensibly cooled primary air can be used as input to a broad number of applications including but not limited to: inlet air to cooling towers producing water chilled to temperatures approaching, the dew point which itself has a broad range of uses, and building makeup air in areas other than the most humid where cooling the air below ambient conditions reduces the energy required to maintain the building environment.

Problems solved by technology

Indirect evaporative cooling / heat recovery can be used as a retrofit on existing systems, which results in lower operational cost and reduced peak demand relative to standard direct refrigeration systems.

However, no details concerning configuration and critical design features of the components are provided.

The handbook notes that as a practical matter, design and manufacturing limitations associated with getting air into and out of the heat exchanger have resulted in configurations of transverse or cross-flow.

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