Adiabatic cooler with control system for water and energy use reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adiabatic cooling systems face challenges in accurately measuring psychrometric properties, leading to inefficiencies in energy and water usage.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a control system that adjusts operational parameters based on sensed temperatures and environmental conditions, allowing for reliable water and energy conservation modes of operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an RH sensor is used to measure incoming air's relative humidity, then psychrometric measurements can be obtained, but the system becomes costly to maintain and prone to failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the problematic RH sensor from the measurement system and replaces it with a temperature sensor that measures cooling water temperature. This eliminates the unreliable component while maintaining the ability to obtain psychrometric data through alternative means (measuring the temperature of water that has undergone adiabatic cooling).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces cooling water temperature as an intermediary measurement. Instead of directly measuring relative humidity with an unreliable sensor, the system measures the temperature of water that has passed through the adiabatic cooling process, which indirectly provides psychrometric information through a more reliable temperature measurement.
2Device complexity
If adiabatic cooling systems operate without accurate psychrometric measurements, then system complexity is reduced, but energy efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where the temperature sensor continuously monitors cooling water temperature, and the controller adjusts operational parameters (such as air movement device speed or water flow rate) based on this feedback. This closed-loop control enables energy-efficient operation without requiring complex direct psychrometric measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the cooling water itself as the measurement medium. The cooling water temperature naturally reflects the adiabatic cooling process effectiveness, and the system leverages this self-indicating property to automatically adjust its operation, eliminating the need for external complex measurement systems.
3Productivity
If cooling water flow rate is increased to improve cooling capacity, then heat rejection performance improves, but water consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of cooling water flow rate based on real-time temperature measurements and operational conditions. Rather than maintaining a constant high flow rate, the system dynamically optimizes water usage to match actual cooling demands, improving efficiency while maintaining adequate cooling capacity when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (water flow rate, air movement rate) based on measured temperature conditions. By adjusting these parameters dynamically rather than operating at fixed settings, the system achieves optimal balance between cooling performance and water consumption under varying environmental and load conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables the adiabatic cooling system to operate more efficiently, conserving water and energy by optimizing cooling water usage and air movement device operation.
Implementation Method 1
adiabatic cooling systems can cool the temperature of air below the ambient air's dry-bulb temperature by increasing the relative humidity of the air by pulling warm air through a wetted pad
Implementation Method 2
adiabatic coolers having at least one media pad... A fluid distribution system is designed to wet the at least one media pad by distributing cooling water over the at least one media pad
Data Source
AI summary
An adiabatic system and method for reducing water and energy use is provided. The system comprises an adiabatic heat rejection system including a temperature sensor configured to measure the ambient wet-bulb temperature of the adiabatic system based on a measured temperature of water exiting a wetted media pad. A method for adjusting the operational parameters of the system to minimize water and energy use is provided. The method comprises the steps of determining an approximate ambient wet-bulb temperature of the adiabatic heat rejection system based on a measured temperature of water leaving the adiabatic pad, determining if a measured temperature of a process fluid stream is above a process fluid temperature setpoint, determining if the adiabatic heat rejection system is in a water conservation mode of operation or an energy savings mode of operation, and adjusting one or more operational parameters based on the mode of operation.