Air-Cooling System Using Liquid Ejector for Low-Pressure Evaporation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional air-cooling systems are energy-intensive and inefficient, particularly in humid environments, as they rely on compressing air to create vacuums and often use non-condensable gases, which are not effective in high moisture conditions.
Innovation Solution
An air-cooling system that includes a pressure-resistant reservoir and a pressure reducer system with a liquid ejector and booster pump to reduce pressure inside the evaporator to below the saturated vapor pressure, facilitating the conversion of liquid to vapor and enhancing dehumidification through a selectively permeable membrane in the dehumidification core.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a vacuum pump is used to create vacuum by compressing air, then vacuum is established across the membrane, but energy consumption increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical vacuum pump system with a membrane-based separation system that uses pressure differential created by the cooling process itself. The membrane selectively permeable to water vapor allows vacuum effect to be achieved through phase change and selective transport rather than mechanical compression, significantly reducing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes phase transition of water from liquid to vapor as the driving mechanism. By cooling air below the dew point, water vapor condenses and is selectively removed through the membrane, creating a natural pressure differential that eliminates the need for energy-intensive vacuum pumps.
2Temperature
If traditional refrigerant-based air conditioners are used, then cooling is provided, but energy consumption increases due to combined sensible and latent load management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cooling process into two independent stages: first, sensible cooling through heat exchange; second, latent heat removal through selective water vapor condensation on the membrane. This separation allows each stage to be optimized independently, reducing total energy consumption compared to combined refrigerant-based systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane acts as an intermediary that selectively separates water vapor from air. This intermediary enables targeted removal of latent heat through phase change without requiring the complex refrigerant cycle, simplifying the system and reducing energy requirements.
3Temperature
If water evaporation cooling is used, then cooling is provided, but effectiveness decreases in humid environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a selectively permeable membrane with specific porosity that allows water vapor to pass through while blocking liquid water and air. This porous structure enables effective dehumidification and cooling even in humid environments where traditional evaporation coolers fail, as the membrane maintains its selective transport capability regardless of ambient humidity levels.
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 system achieves efficient cooling and dehumidification with reduced energy consumption by creating a pressure differential that allows for effective moisture extraction and vaporization, improving performance in humid conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a throat portion arranged downstream of the inlet portion and fluidly coupled to the evaporator. The throat portion is adapted to increase a velocity of the liquid received from the inlet portion
Implementation Method 2
adapted to create a pressure less than or equal to a saturated vapor pressure of the liquid at an ambient temperature inside the evaporator to facilitate a conversion of at least a portion of the liquid flowing through the evaporator into vapors
Implementation Method 3
conversion of at least a portion of the liquid flowing through the evaporator into vapors
Implementation Method 4
an outlet portion disposed downstream of the throat portion and configured to increase a pressure inside the liquid ejector to facilitate a condensation of the vapors received from the evaporator
Implementation Method 5
enhancing dehumidification through a selectively permeable membrane in the dehumidification core
Data Source
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AI summary
An air-cooling system includes an evaporator adapted to cool an air and a reservoir for storing a liquid and providing the liquid to the evaporator. The air-cooling system also includes a pressure reducer system fluidly coupled to the evaporator and adapted to create a relatively low pressure inside the evaporator to facilitate a conversion of the liquid flowing through the evaporator into vapors. The pressure reducer system includes a liquid ejector having an inlet portion adapted to receive the liquid from the reservoir, a throat portion arranged downstream of the inlet portion and fluidly coupled to the evaporator and an outlet portion disposed downstream of the throat portion and configured to increase a pressure inside the liquid ejector. The pressure reducer system also includes a pump fluidly connected to the liquid ejector and the reservoir to supply the liquid from the reservoir to the liquid ejector.