Cooling Recovery Coil Reheat for Humidity Control Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air conditioning systems in facilities are energy-intensive, leading to high operating costs and improper humidity control, which can result in biological growth and energy waste, especially in humid climates where cooling systems are often overused to prevent growth, even when facilities are unoccupied.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a cooling recovery coil system that re-heats air using warmed fluid from cooling coils, reducing the water temperature returned to the chiller plant and minimizing re-heat energy, while maintaining dehumidification efficiency by increasing air temperatures to occupant comfort levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cooling systems are left running continuously to prevent biological growth, then humidity control is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebiological growth preventionVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses waste heat from the cooling coil to automatically reheat air, making the system self-sufficient. The warmed fluid from the cooling coil is redirected through a heat transfer coil to reheat air that has been cooled below comfortable temperatures, eliminating the need for additional heating energy while maintaining continuous operation for biological growth prevention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the temperature parameter of the fluid by capturing and utilizing the warmed fluid from the cooling coil (which would otherwise be discarded) to reheat air. This parameter change allows the system to maintain continuous cooling operation while recovering useful thermal energy, thereby preventing biological growth without proportionally increasing energy consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If air is cooled to dehumidify it, then humidity control is improved, but air temperature drops below comfort levels requiring re-heating

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedehumidification efficiencyVSAvoidre-heat energy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system recovers the thermal energy that would otherwise be discarded from the cooling coil. The warmed fluid exiting the cooling coil (at temperatures typically 65-75°F) is captured and redirected through a heat transfer coil to reheat air that has been cooled below comfortable temperatures, converting waste heat into useful re-heating energy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The system converts the harmful effect of over-cooling (air temperature dropping below comfort levels) into a beneficial resource. The warmed fluid from the cooling coil, which represents excess thermal energy, is utilized to reheat air, thereby eliminating the need for separate heating energy input while maintaining dehumidification efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Loss of energy

If water temperature returned to chiller plant is reduced, then chiller efficiency is improved, but more re-heat energy is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechiller plant efficiencyVSAvoidre-heat energy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the cooling and heating functions into a single integrated process. The heat transfer coil, which would traditionally be a separate heating component, is combined with the cooling coil system by utilizing the warmed fluid from the cooling coil as the heating source. This merging allows the system to reduce water temperature to the chiller plant (improving chiller efficiency) while simultaneously providing re-heating through the integrated heat transfer coil, eliminating the need for separate heating energy input

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 reduces energy consumption by 32% and improves chiller plant efficiency, allowing for lower water temperatures and reduced re-heat loads, thereby minimizing biological growth and operational costs.

Implementation Method 1

cooling coil having an inlet to receive a fluid from a fluid chiller to cool and dehumidify air that passes over the cooling coil

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

cool and dehumidify air that passes over the cooling coil

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Implementation Method 3

heat transfer coil having an inlet to receive the fluid to reheat air from the cooling coil that passes over the heat transfer coil

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS9638472B2Cooling recovery system and method

Publication Date: 2017.05.02 HEDS HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

A cooling recover system and method are disclosed. A fluid, such as water, is chilled and provided to a cooling coil to cool and dehumidify air passing over the cooling coil. The fluid is output from the cooling coil through an outlet, and at least a portion of the fluid from the outlet of the cooling coil is provided to an inlet of a heat transfer coil to reheat air passing over the heat transfer coil. The fluid is warmed as it passes through the cooling coil, which warmer temperature serves to reheat the air passing over the heat transfer coil.