Cooling unit for generating a cooled area
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling technologies face challenges in efficiently cooling outdoor areas due to moving air currents, thermal transfer, and lack of containment, making it difficult to provide effective cooling in such environments.
Innovation Solution
A modular and customizable cooling unit that employs water cooling, featuring a base with control components, a cooling tower, and an air distribution system, which can be configured to generate cooled air and distribute it effectively around the unit, using a dual-feed dispensing system to provide both cool and warm air streams for optimal comfort and containment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If traditional air conditioning is used for outdoor areas, then cooling can be provided to users, but moving air currents and lack of containment reduce cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by using warm air dispensers to create a containment barrier before the cool air can be dispersed by moving air currents. The warm air is dispensed in a manner that forms an air curtain or boundary layer around the cool air release area, preventing the harmful effect of moving air currents from immediately dispersing the cooled air. This anticipatory measure counteracts the disruptive effect of ambient air movement before it can degrade cooling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The warm air acts as an intermediary substance between the cool air and the ambient environment. By dispensing warm air around the cool air release points, the system creates a transitional air layer that shields the cool air from being immediately carried away by moving air currents. This intermediary air layer maintains the cool air containment more effectively than direct release into the ambient environment.
2Temperature
If cooling is provided in outdoor areas without containment, then air can be circulated, but thermal transfer reduces cooling effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The system preemptively counters thermal transfer by dispensing warm air to form a containment boundary before significant thermal exchange can occur between the cool air and ambient environment. This preliminary action creates a thermal barrier that reduces heat gain from surrounding surfaces and air, maintaining cooler temperatures for longer periods and reducing energy loss through unwanted thermal transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The warm air dispersion creates a flexible, invisible air film or shell around the cool air release area. This gaseous envelope acts as a dynamic barrier that adapts to ambient conditions while providing thermal insulation. The thin film of warm air reduces direct thermal contact between the cool air and warmer ambient surfaces, minimizing conductive and convective heat transfer.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a modular cooling unit is designed with multiple components, then adaptability to various environments is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling unit is segmented into distinct functional modules including cool air dispensers, warm air dispensers, and a cooling tower that can be independently configured. Each module performs a specific function and can be adjusted or removed based on environmental requirements. This segmentation enables the system to adapt to different environments by modifying individual components rather than redesigning the entire system, managing complexity through functional decomposition.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular components are designed with universal interfaces and standardized configurations that allow them to be reused across different environmental applications. The cool and warm air dispensers can serve multiple functions depending on their arrangement and control settings, enabling the same hardware to adapt to various climates and spatial configurations without requiring completely different system designs.
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
The modular cooling unit efficiently generates and distributes cooled air, creating a comfortable zone around the unit, while also being energy-efficient and adaptable to various environments, with the ability to utilize solar power and water recycling, enhancing comfort and energy neutrality.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling tower...configured to cool water in the water supply line
Implementation Method 2
The water in the water supply line comes in contact with air in the cooled area
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Cooling units are provided. The cooling units include a base having a housing with control components, a cooling tower attached to the base and having an inner flow path and an exterior surface. An air distribution system is attached to the cooling tower and includes an air distribution chamber defined between first and second enclosures, air dispensers are configured in the first enclosure, and a cover disposed on an exterior surface of the second enclosure. The control components are configured to convey air through the base, the cooling tower, and the air distribution system to dispense air through the cool air dispenser and the warm air dispenser and an electronics package installed on the cooling unit.