Electrostatic Evaporative Cooling for Coil Saturation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigeration systems face inefficiencies due to excess water runoff and coil saturation from traditional moisture pad systems, leading to reduced cooling effectiveness and potential for scale and corrosion formation.
Innovation Solution
An evaporative cooling system with electrostatically charged water sprays applied to moisture panels, utilizing a controller to manage water supply based on moisture levels, ensuring optimal coverage and retention on the panels while minimizing runoff.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional moisture pad systems are used for evaporative cooling, then cooling effectiveness is provided, but excess water runoff and coil saturation occur leading to reduced cooling effectiveness and potential for scale and corrosion formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical water distribution systems with electrostatically charged water droplets. The electrostatic charge enables precise control of water application to moisture panels, ensuring optimal coverage without excess runoff that would cause coil saturation. This substitution of electrostatic fields for mechanical water delivery systems resolves the contradiction between maintaining cooling effectiveness and preventing water-related harmful effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of water by charging it electrostatically before application to the moisture panels. This parameter change allows the water to be precisely controlled and deposited only where needed on the panels, preventing both insufficient moisture (which would reduce cooling) and excess moisture (which would cause runoff and coil saturation). The electrostatic parameter transformation resolves the contradiction by enabling precise water management.
2Reliability
If traditional moisture pad systems are used, then cooling is provided, but water usage is excessive leading to runoff and potential scale and corrosion formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes electrostatically charged water droplet delivery for traditional mechanical water distribution systems. The electrostatic charge allows water to be precisely applied only to the moisture panels in the exact amount needed for evaporative cooling, eliminating excessive water usage and runoff. This substitution resolves the contradiction between maintaining reliable cooling function and reducing water loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrostatically charged water droplets self-regulate their distribution on the moisture panels through electrostatic attraction and repulsion forces. The charged droplets naturally distribute themselves to achieve optimal panel coverage without requiring excess water, and without creating runoff. This self-regulating property resolves the contradiction between adequate moisture provision and water conservation.
3Reliability
If moisture panels are wetted to ensure adequate cooling, then cooling effectiveness improves, but coil saturation occurs reducing efficiency and extending system lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes water from an uncharged state to an electrostatically charged state before application to moisture panels. This parameter transformation enables precise control of water deposition, ensuring panels receive adequate moisture for cooling effectiveness while preventing excess water from saturating the coils. The electrostatic parameter control resolves the contradiction between maintaining cooling effectiveness and preventing coil saturation that would reduce system lifespan.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses moisture sensors to monitor the moisture content of the moisture panels and provides feedback to the controller. The controller adjusts the electrostatic water droplet application based on this feedback, ensuring panels maintain optimal moisture levels for cooling effectiveness without exceeding levels that would cause coil saturation. This feedback control resolves the contradiction between adequate panel moisture and coil protection.
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
Enhances moisture panel coverage, reduces water usage, and prevents coil saturation, thereby improving cooling efficiency and extending system lifespan by ensuring adequate moisture without excess runoff.
Implementation Method 1
an atomized spray of electrostatically charged droplets is provided to the first moisture panel
Implementation Method 2
evaporative cooling device for a refrigeration system
Implementation Method 3
adiabatic electrostatic cooling device
Data Source
AI summary
An evaporative cooling device for a refrigeration system includes one or more heat exchanger coils, a first moisture panel, a second moisture panel, a first nozzle array, a second nozzle array, a moisture sensor, and a controller. The first moisture panel and the second moisture panel are separated by a distance and disposed external to the one or more heat exchanger coils. The first nozzle array is disposed external to the first moisture panel and the second nozzle array is disposed external to the second moisture panel. The first nozzle array and the second nozzle array are configured to provide an atomized spray of electrostatically charged droplets. The moisture sensor is configured to provide a signal representative of a moisture level. The controller is configured to receive the signal representative of the moisture level and control a supply of water.