Evaporative cooling systems and methods of using

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Solution Overview

Problem

Evaporative cooling towers face limitations in heat exchange efficiency due to pressure drop and bio-fouling issues with media configurations that increase surface area, and low clog media compromises water/air interaction time and surface area, leading to reduced cooling performance.

Innovation Solution

The use of evaporative media with individual elements having static electrical charges, where droplets with opposite charges adhere to surfaces, increasing adhesion and promoting heat exchange without altering the number or configuration of media elements, thereby enhancing heat transfer and reducing water loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If complex media configurations are used to increase heat exchange efficiency, then heat exchange performance is improved, but pressure drop increases and bio-fouling occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat exchange efficiencyVSAvoidpressure drop

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies electrostatic charging to the media surfaces, changing the electrical parameter of the media to enhance droplet adhesion through electrostatic attraction, thereby improving heat exchange efficiency without increasing pressure drop or causing bio-fouling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If complex media configurations are used to increase heat exchange efficiency, then heat exchange performance is improved, but bio-fouling increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat exchange efficiencyVSAvoidbio-fouling

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the electrical parameter of the media surfaces by applying electrostatic charges, which enhances droplet adhesion and heat exchange efficiency while the controlled charging process avoids the conditions that lead to bio-fouling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stress or pressure

If low clog media is used to reduce pressure drop, then pressure drop is reduced, but heat exchange performance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure dropVSAvoidheat exchange efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical approach of complex media configurations with an electrostatic field approach, using electrostatic attraction to enhance droplet adhesion and heat exchange efficiency without relying on mechanical complexity that would increase pressure drop

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Reliability

If electrostatic charges are applied to media surfaces, then droplet adhesion is increased, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedroplet adhesionVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies electrostatic charges to the media surfaces in advance, before the droplets arrive, so that the droplets are immediately attracted and adhered upon contact, enhancing heat exchange efficiency without requiring continuous energy input during operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 increases heat exchange performance by prolonging water/air interaction time and reducing water escape, maintaining efficiency and preventing bio-fouling, while maintaining the existing media configuration and pressure drop characteristics.

Implementation Method 1

the droplets contact and electrostatically adhere to the individual elements of the media

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic attraction: Electrostatics

Implementation Method 2

Heat transfer results from both evaporative and sensible heat exchange between the water and the air

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporative cooling: Evaporation

Implementation Method 3

Heat transfer results from both evaporative and sensible heat exchange between the water and the air

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSensible heat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11340019B2Evaporative cooling systems and methods of using

Publication Date: 2022.05.24 PURDUE RES FOUND

AI summary

Systems and methods that involve distributing water droplets onto a media, particular but nonlimiting examples of which include systems and methods for exchanging heat between process water and air in an evaporative cooling system that includes media with a plurality of individual elements each having a surface. The surfaces of at least some of the individual elements individually have a static electrical charge, and the static electrical charges are different among the surfaces of the individual elements.