Evaporative air cooling tower

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional evaporative air coolers are inefficient due to the need for frequent water replenishment, slow cooling initiation, and uneven air distribution, as they rely on paper-like filters that are not reusable and require time to soak up water before cooling can begin.

Innovation Solution

An evaporative air cooling tower design featuring a housing with a water tank, a pump, a filter structure with adjustable filter holders, and a fan that draws air through wet filters to cool and circulate air efficiently, allowing for reusable filters and improved cooling performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional evaporative air coolers use paper-like filters that soak up water, then the filters can cool air through evaporation, but the filters cannot be reused or easily cleaned and require frequent replacement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter reusabilityVSAvoidfilter maintenance complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter of the filter from paper-like material to reusable materials such as foam, fabric, or mesh that can be washed and reused. This parameter change allows the filter to maintain its water absorption and evaporation capabilities while being durable and reusable, resolving the contradiction between filter reliability and maintenance complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables the filter to be recovered and reused through washing instead of being discarded after single use. The reusable filter material can be cleaned and put back into service multiple times, eliminating the need for frequent replacement and reducing waste, thus resolving the contradiction between filter reliability and ease of manufacture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Productivity

If the filter device soaks up water from the reservoir before cooling can begin, then the filters become water soaked for evaporative cooling, but it takes a considerable period of time to begin cooling air

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling initiation speedVSAvoidtime to soak filters
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-soaking the reusable filter with water before the cooling operation begins. This allows the filter to be ready for immediate evaporative cooling without requiring a soaking period during operation, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and time loss

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent maintains continuity of useful action by ensuring the filter remains water-saturated throughout operation. The reusable filter is kept continuously wet through the water distribution system, eliminating interruptions for soaking and maintaining continuous cooling performance, resolving the contradiction between productivity and time loss

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Ease of operation

If conventional evaporative air coolers are stationary and blow cooled air in only one direction, then the cooling mechanism is simple, but the distribution of cooled air is uneven in a room

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair distribution uniformityVSAvoidcooling system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the cooling tower movable rather than stationary. The cooling tower can be moved to different locations and oriented to blow cooled air in multiple directions, improving air distribution uniformity without requiring complex multi-directional mechanisms, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the cooling function into multiple outlets that can be positioned at different locations. By having multiple air outlets distributed on the housing, the system can provide more uniform cooling coverage without requiring each outlet to be mechanically adjustable, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Duration of action of stationary object

If water is constantly added to replace evaporated water in the reservoir, then the filter device remains soaked for continuous cooling, but additional water must be constantly added

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous cooling operationVSAvoidwater replenishment frequency
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by implementing a water distribution system with a pump that automatically recirculates water from the reservoir to the filter and back. This self-circulating system maintains continuous water supply to the filter without requiring manual intervention, enabling continuous cooling operation while minimizing water loss through evaporation, thus resolving the contradiction between duration of action and loss of substance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 design enhances cooling efficiency by allowing instant cooling with pre-soaked filters, improving air distribution, and extending the filter's lifespan through reusability, while reducing the need for constant water replenishment.

Implementation Method 1

a pump configured to pump the liquid from the tank to the tray through the hose

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPump: Pump

Implementation Method 2

a filter structure comprising filters configured to receive the liquid from the tray and to absorb or store the liquid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 3

a fan configured to draw air into the interior, wherein the air is cooled by the filters and directed out of the interior through the openings

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFan: Fan

Implementation Method 4

As warm air passes through the water-soaked filters, heat from the ambient air evaporates water trapped in the water-soaked filter device. The evaporated water cools the air as it leaves the water-soaked filter device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP3942235B1Evaporative air cooling tower
Publication Date: 2024.06.05 ONTEL PRODUCTS CORP
  • EP3942235B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3942235B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3942235B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An evaporative air cooling tower is described. The evaporative air cooling tower includes a housing defining an interior of the evaporative air cooling tower; a grill coupled to the housing and defining openings; a tank positioned adjacent to a bottom portion of the housing, wherein the tank is configured to receive and store liquid; a tray positioned adjacent to a top portion of the housing, wherein the tray is configured to receive and release the liquid; a hose in fluid communication with the tank and the fray; a. pump configured to pump the liquid front the tank to the tray through the hose; a filter structure comprising a filter configured to receive the liquid from the tray; and a fan configured to draw air into the interior, wherein fire air is cooled by the filter and directed out of the interior through the openings.