Evaporative Media Pump Staging Without Valves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing evaporative media systems with a single re-circulation pump and multiple staging valves are prone to failures, energy wastage, high costs, and inefficiencies due to oversized pumping and costly, high-flow staging valves, which can lead to system inoperability and excessive costs.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of multiple, smaller re-circulation pumps, each dedicated to a media stage with no manifold and no staging valves, allowing for efficient water distribution and reduced electrical consumption, along with an electronic controller for staging control, enabling redundancy and reduced peak demand operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single oversized re-circulation pump is used to supply all media stages, then the system can meet peak cooling demands, but electrical consumption increases and water heating occurs during partial load operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the single oversized pump into multiple smaller pumps, each dedicated to a specific media stage. This segmentation allows each pump to operate at or near its optimal flow rate when its corresponding stage is active, eliminating the energy waste of running an oversized pump at partial capacity during part-load conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically activates or deactivates individual pumps based on the cooling demand and which media stages are currently in use. This dynamic operation allows the system to match pump capacity exactly to the required flow rate, preventing energy waste from pumping excess water through inactive stages.
2Device complexity
If a single re-circulation pump is used, then the system structure is simpler, but the system becomes inoperable if the pump fails
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the pump system into multiple independent pumps, each serving a specific media stage, the system gains redundancy. If one pump fails, the other pumps can continue to operate their respective stages, maintaining partial system functionality and avoiding complete system shutdown.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates redundant pumping capacity by having multiple pumps instead of a single pump. This beforehand cushioning ensures that if one pump fails, the system still has backup capacity to maintain operation, protecting against the harmful effect of complete system inoperability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple staging valves are used to control water distribution to different media stages, then cooling capacity can be adjusted, but valve failures and plugging occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the staging valves from the system entirely by dedicating a separate pump to each media stage. Control of water distribution is achieved by simply turning individual pumps on or off, eliminating the complex valve mechanism that was prone to failure, plugging, and sticking problems.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical valve system is replaced with an electrical control system where individual pumps are switched on or off based on cooling demands. This substitution eliminates the mechanical wear and failure modes of solenoid valves while maintaining the ability to adjust cooling capacity by controlling which pumps are active.
4Quantity of substance
If high-flow staging valves are used in wet environments, then water distribution is achieved, but the valves become costly
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the staging valves from the system and replacing them with dedicated pumps for each media stage, the system eliminates the need for expensive high-flow valves designed for wet environments. The pumps inherently provide the required water flow capacity without requiring specialized expensive valve components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses standard, off-the-shelf pump components that are more cost-effective than custom high-flow staging valves. While pumps have a finite lifespan, their lower initial cost and availability of replacement units make them a more economical choice compared to expensive specialized valves.
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 configuration reduces electrical consumption, minimizes water heating, eliminates valve failure risks, and lowers overall costs while providing system redundancy and efficient operation by using smaller, efficient pumps and eliminating the need for staging valves, allowing the system to maintain reduced capacity operation even with pump failures.
Implementation Method 1
A first pump may be provided that is configured to deliver water from the first compartment of the water storage tank to the first media stage. Additionally, a second pump may be provided that is configured to deliver water from the first compartment of the water storage tank to the second media stage.
Implementation Method 2
As air passes through the wetted media, water evaporates by taking energy from the air to vaporize the water. Accordingly, the air temperature exiting the wetted media is reduced and the humidity is increased
Implementation Method 3
This type of a process is often referred to as adiabatic cooling
Data Source
AI summary
An evaporative media system having multiple media stages each served by a separate pump is disclosed. In one aspect, the evaporative media system has a first media stage and a second media stage. A first pump is provided that is configured to deliver water from the first compartment of the water storage tank to the first media stage. Additionally, a second pump is provided that is configured to deliver water from the first compartment of the water storage tank to the second media stage. Additional media stages and pumps may be provided as well. The disclosed configuration eliminates the need for individual staging valves, provides a higher level of operational redundancy, reduces electrical consumption, and can be provided at a lower cost, as compared to many existing systems.