Hybrid Cooling Loop with Evaporative Pad
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling arrangements, such as dry coolers and evaporative cooling systems, face issues with high water consumption, potential bacterial dispersion, and increased power and noise emissions due to air obstruction, which affect their efficiency and environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A cooling arrangement comprising a closed loop and a semi-open loop with a fan system, where a liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger and an air-to-liquid heat exchanger are integrated with a tank and an evaporating pad, utilizing a controlled flow of cooling fluids to optimize temperature regulation and air flow, reducing the need for excessive water usage and minimizing noise and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If direct spraying evaporative cooling techniques are implemented, then the temperature of ambient air is reduced, but water consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is divided into two separate loops: a closed loop for water conservation and a semi-open loop for evaporative cooling. The closed loop handles the primary cooling function with minimal water loss, while the semi-open loop provides supplementary evaporative cooling only when needed, segmenting the functions to reduce overall water consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operating parameters by introducing a hybrid configuration that combines closed and semi-open loop operations. By dynamically adjusting the operation mode between closed and semi-open loops based on thermal conditions, the system optimizes the balance between cooling effectiveness and water consumption.
2Temperature
If evaporating pads are used for cooling, then ambient air temperature is reduced, but air flow obstruction increases leading to higher power consumption and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The air flow path is segmented into two separate heat exchangers: one for the closed loop and one for the semi-open loop. This segmentation allows air to flow through the evaporating pad separately from the main cooling circuit, reducing obstruction in the primary air flow path and decreasing the power and noise requirements of the main fan.
Solution Approach 2:
The evaporating pad acts as an intermediary cooling element that pre-cools air before it enters the main heat exchanger. This intermediary cooling reduces the thermal load on the primary system, allowing the fan to operate at lower power levels while maintaining effective cooling.
3Temperature
If evaporating pads are used for cooling, then ambient air temperature is reduced, but noise emission increases due to air obstruction
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the cooling function into two independent heat exchangers, allowing the evaporating pad to handle a portion of the cooling load separately. This reduces the air flow obstruction in the main path, thereby decreasing noise emission from the primary fan system.
4Loss of substance
If a closed loop system is used, then water consumption is reduced, but cooling efficiency may be insufficient under high thermal loads
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges a closed loop and a semi-open loop into a hybrid configuration. The closed loop provides base cooling with minimal water consumption, while the semi-open loop with evaporative cooling supplements the system during high thermal loads, combining the advantages of both systems to maintain cooling efficiency while conserving water.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between closed loop and semi-open loop operations based on thermal conditions. During normal operation, the closed loop maintains efficient cooling with minimal water use. During high thermal loads, the semi-open loop is activated to provide additional cooling capacity, making the system adaptive to varying demands.
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 solution effectively reduces energy consumption and noise emissions while maintaining efficient cooling performance by optimizing fluid flow and air circulation, thus enhancing the Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) and operational efficiency of cooling systems.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger, the primary side being adapted for receiving a first cooling fluid heated by a heat source
Implementation Method 2
a first air-to-liquid heat exchanger adapted for receiving the first cooling fluid from the primary side of the liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger
Implementation Method 3
an evaporating pad adapted for receiving the second cooling fluid from the secondary side of the liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger
Implementation Method 4
at least one fan adapted for causing an air flow through the evaporating pad and through the first air-to-liquid heat exchanger
Implementation Method 5
a first pump adapted for receiving the first cooling fluid from the air-to-liquid heat exchanger and for returning the first cooling fluid to the heat source
Data Source
AI summary
Cooling arrangement and method for cooling of a heat source. The cooling arrangement includes a closed loop, a semi-open loop and at least one fan. The closed loop includes a primary side of a liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger receiving a first cooling fluid heated by the heat source, a first air-to-liquid heat exchanger downstream the primary side, and a first pump returning the first cooling fluid to the heat source. The semi-open loop includes a tank storing a second cooling fluid, a second pump drawing the second cooling fluid from the tank, a secondary side of the liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger receiving the second cooling fluid from the second pump, an evaporating pad downstream said secondary side, and an inlet fluidly connected to a source of the second cooling fluid. The at least one fan causes an air flow through the evaporating pad and through the first air-to-liquid heat exchanger.