Modular adiabatic cooling apparatus and related installation method

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooling apparatuses face challenges in transportation due to large dimensions and footprints, requiring exceptional transport and lengthy, costly installations, and necessitate specialized labor for assembly.

Innovation Solution

A modular cooling apparatus comprising a lower and upper module with pre-assembled heat exchangers, humidification panels, and a ventilation device, allowing for easy transportation and quick assembly by stacking and connecting the modules at the installation site using guide and coupling means, pre-installed electrical wiring, and flexible hydraulic connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the dimensions and footprint of cooling apparatuses are increased to improve heat exchange performance, then cooling efficiency is improved, but transportation becomes difficult and expensive requiring exceptional transport

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat exchange performanceVSAvoidtransportation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling apparatus is divided into multiple modular units that can be transported separately by standard road transport and then assembled at the installation site. Each module contains complete functional elements (heat exchangers, humidification panels, ventilation devices) that can operate independently or in combination, resolving the contradiction between large size for heat exchange and ease of transportation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If cooling apparatuses are made modular to reduce transport costs, then transportation ease is improved, but installation complexity and time increase due to mechanical, hydraulic and electrical connections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransportation easeVSAvoidinstallation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple functional components (heat exchangers, humidification panels, ventilation devices, electrical wiring, hydraulic connections) are pre-assembled and integrated into each modular unit at the factory. This merging of functions within modules reduces on-site installation complexity to simple stacking and coupling operations, resolving the contradiction between transportation ease and installation complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If components are separately transported and assembled at installation site, then transportation ease is improved, but installation time increases and specialized labor is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransportation easeVSAvoidinstallation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

All necessary assembly operations (mechanical connections, hydraulic connections, electrical wiring) are performed in advance at the factory during module manufacturing. The modules arrive at the installation site ready-to-assemble with all connections pre-prepared, requiring only simple stacking and coupling operations on-site, thus resolving the contradiction between transportation ease and installation time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Area of stationary object

If the height of cooling apparatus is increased to reduce ground occupancy, then ground occupancy is reduced, but transportation and assembly complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveground occupancyVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling apparatus is designed with a vertical stacking configuration where multiple modular units are arranged in the vertical dimension rather than expanding horizontally. This allows reduced ground occupancy while maintaining transportability through standardized module dimensions and simple vertical assembly operations, resolving the contradiction between ground occupancy and assembly complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

Minimizes transportation costs and time, reduces the need for specialized labor, and maintains operational efficiency while keeping ground occupancy minimal.

Implementation Method 1

humidification means can also be disposed, for example comprising humidification panels or nozzles for spraying water which have the function of cooling the air before it comes into contact with the pipes of the heat exchangers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporative cooling: Evaporative Cooler

Implementation Method 2

a pair of heat exchangers disposed parallel in a vertical direction, on opposite sides of a housing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 3

a plurality of pipes in which a heat transfer fluid transits

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4350266B1Modular adiabatic cooling apparatus and related installation method
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 REFRION
  • EP4350266B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4350266B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP4350266B1 patent drawingFigure 5~9

AI summary

A modular adiabatic cooling apparatus (10) comprises a lower module (11) and an upper module (21) which is provided with a ventilation device (20),wherein each of said modules (11, 21) comprises, pre-installed, a pair of heat exchangers (12, 13, 22, 23) disposed parallel in a vertical direction on opposite sides of a housing (14, 24), and a pair of adiabatic humidification panels (15, 16, 25, 26), each disposed on an external side of a heat exchanger (12, 13, 22, 23), and reciprocal guide (31) and coupling (32) means disposed in correspondence with respective connection faces (19, 29) and have a non-operating configuration in which they are separated from each other, and an operating configuration in which they are stacked one on top of the other.