Multi-Lumen Water Cooling Conduits for Lower-Energy Facility Heat Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing demand for cooling in facilities such as power plants and data centers due to heat generation from electrical components poses challenges in efficiently managing cooling systems, particularly in terms of energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of water cooling subsystems coupled with multi-lumen conduits that allow for simultaneous bi-directional fluid flow, enabling the intake of cool water from a source like an ocean and the discharge of warm water, which can be further desalinated, thereby optimizing cooling and reducing energy usage and carbon footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional cooling systems are used to cool electrical components in power plants and data centers, then the components can function properly, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the facility's own waste heat to drive the cooling process through absorption chillers, making the cooling system self-sustaining without requiring additional energy input. The waste heat from power generation or data center operations is directly utilized to power the refrigeration cycle, eliminating the need for separate energy-consuming cooling equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameters of water by heating it to generate steam, then condensing the steam back to water in the absorption chiller. This parameter transformation allows the same water to serve dual purposes: as a cooling medium and as a working fluid for the refrigeration cycle, thereby reducing overall energy consumption.
2Temperature
If extensive cooling systems are implemented in power plants, then heat from electricity-producing components can be managed, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the power generation process with the cooling process by integrating absorption chillers with the existing thermal systems. The steam generation and condensation cycles are combined with the refrigeration cycle, allowing both electricity production and cooling to occur within a unified system architecture, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The water circulating through the system serves multiple functions: it cools electrical components, generates steam for the absorption chiller, and is condensed back for reuse. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated systems for each function, simplifying the overall infrastructure while effectively managing heat.
3Use of energy by moving object
If water cooling subsystems are used to cool facilities, then energy consumption is reduced, but additional infrastructure components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system recovers waste heat that would otherwise be discarded into the environment. By capturing and utilizing this thermal energy to drive the absorption chiller, the system converts a waste product into a useful resource, reducing energy consumption while the only added infrastructure is the absorption chiller unit itself.
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 solution effectively cools facilities while potentially reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions by leveraging the thermal energy exchange and integrating desalination processes, enhancing energy efficiency and environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
receiving cool water into a water cooling subsystem of a facility and outputting warm water from the water cooling subsystem
Implementation Method 2
multi-lumen conduits configured for simultaneous bi-directional fluid flow, including an intake lumen and a discharge lumen therein
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides facilities having water cooling subsystems and multi-lumen conduits coupled thereto. Also provided are methods of cooling facilities by, for example, receiving cool water into a water cooling subsystem of a facility and outputting warm water from the water cooling subsystem.