Precooler-Integrated Cooling System for Below-Dew-Point Water Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling systems, such as Maisotsenko Cycle systems, face issues with high pressure drop, limited dew point cooling, inefficiency in wet climates, and high energy and water consumption, making them unsuitable for deep cooling and dehumidification.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system utilizing a near-atmospheric pressure regeneration technique with a precooler and heat-mass exchanger, combined with a blower and expansion device, to precool and dehumidify air, allowing for deep cooling of water and air while reducing energy and water consumption, and achieving net-zero energy operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional cooling systems (Maisotsenko Cycle) are used to cool air to dew point temperature, then cooling effect is achieved, but pressure drop increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling process is divided into two separate stages: first, air is cooled in a cooling chamber to approach dew point temperature; second, air is dehumidified in a separate dehumidification chamber. This segmentation allows each stage to operate independently, reducing the overall pressure drop compared to single-stage systems that attempt to achieve both cooling and dehumidification simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary blower system is introduced to manage air flow between chambers and maintain pressure balance. The blower compensates for pressure differences created during the two-stage process, enabling the system to achieve deep cooling without suffering from excessive pressure drop that would occur in conventional single-stage systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If chillers and membranes are added to achieve dehumidification, then dehumidification capability is improved, but energy consumption and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes phase transition of water vapor during the cooling process. As air is cooled to near dew point temperature in the cooling chamber, water vapor naturally condenses into liquid form. This passive phase transition enables dehumidification without requiring additional energy-intensive components like chillers or membranes, achieving both cooling and dehumidification through thermodynamic principles alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system performs dehumidification as a byproduct of its primary cooling function. The same cooling mechanism that lowers air temperature also causes moisture condensation, eliminating the need for separate dehumidification systems. This self-service approach reduces energy consumption and system complexity while maintaining effective dehumidification capability.
3Ease of operation
If blower is added to pressurize incoming air, then dew point increases and moisture removal becomes easier, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system recovers energy by capturing and utilizing the condensation heat released during dehumidification. This recovered thermal energy is used to preheat incoming air or water, offsetting the power consumption of the blower. By discarding no energy and recovering useful heat from the phase transition process, the net energy cost of pressurization is significantly reduced, making moisture removal easier without prohibitive energy penalties.
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 system effectively cools water and air below ambient dew point temperatures, increasing efficiency and reducing water consumption, breaking the temperature limits of conventional cooling systems and enhancing appliance performance.
Implementation Method 1
The heat-mass exchanger includes an air passage extending through the water within the basin to cool the pressurized air and condense water vapor from the humid air
Implementation Method 2
cool the pressurized air and condense water vapor from the humid air
Implementation Method 3
The expansion device releases air pressure and can provide power to the blower
Implementation Method 4
The cooling fill puts more water surface area in contact with air
Implementation Method 5
Adding a blower to the system pressurizes the incoming air and increases the air dew point
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling system and method including a cooling chamber with an air inlet, a water inlet, and a cooling fill disposed between the air inlet and the water inlet. The cooling fill configured to put more water surface area in contact with air. The cooling system also including a basin disposed on a side of the cooling fill that is opposite the water inlet, the basin configured to collect the water from the cooling fill. A precooler is included in combination with the basin, the precooler including a heat-mass exchanger in combination with the basin, a blower configured to provide pressurized air through the heat-mass exchanger, and an expansion device configured to depressurize the air after the heat-mass exchanger.