Split IDEC Air Handling Layout for Lower Pressure Drop
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing evaporative free-cooling devices face inefficiencies due to increased air flow path and pressure drop, temperature stratification, and increased size and weight, which can lead to air leakage and reduced heat transfer capacity per volume.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a hot air plenum and split indoor room warm air flow into two paths through indirect evaporative cooling systems with condenser and evaporator sections, reducing temperature stratification and allowing for smaller, lighter heat exchanger sections, and optional operation as a vapor compression system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a stack design with cross flow cubes is used, then the mechanical structure is simple, but the air flow path increases causing higher pressure drop and increased fan power
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is divided into multiple smaller cubes (e.g., 6x6x6 configuration) rather than using a single large stack. This segmentation reduces the air flow path length within each cube, thereby decreasing the air side pressure drop while maintaining structural simplicity through modular assembly.
2Volume of stationary object
If a large cross flow design cube is used, then the heat exchanger volume is large, but temperature stratification occurs causing icing risk and potential structure breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The large heat exchanger volume is segmented into multiple smaller cubes arranged in a grid pattern. This segmentation creates more uniform airflow distribution across the heat exchanger surface, reducing temperature stratification and eliminating the icing risk associated with large single-cube designs.
3Length of stationary object
If the overall dimension of the heat exchanger increases three times, then the size and weight increase, but the capacity per volume decreases by 2/3
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single large heat exchanger, the system employs multiple smaller cubes (e.g., 6x6x6 configuration). This segmentation maintains high heat transfer capacity per volume by avoiding the 2/3 capacity loss that occurs when overall dimensions are tripled, while still achieving the required total cooling capacity through parallel arrangement of multiple units.
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 design enhances efficiency by reducing fan power requirements, minimizing the risk of icing, and achieving better volume effectiveness, resulting in a more compact and energy-efficient cooling system.
Implementation Method 1
EFC devices rely on the evaporation of water (i.e., evaporative cooling) on one side of the device to help cool a warm airflow on the other side of the device. Water is atomized and sprayed into the non-saturated ingested air. The evaporation of the water on the outdoor ambient air stream cools the outdoor air and at the same time cools ingested warm air from the indoor room by heat transfer plates.
Implementation Method 2
The evaporation of the water on the outdoor ambient air stream cools the outdoor air and at the same time cools ingested warm air from the indoor room by heat transfer plates.
Implementation Method 3
In the free-cooling mode the EFC device essentially operates as an air-to-air heat exchanger to cool the ingested warm air.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an air handling system which has a fan supply section for intaking warm air from a room environment, and first and second indirect evaporative cooling subsystems (IDECs) spaced apart from one another to form an air plenum and a hot aisle in communication with the air plenum. The air plenum and the hot aisle are both formed between the IDECs, with the air plenum communicating with the fan supply section to receive the warm air. The IDECs receive the warm air and cool the warm air to produce first and second cooled airflows. The system also includes spaced apart cold aisles adjacent each of the IDECs for channeling the cooled airflows into an evaporator section. The evaporator section produces a final cooled airflow which is directed back into the room environment.