Systems and methods for managing conditions in enclosed space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current air-conditioning systems in data centers face challenges such as high energy consumption, dust accumulation, air contaminants, water mineral deposition, micro-organisms, and maintenance issues with conventional evaporative coolers and water-side economizers, limiting their effectiveness and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A Liquid-to-Air Membrane Energy Exchanger (LAMEE) system is used in conjunction with liquid-to-air heat exchangers to evaporatively cool air and recirculate it, reducing energy consumption by optimizing system layout and eliminating the need for wheels, which reduces pressure drop and fan power, while also providing a scalable and low-maintenance solution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional direct evaporative coolers are used to cool buildings, then energy efficiency is improved, but indoor air quality deteriorates due to contaminant carryover and mineral deposit buildup
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an indirect evaporative cooling system where a secondary fluid (such as water) acts as an intermediary between the outdoor air and the indoor air. The secondary fluid absorbs heat from the indoor air through a heat exchanger and is then cooled by evaporative contact with outdoor air, preventing direct contaminant transfer while maintaining cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system is divided into separate functional segments: a heat exchanger section that contacts indoor air, and an evaporative cooling section that contacts outdoor air and evaporating water. This segmentation prevents contaminants from the evaporative section from reaching the indoor air while maintaining the energy efficiency of direct evaporative cooling
2Reliability
If water-side economizers with cooling towers are used, then cooling capacity is improved, but maintenance challenges increase due to water mineral deposition, micro-organisms, and corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the water from the indoor air handling system entirely, using it only in a separate outdoor evaporative cooling section. This eliminates water-related problems (mineral deposition, micro-organisms, corrosion) from the indoor air handling equipment while preserving the cooling capacity benefits of water-side economizers
3Use of energy by moving object
If air-side economizers are used to reject heat, then energy consumption is reduced, but dust accumulation and air contaminants increase inside the space
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a secondary fluid as an intermediary to transfer heat from indoor air to outdoor air without allowing direct mixing of indoor and outdoor air streams. This enables energy-efficient heat rejection while preventing outdoor contaminants and dust from entering the indoor space
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 LAMEE system enhances cooling efficiency, reduces energy consumption, and minimizes maintenance concerns by using a membrane to separate air and water, preventing contaminant transfer and allowing for flexible system configuration, thereby improving indoor air quality and extending equipment life.
Implementation Method 1
A Liquid-to-Air Membrane Energy Exchanger (LAMEE) system is used in conjunction with liquid-to-air heat exchangers to evaporatively cool air
Implementation Method 2
using a membrane to separate air and water, preventing contaminant transfer
Implementation Method 3
liquid-to-air heat exchangers to evaporatively cool air and recirculate it
Data Source
AI summary
An example system is configured to control conditions in an enclosed space. The system includes scavenger and process plenums, a liquid-to-air membrane energy exchanger (LAMEE), a first liquid-to-air heat exchanger (LAHX), a second LAHX, and a fluid circuit The scavenger plenum is configured to direct scavenger air from a scavenger inlet to a scavenger outlet. The process plenum is sealed from the scavenger plenum and is configured to direct process air from a process inlet to a process outlet The process inlet receives heated air from the space and the process outlet supplies cooled air to the space. The LAMEE is arranged inside the scavenger plenum. The LAMEE is configured to use the scavenger air to evaporatively cool a first fluid flowing through the LAMEE. The temperature of the first fluid at a LAMEE outlet is lower than the temperature of the first fluid at a LAMEE inlet. The first LAHX is arranged inside the process plenum. The first LAHX is configured to directly and sensibly cool the heated air from the space to a supply air temperature using a second fluid flowing through the first LAHX. The second LAHX is arranged inside the scavenger plenum downstream of the LAMEE. The second LAHX is configured to receive and cool the second fluid heated by the first LAHX using the scavenger air. The fluid circuit transports the first and second fluids among the LAMEE, the first LAHX, and the second LAHX.