Two stage cooler
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional direct evaporative coolers are insufficient in cooling air to desired temperatures in habitable spaces when the wet bulb temperature is above the desired level, requiring additional energy-intensive air conditioning units and are not scalable due to inefficiencies and large frontal areas.
Innovation Solution
A compact evaporative cooling device with a central chamber surrounded by heat exchange units, featuring an air-to-water pre-cooler and evaporative cooling elements, where pre-cooled air is delivered downward and humidified air is exhausted upward, optimizing air delivery and efficiency through a water circuit and adjustable fan control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a pre-cooling stage is added to the evaporative cooler, then the cooling temperature can be reduced below wet bulb temperature, but the overall efficiency decreases and a larger frontal area is required
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling process is divided into two separate stages: a pre-cooling stage using cooled water from the evaporative cooler, and a main evaporative cooling stage. This segmentation allows each stage to optimize its function - the pre-cooler handles sensible cooling while the evaporative cooler handles latent cooling, improving overall efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-cooling unit is integrated within the evaporative cooler structure, with the pre-cooler positioned in the air flow path before the evaporative cooling element. The cooled water from the evaporative cooler is fed back to the pre-cooler, creating a nested, self-contained system that improves efficiency without requiring a larger frontal area
2Temperature
If conventional air conditioning units are used when wet bulb temperature is above desired level, then the desired cooling temperature can be achieved, but significant energy is required to operate compressors
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the operating parameters by using evaporative cooling instead of compression-based cooling. By utilizing the phase change of water and the wet bulb temperature principle, the system achieves cooling without the high energy consumption of compressor operation, while still meeting the desired temperature requirements
3Temperature
If the coolest portion of air from evaporative cooler is used for pre-cooling, then lower wet bulb temperature is achieved, but sufficient air delivery requires a considerable frontal area
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cooling by pre-cooling the air before it enters the evaporative cooling element. The cooled water from the evaporative cooler is used to pre-cool the incoming air in the pre-cooling unit, reducing the wet bulb temperature requirement and allowing for a more compact design with smaller frontal area
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 device achieves efficient cooling by delivering the coolest air downward for habitable spaces while exhausting waste air upward, enhancing cooling efficiency and scalability, and can be used in both indoor and outdoor public areas with adjustable airflow and temperature control.
Implementation Method 1
When this takes place directly into the air stream, the temperature of the air may be lowered as far as the wet bulb temperature. Such direct evaporative coolers, sometimes known as swamp coolers
Implementation Method 2
The pre-cooling stage may use cooled water from the evaporative cooling stage in an air-water cooling unit
Data Source
AI summary
A two stage evaporative cooling device has a central chamber, divided into an upper chamber and a lower chamber by a divider. one or more heat exchange units surrounding the central chamber; an upper fan arranged above the upper chamber and a lower fan arranged below the lower chamber; and a water circuit; wherein each heat exchange unit comprises an evaporative cooling element and an air to water pre-cooler, the pre-cooler being placed ahead of a lower portion of the cooling element and the water circuit is arranged to irrigate the cooling element and collect the irrigated water below the cooling element for delivery to the pre-cooler whereby pre-cooled air may be drawn inwardly through the pre-cooler and the lower part of the cooling element by the lower fan and ambient air may be drawn inwardly through the upper part of the cooling element by the upper fan.