DK201500357A1 - A cooling system, a cooling unit, and a method of cooling intake air to an air conditioned building space - Google Patents
A cooling system, a cooling unit, and a method of cooling intake air to an air conditioned building space Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- DK201500357A1 DK201500357A1 DKPA201500357A DKPA201500357A DK201500357A1 DK 201500357 A1 DK201500357 A1 DK 201500357A1 DK PA201500357 A DKPA201500357 A DK PA201500357A DK PA201500357 A DKPA201500357 A DK PA201500357A DK 201500357 A1 DK201500357 A1 DK 201500357A1
- Authority
- DK
- Denmark
- Prior art keywords
- air
- flow path
- cooling
- intake air
- section
- Prior art date
Links
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 218
- 230000001143 conditioned effect Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 66
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 37
- 239000002274 desiccant Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 75
- 230000008929 regeneration Effects 0.000 claims description 64
- 238000011069 regeneration method Methods 0.000 claims description 64
- 238000001704 evaporation Methods 0.000 claims description 41
- 230000008020 evaporation Effects 0.000 claims description 39
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims description 22
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims description 17
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000001179 sorption measurement Methods 0.000 description 8
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 8
- VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicium dioxide Chemical compound O=[Si]=O VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 230000003190 augmentative effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 4
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000004378 air conditioning Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000009286 beneficial effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000009833 condensation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000005494 condensation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000356 contaminant Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000499 gel Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000010926 purge Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000377 silicon dioxide Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000009423 ventilation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000010457 zeolite Substances 0.000 description 2
- 241000894006 Bacteria Species 0.000 description 1
- 241000233866 Fungi Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000003750 conditioning effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003507 refrigerant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001172 regenerating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002918 waste heat Substances 0.000 description 1
Landscapes
- Central Air Conditioning (AREA)
Abstract
A cooling system and a cooling unit comprising a rotary desiccant wheel and an indirect cooler for supplying cooled intake air to an air conditioned building space and for reusing warmed exhaust air from an air conditioned building space to cool the cooled intake air in the indirect cooler.
Description
TITLE A cooling system, a cooling unit, and a method of cooling intake air to an air conditioned building space.
FIELD
In the field of building acclimatization there is suggested a cooling system and a cooling unit with improved energy efficiency and a method of cooling intake air to an air conditioned building space.
BACKGROUND
Industrial, commercial and residential cooling solutions are often based on compressor driven cooling circuits where refrigerant are evaporating and condensing, where the systems typically are based on electrical power consumption for the heat exchange. However, electricity is often expensive and produced with low efficiencies compared to heat. Therefore, from an energetically and environmental perspective heat driven cooling circuits are attractive and in the locations where heat is present as waste heat or accessible from the sun, it can be very beneficial to rely on a heat driven cooling system.
Different heat driven technologies already exist including, adsorption cooling, absorption cooling; ejector based cooling and free cooling. However, the heat driven systems are less abundant, often due to lack of performance, lack of operation continuity, low energy efficiency and high installation costs. Another major problem - also often observed with electricity based cooling systems - is the fact that the cooled air leaves the cooler with a very high relative humidity - often at 100 % RH. This is unpleasant for people in the conditioned areas and furthermore one has to deal with bacteria and fungus in the ventilation system due to condensation in pipes or in evaporators. Some systems also operate using rotating heat exchangers leaving a possibility of cross contaminating the inlet air by the outlet air as the two air streams are heat exchanged.
In the present invention, we describe a flexible, inexpensive, and simple system that is capable of delivering a dry and cold airstream for ventilating a building/process/structure. In operation the system creates dry air, thereby eliminating condensation in the ventilation system; and furthermore the outlet and inlet airstreams are separated which minimize the risks of contaminating the inlet air stream. US 6,018,953 describes a method of conditioning a process stream of air in an air conditioning system wherein a process stream of air is dehumidified and cooled to provide a conditioned stream of air for introduction to a conditioned space. The method comprises the steps of providing an adsorption wheel having a multiplicity of passages through which process air can flow for adsorbing moisture therefrom, the wheel capable of adsorption of moisture from the process air and of regeneration on a continuous basis as the wheel rotates. An indirect evaporative cooler (in the parlance of the present invention an indirect cooler) is provided having a dry side and a wet side separated by a moisture-impervious wall wherein heat is extracted from said dry side through the wall to the wet side. Cooling in the dry side is achieved by evaporation of water into air passing through the wet side. The process air is passed through the adsorption wheel to remove moisture therefrom to provide a moisture-depleted stream of process air exiting the adsorption wheel. The adsorption wheel is regenerated by passing hot gases therethrough to remove moisture from the adsorption wheel. The moisture-depleted stream of process air exiting said adsorption wheel is divided into a relatively hot stream and a relatively cool stream, and the relatively hot stream of process air is introduced into the wet side of the indirect evaporative cooler, and the relatively cool stream is introduced into the dry side, the relatively hot stream evaporating water thereinto thereby cooling the moisture-impervious wall and removing heat from the relatively cool stream to provide cooled air to be introduced to a conditioned space. WO 2005/106343 details the construction of an enthalpy exchanger (an indirect cooler in the parlance of the present invention), which reference is incorporated into the present disclosure in its entirety. The indirect cooler of WO 2005/106343 is manufactured and sold by Statiqcooling B.V. of Holland and is considered particularly suitable for use in the systems and units of the present invention.
In the art numerous solutions for cooling intake air for air conditioned building spaces exist, many of which provide cold and moist intake air which is perceived by persons inside the building space as highly unpleasant. There are in the art, however, only few solutions which provide cold and dry intake air at reasonable cost and low energy footprint. The present invention aims to provide at least partial solutions to this problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a first aspect and first embodiment there is disclosed a cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) comprising a cooling arrangement (10,20,30,40,50,60) comprising a rotary desiccant wheel (100) comprising a process section (101) and a regeneration section (102); an indirect cooler (130) comprising a cooling section (131) and an evaporation section (132); an intake air flow path (181), said rotary desiccant wheel (100) and said process section (101) arranged on said intake air flow path upstream from said indirect cooler (130) and said cooling section (131), said intake air flow path permitting intake air to traverse said cooling arrangement (10,20,30,40,50,60), via said process section (101) of said rotary desiccant wheel (100) and said cooling section (131) of said indirect cooler (130), and exit said cooling arrangement (10,20,30,40,50,60) into an air conditioned building space (110) as dried and cooled intake air; an exhaust air flow path (182) , said exhaust air flow path permitting warmed exhaust air from an air conditioned building space (120) to traverse said cooling arrangement (10,20,30,40,50,60) via said evaporation section (132) of said indirect cooler (130) and exiting said cooling arrangement as moist exhaust air; a regeneration air flow path (183), said regeneration air flow path permitting warmed regeneration air to traverse said cooling arrangement (10,20,30,40,50,60) via said regeneration section (102) of said rotary desiccant wheel (100) and exiting said cooling arrangement as moist regeneration air; a plurality of air moving units for moving air along said air flow paths (181,182,183); and at least one heating unit for heating intake air to obtain warmed regeneration air which can be led to said regeneration section (102) of said rotary desiccant wheel (100) along said regeneration flow path (183).
In a second embodiment there is disclosed a cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) according to the first embodiment where, in said cooling arrangement (10,20,30,40,50,60), said indirect cooler (130) is an indirect cooler (140) comprising a cooling section (141) and an evaporation section (142) located upstream to said rotary desiccant wheel (100) on said intake air flow path (181).
In a third embodiment there is disclosed a cooling system (1.2.3.4.5.6) according to either the first or the second embodiment, wherein said cooling arrangement (10.20.30.40.50.60) further comprises a dry air flow path (184) for directing a flow of dried and warmed intake air from said air intake flow path (181) to said exhaust air flow path (182), connecting to said exhaust air flow path prior to said exhaust air entering said evaporation section (132) of said indirect cooler (130).
In a fourth embodiment there is disclosed a cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) according to the third embodiment where, in said cooling arrangement (10,20,30,40,50,60), said dry air flow path (184) connects to said exhaust air flow path (182) via a dry air regulation valve (151).
In a fifth embodiment there is disclosed a cooling system (1.2.3.4.5.6) according to any of the first to fourth embodiments, wherein said cooling arrangement (10.20.30.40.50.60) further comprises a cold air flow path (185) for directing a flow of dried and cooled intake air from said air intake flow path (181) to said exhaust air flow path (182) connecting to said exhaust air flow path prior to said exhaust air entering said evaporation section (132) of said indirect cooler (130).
In a sixth embodiment there is disclosed a cooling system (1.2.3.4.5.6) according to the fifth embodiment where, in said cooling arrangement (10,20,30,40,50,60), said cold air flow path (185) connects to said exhaust air flow path (182) via a cold air regulation valve (150).
In a seventh embodiment there is disclosed a cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) according to any of the first to sixth embodiments, wherein said cooling arrangement (10.20.30.40.50.60) further comprises a heat exchanger (160), said heat exchanger (160) arranged on said intake air flow path (181) downstream from said process section (101) of said rotary desiccant wheel (100) but upstream from said indirect cooler (130) , and arranged on said regeneration flow path (183) upstream from said regeneration section (102) of said rotary desiccant wheel (100) .
In an eighth embodiment there is disclosed a cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) according to any of the first to seventh embodiments, wherein said cooling arrangement (10.20.30.40.50.60) further comprises a second rotary desiccant wheel (170), said second rotary desiccant wheel (170) comprising a process section (171) and a regeneration section (172), said process section (171) of said second desiccant wheel (170) arranged on said exhaust air flow path (182) upstream from said evaporation section (132,142) of said indirect cooler (130,140), said regeneration section (172) of said second rotary desiccant wheel (170) arranged on a second regeneration flow path (187); said cooling system (1.2.3.4.5.6) further comprising at least one air moving unit for moving air along said second regeneration flow path (187); and at least one heating unit for heating intake air to obtain warmed regeneration air which can be led to said regeneration section (172) of said second rotary desiccant wheel (170) along said second regeneration flow path (187).
In a ninth embodiment there is disclosed a cooling system (1.2.3.4.5.6) according to the eighth embodiment where, in said cooling arrangement (10,20,30,40,50,60), one heating unit heats intake air for use in both regeneration flow paths (183,187).
In a tenth embodiment there is disclosed a cooling system (1.2.3.4.5.6) according to any of the first to ninth embodiments, wherein said cooling arrangement (10.20.30.40.50.60) comprises two indirect coolers (130,140) one of which (140) can be located upstream from said first rotary desiccant wheel (100) on said intake air flow path (181) and the other (130) can be located downstream from said first rotary desiccant wheel (100) on said intake air flow path.
In an eleventh embodiment there is disclosed a cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) according to any of the first to tenth embodiments, wherein said cooling arrangement (10.20.30.40.50.60) is manufactured as a single cooling unit (10,20,30,40,50, 60).
In a twelfth embodiment there is disclosed a cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) according to the eleventh embodiment wherein said single cooling unit (10,20,30,40,50,60) further comprises at least one of said plurality of air moving units and/or said at least one heating unit.
In a thirteenth embodiment there is disclosed a cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) according to any of the previous embodiments wherein said indirect cooler (130,140) is a counter-flow indirect evaporation cooler.
In a fourteenth embodiment there is disclosed a cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) according to any of the previous embodiments further comprising a direct evaporative cooler arranged on said intake air flow path (181) downstream from said indirect cooler (130,140) and said rotary desiccant wheel (100).
In a fifteenth embodiment there is disclosed a cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) according to any of the preceding embodiments further comprising a recirculation flow path (192) for directing a flow of warmed exhaust air from an air conditioned building space (120) to said intake air flow path (181) connecting to said intake air flow path (181) prior to said rotary desiccant wheel (100).
In a second aspect and sixteenth embodiment there is disclosed an air conditioned building space (200) comprising an intake air flow path (181) for directing cooled and dried intake air from a cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) according to any of the preceding embodiments to said air conditioned building space (200), an exhaust air flow path (182) for directing warmed exhaust air to said cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6),- which air conditioned building space (200) further comprises at least one indirect evaporative cooler (230), said at least one indirect evaporative cooler (230) comprising a cooling section (231) and an evaporation section (232), a cooling flow path (210) for permitting intake air from said air conditioned building space (200) to traverse said cooling section (231) of said at least one indirect evaporative cooler (230) , wherein said intake air exits said cooling section (231) as cooled exhaust air which is returned to said air conditioned building space (200), and an evaporation flow path (220) for permitting intake air from said air conditioned building space (200) to traverse said evaporation section (232) of said at least one indirect evaporative cooler (230), wherein said intake air exists said evaporation section (232) as moist exhaust air which is discarded to a surrounding exterior to said air conditioned building space (200).
In a seventeenth embodiment there is disclosed an air conditioned building space (200) according to the sixteenth embodiment wherein said at least one indirect evaporative cooler (230) is internal or external to said air conditioned building space (200) .
In an eighteenth embodiment there is disclosed an air conditioned building space (200) according the sixteenth or seventeenth embodiments wherein said cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) is operated at an overpressure sufficient to allow said intake air to traverse said cooling flow path (210) and said evaporation flow path (220) without the aid of further air moving units.
In a nineteenth embodiment there is disclosed a method of drying and cooling intake air for an air conditioned building space (110) by traversing intake air through a cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) according to any of the first to twelfth embodiments along an intake air flow path (181) to dry and cool said intake air by using excess energy comprised in warmed exhaust air from an air conditioned space (120); wherein warmed exhaust air is traversed through said same cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) according to any of the first to twelfth embodiments along an exhaust air flow path (182,186), thereby using said warmed exhaust air to cool said intake air in at least one indirect cooler (130,140).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1: Basic cooling system and arrangement according to the invention.
Figure 2: Alternative cooling system and arrangement according to the invention.
Figure 3: Regulation of temperature of intake air exiting an indirect cooler of the invention.
Figure 4: Cooling system and arrangement comprising a heat exchanger.
Figure 5: Cooling system and arrangement comprising a second rotary desiccant wheel.
Figure 6: Cooling system and arrangement with two independently controlled and regulated indirect coolers .
Figure 7: Cooling system with recirculation.
Figure 8: Air conditioned space with cooling system and further cooler.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The basic cooling unit and cooling system according to the invention is disclosed in Figure 1. This basic cooling unit and cooling system forms the starting point for the further disclosed embodiments of the present invention .
In Figure 1 there is disclosed a cooling system (1) comprising a cooling arrangement (10), said cooling arrangement comprising a rotary desiccant wheel (100). The rotary desiccant wheel (100) comprises a process section (101) and a regeneration section (102).
The rotary desiccant wheels for use with the present invention operate according to known principles of operation of rotary desiccant wheels as they are usual in the art of drying moist intake air using rotary desiccant wheels. Suitable drying media for rotary desiccant wheels of the present invention are such as are known in the art, in particular silica gels and zeolites. The present invention is detailed using rotary desiccant wheels comprising a process section and a regeneration section only; however, this is solely for exemplary use. The skilled person is aware that it is common to employ one or more purge zones for the operation of rotary desiccant wheels, and may employ such purge zones at his wish without departing from the scope of the present invention.
An effect of the drying of the intake air in the rotary desiccant wheel is that the heat of absorption stored by the water in the intake air is released such that intake air exiting the rotary desiccant wheel during operation exits as dried and warmed exit air.
The cooling arrangement (10) further comprises an indirect cooler (130,140) of the function as previously detailed. The indirect cooler has a cooling section (131,141), often called the "dry" section and an evaporation section (132,142), often called the "wet" section. When in operation, air traversing the indirect cooler by the cooling section will cool through heat exchange with the indirect cooler without absorbing moisture, while air traversing the indirect cooler by the evaporation section will absorb water, thereby cooling the indirect cooler, itself becoming moisture laden and cooler. Numerous indirect evaporation coolers are known in the art and are considered suitable for use with the present invention. However, it is particularly preferred that the indirect evaporation cooler used with the present invention is a counter-flow indirect evaporation cooler as detailed in the drawings of the present disclosure .
In order to provide cooled intake air to an air conditioned building space (110), an intake air flow path (181) is provided with the cooling system (1) of the present invention, comprised in the cooling arrangement (10) . The intake air flow path (181) permits intake air to traverse the cooling arrangement (10) to undergo drying and cooling prior to being released into the air conditioned building space (110).
In the cooling arrangement (10) of the embodiment disclosed in Figure 1, the rotary desiccant wheel (100) and the process section (101) of the rotary desiccant wheel are arranged on the intake air flow path upstream from the indirect cooler (130) and the cooling section (131) of the indirect cooler. Air traversing the cooling arrangement (10) along the intake air flow path (181) according to the embodiment disclosed in Figure 1 will traverse the cooling arrangement (10) via the process section (101) of the rotary desiccant wheel (100) and via the cooling section (131) of the indirect cooler (130), and exit the cooling arrangement (10) into an air conditioned building space (110) as dried and cooled intake air.
In the embodiment disclosed in Figure 1 the cooling system (1) and the cooling arrangement (10) further comprise an exhaust air flow path (182), which exhaust air flow path permits warmed exhaust air from an air conditioned building space (120) to traverse the cooling arrangement (10) via the evaporation section (132) of said indirect cooler (130) and to exit the cooling arrangement as moist exhaust air. Thereby energy stored in the exhaust air is advantageously used to cool the intake air rather than being released unused to the surroundings .
In the embodiment disclosed in Figure 1 the cooling system (1) and the cooling arrangement (10) further comprise a regeneration air flow path (183), the regeneration air flow path permitting warmed regeneration air to traverse the cooling arrangement (10) via the regeneration section (102) of the rotary desiccant wheel (100) and exiting said cooling unit as moist regeneration air;
Further comprised in the cooling system (1), but usually kept separate from the cooling arrangement (10), but not necessarily, are a plurality of air moving units for moving air along the air flow paths (181,182,183) comprised in the cooling system. Fans are most suitable for use with the present invention as air moving units, however, bellows and pumps may serve the intended purpose as well. Other air moving units as are known to the skilled person are contemplated for inclusion into the invention as well.
Further comprised in the cooling system (1), but usually kept separate from the cooling arrangement (10), but not necessarily, is at least one heating unit for heating intake air to obtain warmed regeneration air, which can be led to the regeneration section (102) of the rotary desiccant wheel (100) along the aforementioned regeneration flow path (183).
In order for sufficient regeneration of the rotary desiccant wheel (100) the regeneration air must be from about 50°C to about 150°C. Fortunately, which is an advantage of the present invention, when indoor cooling is necessary, sources of inexpensive and re-usable heat are abundant. For example, indoor cooling needs in many climates co-insides with high levels of incident sun, from which energy can be extracted by heat exchange. Also, power plants outside of the heating season provide easily accessible hot water at low cost, which can be used to heat the regeneration air by heat exchange. Also diverse burners or electricity can be used to supply hot regeneration air, however, this is less advantageous from an energy perspective.
Under normal circumstances the air conditioned building spaces (110) and (120) will be the same building space with air entering and exiting the building space at two spaced apart locations. Air will be circulating the building space as caused by the air moving units of the cooling system. Due to potential pressure losses from the building, the cooling systems of the present invention may operate at an overpressure to avoid building up an under-pressure in the air conditioned building space which can cause an in-flow of e.g. dirt or unwanted and un-acclimatized intake air.
In an embodiment of the cooling system (2) according to the basic concept as detailed above, the cooling system is converted into a heating system by reversal of the order of the indirect cooler (130) and the rotary desiccant wheel (100) on said air intake flow path (181), such that in said cooling arrangement (20), the indirect cooler (140) is located upstream to the rotary desiccant wheel (100) on the intake air flow path (181). The cooling system (2) and cooling arrangement (20) according to this second embodiment is detailed in Figure 2. In this embodiment, surplus heat from the exhaust air is used to first cool the intake air in the indirect cooler (140) upon which the intake air is dried and heated after exit from the rotary desiccant wheel. Thereby heat is preserved in the air conditioned space (110) which can be of advantage e.g. during cold periods.
It is an advantage of the cooling system (1) detailed in figure 1 and heating system (2) detailed in figure 2 that the two systems can easily be combined into one unit, which can then function as a cooling unit or a heating unit as necessary, which, apart from saving a desiccant unit, will also provide significant savings in footprint for the combined unit versus two individual units.
In an embodiment, as detailed in Figure 3, the cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) and cooling arrangement (10,20,30,40,50,60) of the previous embodiments is further augmented by the cooling arrangement (10.20.30.40.50.60) further comprising a dry air flow path (184) for directing a flow of dried and warmed intake air from the air intake flow path (181) to the exhaust air flow path (182), connecting to the exhaust air flow path prior to the exhaust air entering the evaporation section (132) of the indirect cooler (130). In an embodiment, the dry air flow path (184) connects to the exhaust air flow path (182) via a dry air regulation valve (151), preferably a dry air regulation valve for automated gas delivery. Thereby the cooling capacity of the exhaust air can be augmented by dry and warm intake air, e.g. on colder days where the exhaust air from the air conditioned building space (120) has a smaller temperature difference to the intake air than on warmer days .
In an embodiment, as detailed in Figure 3, the cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) and cooling arrangement (10.20.30.40.50.60) of the previous embodiments is further augmented by the cooling arrangement (10.20.30.40.50.60) further comprising a cold air flow path (185) for directing a flow of dried and cooled intake air from the air intake flow path (181) to the exhaust air flow path (182) connecting to the exhaust air flow path prior to the exhaust air entering the evaporation section (132) of the indirect cooler (130) . In an embodiment the cold air flow path (185) connects to the exhaust air flow path (182) via a cold air regulation valve (150), preferably a cold air regulation valve for automated gas delivery. Thereby the cooling capacity of the exhaust air can be augmented by cold and dried intake air, e.g. on humid days where the exhaust air from the air conditioned building space (120) is close to its saturation point with water.
In an embodiment as detailed in Figure 4, the cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) and cooling arrangement (10.20.30.40.50.60) further comprises a heat exchanger (160), wherein the heat exchanger (160) is arranged on the intake air flow path (181) downstream from the process section (101) of the rotary desiccant wheel (100), while also being arranged on the regeneration flow path (183) upstream from the regeneration section (102) of the rotary desiccant wheel (100). Employing a heat exchanger in this position allows for recovering heat for regenerating the rotary desiccant wheel while at the same time cooling the intake air prior to entry into the indirect cooler (130).
In an embodiment as detailed in Figure 5, the cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) and cooling arrangement (10.20.30.40.50.60) further comprises a second rotary desiccant wheel (170), which second rotary desiccant wheel (170) comprises a process section (171) and a regeneration section (172). The process section (171) of the second desiccant wheel (170) is arranged on the exhaust air flow path (182) upstream from the evaporation section (132,142) of the indirect cooler (130,140). The regeneration section (172) of the second rotary desiccant wheel (170) is arranged on a second regeneration flow path (187). Necessarily, the cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) further comprises at least one air moving unit for moving air along the second regeneration flow path (187) and at least one heating unit for heating intake air to obtain warmed regeneration air which can be led to the regeneration section (172) of the second rotary desiccant wheel (170) along said second regeneration flow path (187) . However, in one embodiment it is contemplated to let one heating unit heat intake air for use in both regeneration flow paths (183,187).
The advantage of providing a second rotary desiccant wheel (170) at the above described position lies in the enhanced cooling capacity which will be attainable by such a system (5) . The air exiting the process section (171) of the second rotary desiccant wheel (170) will be dry and warm wherefore it will absorb more water in the evaporative cooler (130), which will cool the intake air stronger in the same evaporative cooler (130) . This is particularly advantageous in very hot and humid climates.
The embodiment detailed in Figure 6 shows the cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) of the present invention in an embodiment benefitting from the above disclosures in one embodiment. Thereby a highly versatile cooling system is created which can deliver cooled and dried intake air to a building space under most weather conditions in a controlled manner.
In an embodiment as detailed in Figure 6, the cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) and cooling arrangement (10,20,30,40,50,60) further comprises two indirect coolers (130,140) one of which (140) can be located upstream from said first rotary desiccant wheel (100) on said intake air flow path (181) and the other (130) can be located downstream from said first rotary desiccant wheel (100) on said intake air flow path. To this purpose, a primary (186a) and a secondary (186b) exhaust air flow paths are added to the system and arrangement, optionally together with adeguate valves (152,153) for regulating the gas flows along these primary and secondary exhaust air flow paths. Thereby both indirect coolers (130,140) can be independently regulated and controlled with respect to the temperature of the air exiting the indirect coolers, thereby increasing the versatility of the system and arrangement.
In a preferred embodiment of the cooling system (1.2.3.4.5.6) and cooling arrangement (10,20,30,40,50,60) according to any of the above or below embodiment, the cooling arrangement (10,20,30,40,50,60) is manufactured as a single cooling unit (10,20,30,40,50,60). The single cooling unit (10,20,30,40,50,60) may further comprise at least one of said plurality of air moving units and/or said at least one heating unit.
In a further embodiment of the cooling systems (1.2.3.4.5.6) detailed above, the cooling systems may further comprise a direct evaporative cooler arranged on said intake air flow path (181) downstream from said indirect cooler (130,140) and said rotary desiccant wheel (100) . The presence of a further cooling unit serves the function of additional cooling where this is mandated by the requirements of the cooling task at hand. In general two targets are achieved when a direct cooler is additionally employed, 1) the overall temperature is lowered, and 2) the moisture content can be regulated upwards if the entry air to the air conditioned space (110) is otherwise overall too low.
In a further embodiment of the cooling systems detailed above (1,2,3,4,5,6) a recirculation flow path (192) is supplied for directing a flow of warmed exhaust air from an air conditioned building space (120) to said intake air flow path (181) connecting to said intake air flow path (181) prior to said rotary desiccant wheel (100).
Desiccants in general, and silica gels and zeolites used in rotary desiccant wheels in particular, are very good absorbands/adsorbands for many airborne volatile organic components present in air conditioned building spaces. By directing a portion of the warmed exhaust air to the intake air flow path (181) a recirculation of the interior air in the air conditioned building space is permitted which will allow contaminants to become removed upon passage of the rotary desiccant wheel (100). The contaminants are subsequently removed by the regeneration air and discarded to the exterior surroundings to the air conditioned building space. This improves indoor climate and comfort further in a simple manner.
In a further embodiment of the present invention (cf. figure 8) there is disclosed an air conditioned building space (200) comprising an intake air flow path (181) for directing cooled and dried intake air from an above detailed cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) to the air conditioned building space (200), and an exhaust air flow path (182) for directing warmed exhaust air to the above detailed cooling systems (1,2,3,4,5,6); which air conditioned building space (200) further comprises at least one indirect evaporative cooler (230), said at least one indirect evaporative cooler (230) comprising a cooling section (231) and an evaporation section (232), a cooling flow path (210) for permitting intake air from said air conditioned building space (200) to traverse said cooling section (231) of said at least one indirect evaporative cooler (230), wherein said intake air exits said cooling section (231) as cooled exhaust air which is returned to said air conditioned building space (200), and an evaporation flow path (220) for permitting intake air from said air conditioned building space (200) to traverse said evaporation section (232) of said at least one indirect evaporative cooler (230), wherein said intake air exists said evaporation section (232) as moist exhaust air which is discarded to a surrounding exterior to said air conditioned building space (200) .
The at least one further indirect evaporative cooler (230) may be internal or external to said air conditioned building space (200). The skilled person will know to employ air moving units as necessary for moving air along said cooling and evaporation flow paths (210,220), however in a preferred embodiment said cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) operates at a sufficient overpressure to ensure passage of said intake air to be cooled (231) and/or discarded (232) to the exterior of said air conditioned building space (200) without the use of air moving units installed with said indirect cooler (230) .
This further embodiment is particularly advantageous in regions having high and moist exterior air. In such surroundings indirect cooling will normally function inefficiently. However, by securing a dry indoors climate using the rotary desiccant wheel's de-moisturizing ability, an improved indoors climate is not only achieved, including better comfort, protection from moisture of the building and indoors components, but also savings in energy compared to conventional air conditioning systems. The system e.g. could be beneficial at production sites as well as in hotels and such like.
With this disclosure there is further detailed in an embodiment, a method of drying and cooling intake air for an air conditioned building space (110) by traversing intake air through a cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6), the cooling system as according to any of the preceding embodiments, along an intake air flow path (181) to dry and cool the intake air by using excess energy comprised in warmed exhaust air from an air conditioned space (120); wherein warmed exhaust air is traversed through the same cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) as detailed in any of the above embodiments along an exhaust air flow path (182,186), thereby using the warmed exhaust air to cool the intake air in at least one indirect cooler (130,140) .
CLOSING COMMENTS
The term "comprising" as used in the claims does not exclude other elements or steps. The term "a" or "an" as used in the claims does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfill the functions of several means recited in the claims.
The skilled person will know how to apply such necessary pipes and air ducts for transporting air through the system flow paths and/or water to the evaporative coolers as required. Likewise, a rotary desiccant wheel is dependent for its operation on adequate rotation of the wheel, which requires one or more motors for rotating the wheel. Other constructional elements for the proper operation may be necessary; however the skilled person will know how to employ such elements, while not detailed in the present application.
Although the present invention has been described in detail for purpose of illustration, it is understood that such detail is solely for that purpose, and variations can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.
Claims (19)
- CLAIMS :1. A cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) comprising i. a cooling arrangement (10,20,30,40,50,60) comprising - a rotary desiccant wheel (100) comprising a process section (101) and a regeneration section (102); - an indirect cooler (130) comprising a cooling section (131) and an evaporation section (132); - an intake air flow path (181), said rotary desiccant wheel (100) and said process section (101) arranged on said intake air flow path upstream from said indirect cooler (130) and said cooling section (131), said intake air flow path permitting intake air to traverse said cooling arrangement (10,20,30,40,50,60), via said process section (101) of said rotary desiccant wheel (100) and said cooling section (131) of said indirect cooler (130), and exit said cooling arrangement (10,20,30,40,50,60) into an air conditioned building space (110) as dried and cooled intake air; - an exhaust air flow path (182) , said exhaust air flow path permitting warmed exhaust air from an air conditioned building space (120) to traverse said cooling arrangement (10,20,30,40,50,60) via said evaporation section (132) of said indirect cooler (130) and exiting said cooling arrangement as moist exhaust air; -a regeneration air flow path (183), said regeneration air flow path permitting warmed regeneration air to traverse said cooling arrangement (10,20,30,40,50,60) via said regeneration section (102) of said rotary desiccant wheel (100) and exiting said cooling arrangement as moist regeneration air; ii. a plurality of air moving units for moving air along said air flow paths (181,182,183); and iii. at least one heating unit for heating intake air to obtain warmed regeneration air which can be led to said regeneration section (102) of said rotary desiccant wheel (100) along said regeneration flow path (183).
- 2. A cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) according to claim 1 where, in said cooling arrangement (10.20.30.40.50.60) , said indirect cooler (130) is an indirect cooler (140) comprising a cooling section (141) and an evaporation section (142) located upstream to said rotary desiccant wheel (100) on said intake air flow path (181) .
- 3. A cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said cooling arrangement (10.20.30.40.50.60) further comprises a dry air flow path (184) for directing a flow of dried and warmed intake air from said air intake flow path (181) to said exhaust air flow path (182), connecting to said exhaust air flow path prior to said exhaust air entering said evaporation section (132) of said indirect cooler (130) .
- 4. A cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) according to claim 3 where, in said cooling arrangement (10,20,30,40,50, 60), said dry air flow path (184) connects to said exhaust air flow path (182) via a dry air regulation valve (151).
- 5. A cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) according to any of the claims 1 to 4, wherein said cooling arrangement (10.20.30.40.50.60) further comprises a cold air flow path (185) for directing a flow of dried and cooled intake air from said air intake flow path (181) to said exhaust air flow path (182) connecting to said exhaust air flow path prior to said exhaust air entering said evaporation section (132) of said indirect cooler (130).
- 6. A cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) according to claim 5 where, in said cooling arrangement (10,20,30,40,50, 60), said cold air flow path (185) connects to said exhaust air flow path (182) via a cold air regulation valve (150).
- 7. A cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) according to any of the claims 1 to 6, wherein said cooling arrangement (10.20.30.40.50.60) further comprises a heat exchanger (160), said heat exchanger (160) arranged on said intake air flow path (181) downstream from said process section (101) of said rotary desiccant wheel (100) but upstream from said indirect cooler (130), and arranged on said regeneration flow path (183) upstream from said regeneration section (102) of said rotary desiccant wheel (100).
- 8. A cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) according to any of the claims 1 to 7, wherein said cooling arrangement (10.20.30.40.50.60) further comprises a second rotary desiccant wheel (170), said second rotary desiccant wheel (170) comprising a process section (171) and a regeneration section (172), said process section (171) of said second desiccant wheel (170) arranged on said exhaust air flow path (182) upstream from said evaporation section (132,142) of said indirect cooler (130,140), said regeneration section (172) of said second rotary desiccant wheel (170) arranged on a second regeneration flow path (187); said cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) further comprising at least one air moving unit for moving air along said second regeneration flow path (187); and at least one heating unit for heating intake air to obtain warmed regeneration air which can be led to said regeneration section (172) of said second rotary desiccant wheel (170) along said second regeneration flow path (187) .
- 9. A cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) according to claim 8 where, in said cooling arrangement (10.20.30.40.50.60) , one heating unit heats intake air for use in both regeneration flow paths (183,187).
- 10. A cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) according to any of the claims 1 to 9, wherein said cooling arrangement (10,20,30,40,50,60) comprises two indirect coolers (130,140) one of which (140) can be located upstream from said first rotary desiccant wheel (100) on said intake air flow path (181) and the other (130) can be located downstream from said first rotary desiccant wheel (100) on said intake air flow path.
- 11. A The cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) according to any of the claims 1 to 10, wherein said cooling arrangement (10,20,30,40,50,60) is manufactured as a single cooling unit (10,20,30,40,50,60).
- 12. A cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) according to claim 11 wherein said single cooling unit (10,20,30,40,50,60) further comprises at least one of said plurality of air moving units and/or said at least one heating unit.
- 13. A cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) according to any of the previous claims 1 to 12 wherein said indirect cooler (130,140) is a counter-flow indirect evaporation cooler.
- 14. A cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) according to any of the previous claims 1 to 13 further comprising a direct evaporative cooler arranged on said intake air flow path (181) downstream from said indirect cooler (130,140) and said rotary desiccant wheel (100) .
- 15. A cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 14 further comprising a recirculation flow path (192) for directing a flow of warmed exhaust air from an air conditioned building space (120) to said intake air flow path (181) connecting to said intake air flow path (181) prior to said rotary desiccant wheel (100).
- 16. An air conditioned building space (200) comprising an intake air flow path (181) for directing cooled and dried intake air from a cooling system (1.2.3.4.5.6) according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 15 to said air conditioned building space (200), an exhaust air flow path (182) for directing warmed exhaust air to said cooling system (1.2.3.4.5.6) ; which air conditioned building space (200) further comprises at least one indirect evaporative cooler (230), said at least one indirect evaporative cooler (230) comprising a cooling section (231) and an evaporation section (232), a cooling flow path (210) for permitting intake air from said air conditioned building space (200) to traverse said cooling section (231) of said at least one indirect evaporative cooler (230), wherein said intake air exits said cooling section (231) as cooled exhaust air which is returned to said air conditioned building space (200), and an evaporation flow path (220) for permitting intake air from said air conditioned building space (200) to traverse said evaporation section (232) of said at least one indirect evaporative cooler (230), wherein said intake air exists said evaporation section (232) as moist exhaust air which is discarded to a surrounding exterior to said air conditioned building space (200) .
- 17. An air conditioned building space (200) according to claim 16 wherein said at least one indirect evaporative cooler (230) is internal or external to said air conditioned building space (200).
- 18. An air conditioned building space (200) according to either claim 16 or claim 17 wherein said cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) is operated at an overpressure sufficient to allow said intake air to traverse said cooling flow path (210) and said evaporation flow path (220) without the aid of further air moving units.
- 19. A method of drying and cooling intake air for an air conditioned building space (110) by traversing intake air through a cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) according to any of the claims 1 to 14 along an intake air flow path (181) to dry and cool said intake air by using excess energy comprised in warmed exhaust air from an air conditioned space (120); wherein warmed exhaust air is traversed through said same cooling system (1,2,3,4,5,6) according to any of the claims 1 to 14 along an exhaust air flow path (182,186), thereby using said warmed exhaust air to cool said intake air in at least one indirect cooler (130,140).
Priority Applications (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DKPA201500357A DK201500357A1 (en) | 2015-06-21 | 2015-06-21 | A cooling system, a cooling unit, and a method of cooling intake air to an air conditioned building space |
| EP16764268.5A EP3271659A4 (en) | 2015-03-15 | 2016-03-15 | A cooling system, a cooling unit, and a method of cooling intake-air to an air-conditioned building space |
| PCT/DK2016/050072 WO2016146133A1 (en) | 2015-03-15 | 2016-03-15 | A cooling system, a cooling unit, and a method of cooling intake-air to an air-conditioned building space |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DKPA201500357A DK201500357A1 (en) | 2015-06-21 | 2015-06-21 | A cooling system, a cooling unit, and a method of cooling intake air to an air conditioned building space |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| DK201500357A1 true DK201500357A1 (en) | 2017-01-09 |
Family
ID=57709293
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| DKPA201500357A DK201500357A1 (en) | 2015-03-15 | 2015-06-21 | A cooling system, a cooling unit, and a method of cooling intake air to an air conditioned building space |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| DK (1) | DK201500357A1 (en) |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5727394A (en) * | 1996-02-12 | 1998-03-17 | Laroche Industries, Inc. | Air conditioning system having improved indirect evaporative cooler |
| US20030209017A1 (en) * | 2000-09-27 | 2003-11-13 | Valeriy Maisotsenko | Method and plate apparatus for dew point evaporative cooler |
| US20050132738A1 (en) * | 2003-12-18 | 2005-06-23 | Davis Energy Group, Inc | Two stage indirect evaporative cooling system |
| US20100058778A1 (en) * | 2008-09-05 | 2010-03-11 | Bhatti Mohinder S | Thermoelectrically powered indirect evaporative cooling system with desiccant dehumidification |
| WO2014085860A1 (en) * | 2012-12-05 | 2014-06-12 | Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organisation | Compact desiccant cooling system |
-
2015
- 2015-06-21 DK DKPA201500357A patent/DK201500357A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5727394A (en) * | 1996-02-12 | 1998-03-17 | Laroche Industries, Inc. | Air conditioning system having improved indirect evaporative cooler |
| US20030209017A1 (en) * | 2000-09-27 | 2003-11-13 | Valeriy Maisotsenko | Method and plate apparatus for dew point evaporative cooler |
| US20050132738A1 (en) * | 2003-12-18 | 2005-06-23 | Davis Energy Group, Inc | Two stage indirect evaporative cooling system |
| US20100058778A1 (en) * | 2008-09-05 | 2010-03-11 | Bhatti Mohinder S | Thermoelectrically powered indirect evaporative cooling system with desiccant dehumidification |
| WO2014085860A1 (en) * | 2012-12-05 | 2014-06-12 | Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organisation | Compact desiccant cooling system |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US5325676A (en) | Desiccant assisted multi-use air pre-conditioner unit with system heat recovery capability | |
| US7305849B2 (en) | Sorptive heat exchanger and related cooled sorption process | |
| US8631661B2 (en) | Energy recovery enhanced condenser reactivated desiccant refrigerant dehumidifier | |
| JP4816267B2 (en) | Humidity control device | |
| US7338548B2 (en) | Dessicant dehumidifer for drying moist environments | |
| US6622508B2 (en) | Method for heat and humidity exchange between two air streams and apparatus therefor | |
| RU2595583C1 (en) | Ventilation plant with forced drying and evaporation cooling system | |
| US20120085112A1 (en) | Heat pump humidifier and dehumidifier system and method | |
| US11320161B2 (en) | Air conditioning with recovery wheel, dehumidification wheel, and cooling coil | |
| CN104981282A (en) | Compact desiccant cooling system | |
| CN206234930U (en) | A kind of warm and humid sub-control Fresh air handling units based on high temperature chilled water | |
| JP2009047405A (en) | Desiccant dehumidifier | |
| US10767875B2 (en) | Humidity control unit and method having bypass for process air | |
| WO2012162760A1 (en) | Compact desiccant cooling system | |
| KR101436613B1 (en) | Dehumidified cooling system for district cooling with cooling, ventilation and humidification | |
| CN202391454U (en) | Evaporating and cooling ventilation temperature-reducing device for mine shaft | |
| CN105276736A (en) | Heat pump type total heat recovery new-air air conditioning unit with condensation reheating function | |
| US20100281893A1 (en) | Desiccant dehumidifier utilizing hot water for reactivation, and related method | |
| US12215887B1 (en) | Dual-wheel HVAC system and method having improved dew point control | |
| US11255554B2 (en) | Dehumidifying and energy recapture system | |
| ES2230422T3 (en) | PROCEDURE AND SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL AIR TREATMENT. | |
| US11598535B2 (en) | Humidity control unit and method | |
| DK201500357A1 (en) | A cooling system, a cooling unit, and a method of cooling intake air to an air conditioned building space | |
| WO2016146133A1 (en) | A cooling system, a cooling unit, and a method of cooling intake-air to an air-conditioned building space | |
| WO1995028609A1 (en) | Desiccant assisted multi-use air pre-conditioner unit with system heat recovery capability |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHB | Application deemed withdrawn due to non-payment or other reasons |
Effective date: 20180507 |