# US 10,119,717 B2 · Heat source system, and device and method for controlling cooling water supply device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,119,717 B2 - Document ID: US10119717B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/655,645 - Filed: 2013-07-12 - Published: 2015-12-10 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-31 - Assignees: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems, Ltd. - Applicants: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems, Ltd. - Inventors: Minoru Matsuo; Satoshi Nikaido; Koki Tateishi; Toshiaki Ouchi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119717B2 ## CPC - F24F 11/72: for controlling the supply of treated air, e.g. its pressure - F24F 3/06: characterised by the arrangements for the supply of heat-exchange fluid for the subsequent treatment of primary air in the room units - F24F 5/0003: {Exclusively-fluid systems} - F25B 25/005: {using primary and secondary systems} - F25B 49/027: {Condenser control arrangements} - F25D 17/02: for circulating liquids, e.g. brine - F28F 27/00: Control arrangements or safety devices specially adapted for heat-exchange or heat-transfer apparatus (control arrangements in general G05) - F25B 1/053: of turbine type - F25B 1/10: with multi-stage compression (with cascade operation F25B7/00) - F25B 49/02: for compression type machines, plants or systems - F25B 2339/047: Water-cooled condensers - F25B 2600/021: Inverters therefor - F25B 2600/111: of condenser fans - F25B 2600/13: Pump speed control - F25B 2700/21161: of the fluid heated by the condenser - F25B 2700/21171: of the fluid cooled by the evaporator - Y02B 30/70: Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) - F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract In order to achieve a reduction in energy consumption in a cooling water supply device without using a database, an equipment control device (70a) of a cooling water supply device: uses the load of a chiller, and a cooling water outlet temperature lower limit setpoint determined in accordance with the set temperature for the cooling water outlet of the chiller, to set a cooling water inlet temperature lower limit setpoint; sets, as the cooling water inlet temperature setpoint, the higher of the lower limit setpoint and the cooling water inlet temperature lower limit value as determined from the outside wet-bulb temperature; and generates a control command for a cooling tower fan and a control command for the cooling water flow volume, so as to match the cooling water inlet temperature and the cooling water outlet temperature respectively with the cooling water inlet temperature setpoint and the cooling water outlet temperature lower limit setpoint which have been set. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for controlling a cooling water supply device which includes a cooling tower and supplies cooling water to a condenser of a chiller, comprising: an equipment controller configured to: acquire a cooling water outlet temperature lower limit setpoint which is determined in accordance with a set temperature for a chilled water outlet in the chiller, from the chiller; determine a cooling water inlet temperature lower limit setpoint using the cooling water outlet temperature lower limit setpoint and the load of the chiller; compare a cooling water inlet temperature lower limit value determined from an outside wet-bulb temperature and the cooling water inlet temperature lower limit setpoint, and for setting the higher one as a cooling water inlet temperature setpoint; and generate a control command for a cooling tower fan and a control command for a cooling water flow rate, so as to match a cooling water inlet temperature and a cooling water outlet temperature respectively with the cooling water inlet temperature setpoint and the cooling water outlet temperature lower limit setpoint. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device for controlling a cooling water supply device according to claim 1, wherein the equipment controller is further configured to subtract a temperature difference between a cooling water inlet and outlet from the cooling water outlet temperature lower limit setpoint to calculate the cooling water inlet temperature lower limit setpoint, and wherein the temperature difference between cooling water inlet and outlet is determined in accordance with the cooling water flow rate and the load of the chiller. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A heat source system, comprising: a chiller which includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator; a cooling water supply device which includes a cooling tower, and supplies cooling water to the condenser of the chiller; and the device for controlling a cooling water supply device according to claim 1. ### Claim 4 A method for controlling a cooling water supply device which includes a cooling tower and supplies cooling water to a condenser of a chiller, comprising: acquiring a cooling water outlet temperature lower limit setpoint which is determined in accordance with a set temperature for a chilled water outlet in the chiller, from the chiller; determining a cooling water inlet temperature lower limit setpoint using the cooling water outlet temperature lower limit setpoint and the load of the chiller; comparing a cooling water inlet temperature lower limit value determined from an outside wet-bulb temperature and the cooling water inlet temperature lower limit setpoint, and for setting the higher one as a cooling water inlet temperature setpoint; and generating a control command for a cooling tower fan and a control command for a cooling water flow rate, so as to match a cooling water inlet temperature and a cooling water outlet temperature respectively with the cooling water inlet temperature setpoint and the cooling water outlet temperature lower limit setpoint. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) A heat source system, comprising: a chiller which includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator; a cooling water supply device which includes a cooling tower, and supplies cooling water to the condenser of the chiller; and the device for controlling a cooling water supply device according to claim 2.