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US 11,668,534 B2Granted
Fan array fault response control system
AssigneeBaltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.
InventorsGlen Landreth, Michael Leibel, Ryan Most
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one aspect, a fan array fault response control system is provided for a cooling tower. The fan array fault response control system includes a fan interface configured to be in communication with a plurality of fans of the cooling tower and a processor operably coupled to the fan interface. The processor is configured to detect at least one non-operational fan of the plurality of fans. The processor configured to effect, in response to detecting the at least one non-operational fan, a reduced fan speed of at least one operational fan of the plurality of fans.
Claims39
A fan array fault response control system for a cooling tower, the fan array fault response control system comprising:
- a fan interface configured to be in communication with a plurality of fans;
- a fan fault alarm that activates in response to at least one non-operational fan;
- a processor operably coupled to the fan interface and configured to
- effect, in response to activation of the fan fault alarm, a reduced fan speed of at least one operational fan of the plurality of fans;
- and
- wherein the processor is configured to effect the reduced fan speed of the at least one operational fan until deactivation of the fan fault alarm.
3 more elements
A heat rejection apparatus comprising:
- a heat exchanger;
- a plenum upstream of the heat exchanger;
- a liquid distribution system configured to direct evaporative liquid toward the heat exchanger;
- a plurality of fans upstream of the heat exchanger and configured to generate airflow from the plenum to the heat exchanger, the fans configured to direct airflow into the plenum upstream of the heat exchanger and create a positive air pressure in the plenum upstream of the heat exchanger;
- a sump arranged to receive evaporative liquid from the heat exchanger;
- a pump operable to pump liquid from the sump to the liquid distribution system;
- and
- a controller operably coupled to the fans and configured to:
- detect at least one non-operational fan of the plurality of fans;
- and
- effect a reduced fan speed of at least one operational fan of the plurality of fans upon detecting the at least one non-operational fan to reduce air pressure in the plenum acting on the at least one non-operational fan.
8 more elements
A heat rejection apparatus comprising:
- a heat exchanger;
- a liquid distribution system configured to direct evaporative liquid toward the heat exchanger;
- a plurality of fans configured to generate airflow relative to the heat exchanger;
- a sump arranged to receive evaporative liquid from the heat exchanger;
- a pump operable to pump liquid from the sump to the liquid distribution system;
- and
- a controller operably coupled to the fans and configured to:
- detect at least one non-operational fan of the plurality of fans;
- effect a reduced fan speed of at least one operational fan of the plurality of fans upon detecting the at least one non-operational fan;
- wherein the controller is operably coupled to the pump and is configured to determine whether the pump is operating;
- and
- wherein the controller is configured to effect the reduced fan speed of the at least one operational fan of the plurality of fans upon detecting the at least one non-operational fan and determining the pump is operating.
9 more elements
A heat rejection apparatus comprising:
- a heat exchanger;
- a liquid distribution system configured to direct evaporative liquid toward the heat exchanger;
- a plurality of fans configured to generate airflow relative to the heat exchanger;
- a sump arranged to receive evaporative liquid from the heat exchanger;
- a pump operable to pump liquid from the sump to the liquid distribution system;
- and
- a controller operably coupled to the fans and configured to:
- detect at least one non-operational fan of the plurality of fans;
- effect a reduced fan speed of at least one operational fan of the plurality of fans upon detecting the at least one non-operational fan;
- wherein the controller is operably coupled to the pump and determines whether the pump is pumping liquid to the liquid distribution system;
- and
- wherein the controller is configured to:
- effect a first reduced fan speed of the at least one operational fan upon detecting the at least one non-operational fan and determining the pump is pumping liquid to the liquid distribution system;
- and
- effect a second fan speed of the at least one operational fan upon detecting the at least one non-operational fan and determining the pump is not pumping liquid to the liquid distribution system.
12 more elements
A heat rejection apparatus comprising
- a heat exchanger;
- a liquid distribution system configured to direct evaporative liquid toward the heat exchanger;
- a plurality of fans configured to generate airflow relative to the heat exchanger;
- a sump arranged to receive evaporative liquid from the heat exchanger;
- a pump operable to pump liquid from the sump to the liquid distribution system;
- and
- a controller operably coupled to the fans and configured to:
- detect at least one non-operational fan of the plurality of fans;
- effect a reduced fan speed of at least one operational fan of the plurality of fans upon detecting the at least one non-operational fan;
- a keep configured to mechanically engage a portion of the at least one non-operational fan and inhibit rotation of fan blades of the fan;
- and
- the controller is configured to actuate the keep upon determining the at least one fan is non-operational.
9 more elements
A method of controlling a heat rejection apparatus comprising a heat exchanger, a liquid distribution system configured to direct liquid toward the heat exchanger, and a plurality of fans configured to generate airflow relative to the heat exchanger, the method comprising:
- operating the fans to direct air into a plenum of the heat rejection apparatus upstream of the heat exchanger and provide an air pressure in the plenum higher than ambient air pressure;
- detecting at least one of the fans is non-operational;
- and
- causing, upon detecting the at least one non-operational fan, at least one operational fan of the plurality of fans to rotate at a reduced fan speed and provide a reduced air pressure in the plenum.
1 more element
A fan array fault response control system for a cooling tower, the fan array fault response control system comprising:
- a fan interface configured to be in communication with a plurality of fans;
- a processor operably coupled to the fan interface and configured to detect at least one non-operational fan of the plurality of fans;
- the processor configured to effect, in response to detecting the at least one non-operational fan, a reduced fan speed of at least one operational fan of the plurality of fans;
- an override having an off condition and an on condition;
- a communication interface to receive an override communication;
- wherein the processor is configured to change the override from the off condition to the on condition upon the communication interface receiving the override communication;
- wherein the processor is configured to effect the reduced fan speed of the at least one operational fan in response to detecting the at least one non-operational fan with the override in the off condition;
- and
- wherein the processor is configured to not effect the reduced fan speed of the at least one operational fan in response to detecting the at least one non-operational fan with the override in the on condition.
6 more elements
A heat rejection apparatus comprising:
- a heat exchanger;
- a liquid distribution system configured to direct evaporative liquid toward the heat exchanger;
- a plurality of fans configured to generate airflow relative to the heat exchanger;
- a sump arranged to receive evaporative liquid from the heat exchanger;
- a pump operable to pump liquid from the sump to the liquid distribution system;
- and
- a controller operably coupled to the fans and configured to:
- detect at least one non-operational fan of the plurality of fans;
- and
- effect a reduced fan speed of at least one operational fan of the plurality of fans upon detecting the at least one non-operational fan;
- wherein the controller is configured to activate a fan fault alarm in response to detecting the at least one non-operational fan;
- and
- wherein the controller is configured to effect the reduced fan speed of the at least one operational fan until deactivation of the fan fault alarm.
10 more elements
A heat rejection apparatus comprising:
- a heat exchanger;
- a liquid distribution system configured to direct evaporative liquid toward the heat exchanger;
- a plurality of fans configured to generate airflow relative to the heat exchanger;
- a sump arranged to receive evaporative liquid from the heat exchanger;
- a pump operable to pump liquid from the sump to the liquid distribution system;
- and
- a controller operably coupled to the fans and configured to:
- detect at least one non-operational fan of the plurality of fans;
- and
- effect a reduced fan speed of at least one operational fan of the plurality of fans upon detecting the at least one non-operational fan;
- wherein the controller includes an override having an off condition and an on condition, the controller configured to change the override from the off condition to the on condition upon the controller receiving an override communication;
- wherein the controller is configured to effect the reduced fan speed of the at least one operational fan upon detecting the at least one non-operational fan with the override in the off condition;
- and
- wherein the controller is configured to not effect the reduced fan speed of the at least one operational fan upon detecting the at least one non-operational fan with the override in the on condition.
11 more elements
A heat rejection apparatus comprising:
- a heat exchanger;
- a liquid distribution system configured to direct evaporative liquid toward the heat exchanger;
- a plurality of fans configured to generate airflow relative to the heat exchanger;
- a sump arranged to receive evaporative liquid from the heat exchanger;
- a pump operable to pump liquid from the sump to the liquid distribution system;
- and
- a controller operably coupled to the fans and configured to:
- detect at least one non-operational fan of the plurality of fans;
- and
- effect a reduced fan speed of at least one operational fan of the plurality of fans upon detecting the at least one non-operational fan;
- wherein the controller has a dry mode wherein the controller inhibits operation of the pump and a wet mode wherein the controller permits operation of the pump;
- wherein the controller is configured to effect the reduced fan speed of the at least one operational fan upon detecting the at least one non-operational fan with the controller in the wet mode;
- and
- wherein the controller is configured to not effect the reduced fan speed of the at least operational fan upon detecting the at least one non-operational fan with the controller in the dry mode.
11 more elements
A method of controlling a heat rejection apparatus comprising a heat exchanger, a liquid distribution system configured to direct liquid toward the heat exchanger, and a plurality of fans configured to generate airflow relative to the heat exchanger, the method comprising:
- detecting at least one of the fans is non-operational;
- causing, upon detecting the at least one non-operational fan, at least one operational fan of the plurality of fans to rotate at a reduced fan speed;
- activating a fan fault alarm in response to detecting the at least one non-operational fan;
- and
- causing the at least one operational fan to rotate at the reduced fan speed during operation of the fan until deactivation of the fan fault alarm.
2 more elements
A method of controlling a heat rejection apparatus comprising a heat exchanger, a liquid distribution system configured to direct liquid toward the heat exchanger, and a plurality of fans configured to generate airflow relative to the heat exchanger, the method comprising:
- detecting at least one of the fans is non-operational;
- causing, upon detecting the at least one non-operational fan, at least one operational fan of the plurality of fans to rotate at a reduced fan speed;
- and
- wherein causing the at least one operational fan to rotate at the reduced fan speed comprises causing the at least one operational fan to rotate at the reduced fan speed upon detecting the at least one non-operational fan and an override of a fan array fault response control system of the heat rejection apparatus is in an off condition thereof.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.