Convection enhanced evaporation
AssigneeRegents of the University of Minnesota
InventorsMustafa F. Kaddoura, Natasha C. Wright
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system includes an evaporator having sensors and selectable operational parameters and a controller configured to receive data and determine operational configuration for the evaporator. Selectable parameters relate to system heating, liquid flow rate, air flow rate, and environmental data.
Claims10
A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:
- receiving material cost ratio and energy cost ratio corresponding to an evaporation system, the evaporation system having a plurality of surfaces, a fan, and a fluid distribution system including a valve and a pump;
- receiving a performance prediction model for the evaporation system, the model including data corresponding to evaporation rate, energy consumption and cost associated with the evaporation system;
- generating simulated performance data for combinations of ambient temperature and humidity and determining performance of the evaporation system corresponding to a plurality of fluid flow rates, operating temperature, and air speed rates for at least two combinations;
- and
- storing the plurality of fluid flow rates, operating temperature, and air speed rates for different system sizes as a function of ambient temperature and humidity.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:
- receiving data corresponding to weather conditions;
- receiving a system model, the system model corresponding to a size of an evaporator;
- and
- selecting, based on the received data and the system model, at least one of an evaporator operational mode, a fluid flow rate, a temperature, and an air flow rate, the fluid flow rate corresponding to fluid flow across an evaporation surface of the evaporator, the temperature corresponding to a thermal element, the thermal element corresponding to a fluid temperature, an air temperature, or an evaporation surface temperature, and the air flow rate corresponding to air flow across the evaporation surface of the evaporator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.