Method of evaporative cooling of a fluid and apparatus therefor
OwnerValeriy Maisotsenko, Leland E. Gillan +2inventors
InventorsValeriy Maisotsenko, Leland E. Gillan, Timothy L. Heaton, Alan D. Gillan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The operating efficiency of indirect evaporative cooling processes and indirect evaporative cooling apparatus employing a dry side channel and a wet side channel separated by a heat exchange plate are improved by placement of holes in the heat exchange plate. Further improvements are obtained when the flow direction in the wet side channel is cross-current to the flow direction in the dry side channel. Placement of desiccant materials in the dry side channel also serve to improve the operating efficiencies of these processes and apparatus.
Claims50
A process for indirect evaporative cooling of a liquid desiccant product comprising the steps of:
- a) placing a gas stream entering the process in contact with a cooled plate that separates the gas stream entering the process from the liquid product that will exit said process;
- b) forcing a portion of the gas stream entering the process through holes in the plate, wherein a portion of the liquid product evaporates into the gas forced through the holes, cooling the liquid product:
- and
- c) removing the resulting cooled liquid product.
A process for indirect evaporative cooling of a liquid desiccant product comprising the steps of:
- a) providing an indirect evaporative cooling apparatus having a dry side channel and a wet side channel separated by a plate having holes that permit fluid communication between the dry side channel and the wet side channel;
- b) introducing the liquid product into the wet side channel;
- c) introducing a gas into the dry side channel in a manner such that a portion of the gas is pre-cooled and passed through the holes in the plate wherein a portion of the liquid product evaporates into the gas forced through the holes, cooling the liquid product;
- d) removing a resulting gas/evaporative liquid vapor combination from the wet side channel;
- and
- e) removing a resulting cooled liquid product from the wet aide channel.
A process for indirect evaporative cooling of a water product comprising the steps of:
- a) providing an indirect evaporative cooling device having a dry side channel that defines a first air flow direction and a wet side channel that defines a second air flow direction that is cross-current to the first air flow direction and wherein the dry side channel and the wet side channel are separated by a plate having holes that permit fluid communication between the dry side channel and wet side channel;
- b) introducing air into the dry side channel at a pressure such that a portion of the air passes through the holes in the plate;
- c) providing the dry side channel with a desiccant;
- d) providing a wet side channel portion of the plate with a film of water, a portion of which is capable of evaporating into the air under the temperature and pressure conditions existing in the wet side channel;
- e) removing a resulting gas/liquid vapor stream from the wet side channel;
- and
- f) removing a resulting cooled water product from the wet side channel.
Apparatus for cooling a liquid product via indirect evaporative cooling utilizing evaporative liquid and working gas, the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of parallel, spaced apart plates each having two surfaces, wherein
- (a) the first surface of each plate forms at least partially a dry side, over which the working gas flows,
- (b) the first surface further forms perforations to permit the working gas from the dry side to flow onto the second surface,
- (c) the second surface of each plate forms at least partially a wet side, wherein the wet side is wetted with evaporative fluid which cools the wet side as it evaporates,
- (d) each second surface further forms a wet side channel for the liquid to be cooled,
- (e) opposing surfaces of adjacent plates have like sides, and
- (f) the plates are oriented generally vertically in order to allow the liquid product to flow;
- and
- means for causing the working air to flow over the dry side, through the perforation, and then over the wet side;
- means for providing the liquid product to the wet side channel;
- and
- means for providing the cooled liquid product from the wet side channel to a user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.