Back to results
US 9,429,346 B2Granted
Evaporative chiller
AssigneeAermist LLC
InventorJonathan S. Harms
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An evaporative chiller utilizes an evaporative-cooled gypsum-ceramic casting to chill air passing through a passageway formed within the casting. Placed within an outer housing, the gypsum-ceramic casting has an outer wicking layer that maintains water saturation of the casting. Nano-evaporation from the casting surface into the air passageway cools the casting. Water is provided to the wicking layer from a supply connected to the outer housing. The chiller may be placed in-line within air ductwork, and blowers may be used to enhance the flow of air to be chilled through the evaporative chiller passageway.
Claims20
An evaporative chiller comprising:
- an outer housing having an inner surface that defines an air passage extending through the outer housing;
- a wicking layer formed immediately adjacent and directly attached to at least a portion of the inner surface of the outer housing;
- a gypsum-ceramic casting layer formed immediately adjacent and directly attached to an inner surface of the wicking layer, thereby sandwiching the wicking layer between the gypsum-ceramic casting layer and the inner surface of the outer housing, an exposed inner surface of the gypsum-ceramic casting layer defining a substantially tubular-shaped air passage extending through the gypsum-ceramic casting layer in fluid communication with the air passage of the outer housing;
- and
- the outer housing providing an at least one water-feed aperture through which a water injector extends a distance into the outer housing so as to be in fluid communication with the wicking layer, the water injector connected to a water supply line extending from a source of water;
- whereby, water is selectively delivered to the wicking layer through the water line which, in turn, permeates the gypsum-ceramic casting layer and evaporates into the air located immediately adjacent the exposed inner surface of the gypsum-ceramic casting layer, thereby affecting the temperature of the air moving through the air passage of the gypsum-ceramic casting layer.
3 more elements
An evaporative chiller comprising:
- an outer housing having an inner surface that defines an air passage extending through the outer housing;
- a wicking layer formed immediately adjacent and directly attached to at least a portion of the inner surface of the outer housing;
- a gypsum-ceramic casting layer formed immediately adjacent and directly attached to an inner surface of the wicking layer, thereby sandwiching the wicking layer between the gypsum-ceramic casting layer and the inner surface of the outer housing, an exposed inner surface of the gypsum-ceramic casting layer defining a substantially tubular-shaped air passage extending through the gypsum-ceramic casting layer in fluid communication with the air passage of the outer housing;
- the inner surface of the gypsum-ceramic casting layer providing a convoluted surface comprising a plurality of roundish finger or lobe projections extending inwardly into the air passage of the gypsum-ceramic casting layer;
- the outer housing providing an at least one water-feed aperture through which a water injector extends a distance into the outer housing so as to be in fluid communication with the wicking layer, the water injector connected to a water supply line extending from a source of water;
- whereby, water is selectively delivered to the wicking layer through the water line which, in turn, permeates the gypsum-ceramic casting layer and evaporates into the air located immediately adjacent the exposed inner surface of the gypsum-ceramic casting layer, thereby affecting the temperature of the air moving through the air passage of the gypsum-ceramic casting layer.
3 more elements
An evaporative chiller comprising:
- an outer housing having an inner surface that defines an air passage extending through the outer housing;
- a wicking layer formed immediately adjacent and directly attached to at least a portion of the inner surface of the outer housing;
- a gypsum-ceramic casting layer formed immediately adjacent and directly attached to an inner surface of the wicking layer, thereby sandwiching the wicking layer between the gypsum-ceramic casting layer and the inner surface of the outer housing, an exposed inner surface of the gypsum-ceramic casting layer defining a substantially tubular-shaped air passage extending through the gypsum-ceramic casting layer in fluid communication with the air passage of the outer housing;
- the outer housing providing an at least one water-feed aperture through which a water injector extends a distance into the outer housing so as to be in fluid communication with the wicking layer, the water injector connected to a water supply line extending from a source of water;
- and
- an at least one compressive refrigeration cooler in fluid communication with the air passage of the outer housing and configured for chilling the air before said air enters the air passage;
- whereby, water is selectively delivered to the wicking layer through the water line which, in turn, permeates the gypsum-ceramic casting layer and evaporates into the air located immediately adjacent the exposed inner surface of the gypsum-ceramic casting layer, thereby affecting the temperature of the air moving through the air passage of the gypsum-ceramic casting layer.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.