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CN-122029384-A - Evaporative cooler with performance factor using hollow fibers to produce cooling water

CN122029384ACN 122029384 ACN122029384 ACN 122029384ACN-122029384-A

Abstract

A unit for evaporative cooling includes a covered first frame and an open second frame opposite the first frame. The post is located between and coupled to the first and second frames. The porous hollow fiber membranes extend around the column between and are coupled to the first and second frames to form an interior volume. The first frame and the second frame are configured for water to flow between the first frame and the second frame via the membrane. The membrane is configured to transport water between the first frame and the second frame and to allow airflow from the interior volume through the membrane for evaporative cooling. The cooling unit may generate cooling water. The cooling unit performance factor can be controlled by water flow, air flow, and water temperature and pressure. The unit may control air humidification.

Inventors

  • Sarah A. Picture skin
  • Annie N. De Lovell
  • Michael. D. Cenna
  • Sankar Muxukrixinan
  • Ravi Kolakaluri
  • Niraj Niti Saina Bork

Assignees

  • 3M创新有限公司

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20240916
Priority Date
20231017

Claims (18)

  1. 1. A unit for evaporative cooling, the unit comprising: a first frame with a cover; An open second frame opposite the first frame; a plurality of the mechanical support members are arranged on the support frame, the plurality of mechanical supports are located at the first frame and the second frame a frame between and coupled to the first frame and the second frame; and A porous hollow fiber membrane extending around the mechanical support between the first and second frames to form an interior volume and coupled to the first and second frames, Wherein the first and second frames are configured for water to flow between the first and second frames via the membrane, and the membrane is configured to transport water between the first and second frames and to allow an air flow through the membrane for evaporative cooling, Wherein the unit is configured to generate cooling water during the evaporative cooling, wherein the cooling water output from the unit has a lower temperature than water input to the unit.
  2. 2. A unit for evaporative cooling, the unit comprising: a first frame with a cover; An open second frame, which is provided with a plurality of openings, the second frame is opposite to the first frame; a plurality of the mechanical support members are arranged on the support frame, the plurality of mechanical supports are located at the first frame and the second frame a frame between and coupled to the first frame and the second frame; and A porous hollow fiber membrane extending around the mechanical support between the first and second frames to form an interior volume and coupled to the first and second frames, Wherein the first and second frames are configured for water to flow between the first and second frames via the membrane, and the membrane is configured to transport water between the first and second frames and to allow an air flow through the membrane for evaporative cooling, Wherein unit performance can be controlled by at least one of flow rate of water (air or water), temperature and pressure during said evaporative cooling.
  3. 3. A unit for evaporative cooling, the unit comprising: a first frame with a cover; An open second frame, which is provided with a plurality of openings, the second frame is opposite to the first frame; a plurality of the mechanical support members are arranged on the support frame, the plurality of mechanical supports are located at the first frame and the second frame a frame between and coupled to the first frame and the second frame; and A porous hollow fiber membrane extending around the mechanical support between the first and second frames to form an interior volume and coupled to the first and second frames, Wherein the first and second frames are configured for water to flow between the first and second frames via the membrane, and the membrane is configured to transport water between the first and second frames and to allow an air flow through the membrane for evaporative cooling, Wherein the unit is configured to control at least some air humidification during the evaporative cooling.
  4. 4. A unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the mechanical support is configured to provide a substantially planar panel of the membrane.
  5. 5. A unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a plurality of the units coupled together in series via the internal volume.
  6. 6. A unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of mechanical supports comprises posts.
  7. 7. The unit of claim 6, wherein one of the columns comprises a tube for transporting water.
  8. 8. A unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the film has a plurality of layers.
  9. 9. A unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a pump coupled to the first and second frames for circulating water through the membrane.
  10. 10. A unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the unit is configured to circulate air from the internal volume through the membrane.
  11. 11. A unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second frame comprises an inlet and the first frame comprises an outlet.
  12. 12. A unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first or second frame comprises an inlet, an outlet, a first channel for the inlet, a second channel for the outlet and a flow separation element between the first and second channels.
  13. 13. The unit of claim 12, wherein the first frame or the second frame comprises a continuous channel.
  14. 14. A unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the membrane has a pore size of 0.01 to 0.2 microns.
  15. 15. A unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the membrane has a porosity of 25% to 80%.
  16. 16. A unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the film has a wall thickness of 15 to 75 microns.
  17. 17. A unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the film has a weave density of from 35 to 53 fibres per inch.
  18. 18. A unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the film has a weave density of 15 to 65 fibres per inch.

Description

Evaporative cooler with performance factor using hollow fibers to produce cooling water Background Evaporation is a low cost and energy efficient cooling and is used to regulate the temperature of data centers, food processing plants or office buildings. Currently, cellulose mats are used to perform evaporative cooling on a large scale, such as in data centers. The hot dry air is cooled by evaporating water flowing through the cellulose mat, thereby producing cold moist air at the output. This type of cooling requires a large amount of water and the medium must be kept in a dry or wet state to prevent degradation due to scaling or crystalline salt deposition. The humidity level of the air discharged to the data center may be controlled using louvers or dampers that direct the incoming air through only a portion of the media or completely around the media in the bypass duct. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved evaporative cooling system. Data centers are exploring the option of cooling by using evaporative cooling. In evaporative cooling, there are two fluids, air and water. As the water evaporates, the air gathers more moisture. Evaporative cooling may be accomplished directly or indirectly. Evaporative cooling may be used to cool the air. This air is used directly to cool the data hall. This is one definition of direct evaporative cooling in the HVAC industry. For indirect evaporation to cool building air, one definition is that there are two sources of air that are physically separated, and the overall system typically contains an evaporative cooler and a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger may be air-to-air or air-to-liquid. Cooling fluid (air or water) from the evaporative cooler may be used in the heat exchanger to cool the building air. Disclosure of Invention A unit for evaporative cooling includes a covered first frame and an open second frame opposite the first frame. A plurality of mechanical supports are located between and coupled to the first and second frames. Porous hollow fiber membranes extend around the support between and are coupled to the first and second frames to form an interior volume. The first frame and the second frame are configured for water to flow between the first frame and the second frame via the membrane. The membrane is configured to transport water between the first frame and the second frame and to allow an air flow through the membrane for evaporative cooling. In one embodiment, the unit produces cooling water by an evaporative cooling process. In another embodiment, the unit performance factor can be controlled by water flow, air flow, and water temperature and pressure. In another embodiment, the unit may control air humidification. Drawings Fig. 1A is a front cross-sectional view of a rounded square evaporative cooling unit. Fig. 1B is a side cross-sectional view of a rounded square evaporative cooling unit. Fig. 2 is a diagram of the water path through the evaporative cooling unit. Fig. 3 is a side view of the air handling unit. Fig. 4 is a diagram of a water recirculation system for a flat panel evaporative cooling unit. Detailed Description Embodiments include an evaporative cooler using a membrane with hollow fibers having porous walls that provide enhanced evaporative cooling and reduced pressure drop. This configuration includes an array of woven fibers rolled into a circular cylinder, rounded square, or other shape and potted at both ends to allow liquid water to flow through the fibers. One end of the annular cylinder is open for air to pass through and the other end is capped, which forces air to flow through the fiber array to cool the incoming air. Such a configuration may provide ease of manufacture as compared to a folded design. This configuration also improves the performance of the panel by systematically increasing the length of the panel. Additionally, the addition of folds in the fiber array around the cylinder may also improve performance due to the increased surface area. This construction of hollow fibers with non-porous walls can also be used as a heat exchanger. The use of porous wall fibers can also be used as a heat exchanger when the air is very humid. An example of an evaporative cooling unit is disclosed in PCT application publication No. WO 2023/037287, which is incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in its entirety. Round corner square cooler Fig. 1A and 1B are a front cross-sectional view and a side cross-sectional view of a panel configuration of an evaporative cooling unit 10, which includes, as an example, a woven fiber array using a rounded square shape. A perspective view of the unit 10 is illustrated in fig. 2. As shown in fig. 1A and 1B, this panel configuration is also applicable to any other cross-sectional shape. The unit 10 includes a front open frame 12, mechanical supports such as posts 14, porous hollow fiber membranes 16, and a covered rear frame 20. The frame 12 is open in that the frame 12 has openi