EP-4735800-A1 - EVAPORATIVE HEAT EXCHANGER

Abstract

An evaporative heat exchanger includes a plurality of parallel plates forming a plurality of channels for a primary air flow and a secondary air flow. The secondary air flow evaporates a liquid thereby cooling the primary air flow. The plurality of parallel plates are assembled efficiently on a plurality of rods that pass perpendicularly through the plurality of plates. The rods have fasteners on each end with at least one of the fasteners being adjustable to facilitate assembly and securing of the plates. At least one gasket is located in each of the plurality of channels to provide sealing along portions of the edges of the parallel plates and to maintain spacing between the parallel plates.

Inventors

• Pandelidis, Demis Lukasz

Assignees

• Baryon Inc.

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20230630

Claims (20)

1. 1. An evaporative heat exchanger comprising: a plurality of plates, each plate having opposing broad sides bounded by a plurality of edges and a plurality of plate apertures along the plurality of edges, wherein the plurality of plates are arranged with the opposing broad sides of each plate parallel to the opposing broad sides of the other plates; a plurality of channels disposed between the plurality of plates, the plurality of channels comprising primary air flow channels and secondary air flow channels, wherein the secondary air flow channels are arranged to receive a liquid; a plurality of rods joining the plurality of plates, the plurality of rods passing perpendicularly through the plurality of plate apertures in the opposing broad sides of the plurality of plates, wherein each end of the plurality of rods comprises a fastener; and at least one gasket located in each channel of the plurality of channels, the at least one gasket disposed along at least one of the edges of each of the plurality of plates, the at least one gasket in each channel comprising at least one gasket aperture, wherein each of the at least one gasket apertures in the gasket in each channel has disposed therethrough a rod of the plurality of rods.
2. 2. The evaporative heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein at least certain plates of the plurality of plates have perforations allowing air to pass between a primary air flow channel and a secondary air flow channel.
3. 3. The evaporative heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein at least one of the secondary air flow channels comprises a porous material that absorbs the liquid.
4. 4. The evaporative heat exchanger of claim 3, wherein a perimeter of the porous material is disposed within one or more slits in the gasket of the at least one of the secondary air flow channels.
5. 5. The evaporative heat exchanger of claim 3, wherein the plates of the at least one of the secondary air flow channels comprising porous material include perforations allowing air to pass between a primary air flow channel and a second air flow channel.
6. 6. The evaporative heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the plurality of plates are rectangular in shape.
7. 7. The evaporative heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the plurality of plates are hexagonal in shape.
8. 8. The evaporative heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the evaporative heat exchanger is disposed in an air conditioning system.
9. 9. A method of assembling an evaporative heat exchanger, the method comprising: sliding a first end plate at least one end gasket onto a plurality of rods, the first end plate having opposing broad sides bounded by a plurality of edges and a plurality of plate apertures along the plurality of edges, the at least one end gasket having at least one gasket aperture, wherein each of the plurality of plate apertures receives one of the plurality of rods, and wherein the at least one end gasket receives one of the plurality of rods; sliding a plurality of intermediate plates and intermediate gaskets onto the plurality of rods, each of the plurality of intermediate plates having opposing broad sides bounded by a plurality of edges and a plurality of plate apertures along the plurality of edges, each of the intermediate gaskets having at least one gasket aperture, wherein each of the plurality of plate apertures receives one of the plurality of rods, and wherein the at least one gasket apertures of the intermediate gaskets receive one of the plurality of rods; sliding a second end plate onto the plurality of rods, the second end plate having opposing broad sides bounded by a plurality of edges and a plurality of plate apertures along the plurality of edges, wherein each of the plurality of plate apertures receives one of the plurality of rods; and securing a fastener onto at least one end of each of the plurality of rods, wherein, once placed on the plurality of rods, the opposing broad sides of the first end plate, the intermediate plates, and the second end plate are parallel.
10. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein at least certain plates of the intermediate plates have perforations allowing air to pass between a primary air flow channel and a secondary air flow channel.
11. 11. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one air flow channel between the intermediate plates comprises a porous material that absorbs the liquid.
12. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein a perimeter of the porous material is disposed within one or more slits in an intermediate gasket of the air flow channel.
13. 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the intermediate plates enclosing the at least one air flow channel comprising porous material include perforations allowing air to pass between the air flow channel and a second air flow channel.
14. 14. The method of claim 9, wherein the first end plate, the second end plate, and the intermediate plates are rectangular in shape.
15. 15. The method of claim 9, wherein the first end plate, the second end plate, and the intermediate plates are hexagonal in shape.
16. 16. The method of claim 9, wherein the evaporative heat exchanger is placed within an air conditioning system.
17. 17. An air conditioning system comprising: at least one fan; a liquid supply; a liquid reservoir; and an evaporative heat exchanger, the evaporative heat exchanger comprising: a plurality of plates, each plate having opposing broad sides bounded by a plurality of edges and a plurality of plate apertures along the plurality of edges, wherein the plurality of plates are arranged with the opposing broad sides of each plate parallel to the opposing broad sides of the other plates; a plurality of channels disposed between the plurality of plates, the plurality of channels comprising primary air flow channels and secondary air flow channels, wherein the secondary air flow channels are arranged to receive a liquid from the liquid supply; a plurality of rods joining the plurality of plates, the plurality of rods passing perpendicularly through the plurality of plate apertures in the opposing broad sides of the plurality of plates, wherein each end of the plurality of rods comprises a fastener; and at least one gasket located in each channel of the plurality of channels, the at least one gasket disposed along at least one of the edges of each of the plurality of plates, the at least one gasket in each channel comprising at least one gasket aperture, wherein each of the at least one gasket apertures in the gasket in each channel has disposed therethrough a rod of the plurality of rods.
18. 18. The air conditioning system of claim 17, wherein the secondary air flow channels allow evaporation of the liquid thereby cooling a primary air flow through the primary air flow channels; and wherein the fan directs the primary air flow from the air conditioning system.
19. 19. The air conditioning system of claim 17, wherein the fastener at one end of each of the plurality of rods is adjustable to allow the plurality of plates and the gaskets to slide onto the plurality of rods and to be secured thereon by the adjustable fasteners of the plurality of rods.
20. 20. The air conditioning system of claim 17, wherein the liquid reservoir receives remaining liquid that has not evaporated after the liquid passes through the secondary air flow channels.

Description

EVAPORATIVE HEAT EXCHANGER STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RIGHTS [0001] This invention was made with support from the U.S. government under contract number DE-EE0009683 awarded by the United States Department of Energy. The U.S. government has certain rights in this invention. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] Embodiments of the technology relate generally to an evaporative heat exchanger comprising parallel plates that are secured together with rods. BACKGROUND [0003] Evaporative heat exchangers can be used in air conditioning systems to provide cool air through the evaporation of water. The large amount of heat absorbed in the evaporation of water allows an evaporative heat exchanger to provide cool air while using significantly less energy than an air condition system that relies upon vapor compression of a refrigeration cycle. Evaporative heat exchangers are particularly well- suited to climates with relatively low humidity. [0004] Given the energy efficiency advantages evaporative heat exchangers provide, improvements associated with evaporative heat exchangers are desirable. In particular, improvements in the manufacturing and assembly of evaporative heat exchangers allowing them to be more widely used would be beneficial. SUMMARY [0005] The present disclosure relates to an evaporative heat exchanger. The evaporative heat exchanger can comprise: (i) a plurality of parallel plates with a plurality of channels disposed between the plates; and (ii) a plurality of rods joining the plurality of plates. The plurality of channels can comprise a primary air flow channels and secondary air flow channels, wherein the secondary air flow channels are arranged to receive a liquid. Each plate can have a plurality of plate apertures along the edges of the plate. The plurality of rods can pass perpendicularly through the plate apertures. At least one gasket can be placed in each channel between each pair of plates and along the edge of the plate. Each gasket can include at least one gasket aperture and a rod of the plurality of rods can pass through each gasket aperture. The plates and the gaskets can be placed on the rods in an alternating fashion to form the plurality of channels between the plates. After the plates and gaskets are placed on the rods, a fastener can be attached at the end of each rod to secure the plates and gaskets together to form the evaporative heat exchanger. [0006] Another example embodiment provides a method for assembling an evaporative heat exchanger. The method can comprise: (i) sliding a first end plate and at least one gasket onto a plurality of rods. The first end plate can have a plurality of plate apertures through which the rods slide. Similarly, the at least one gasket can have at least one gasket aperture through which the at least one of the rods slide. The method further comprises sliding a plurality of intermediate plates, each separated by at least one intermediate gasket, onto the rods. The intermediate plates can have a plurality of plate apertures through which the rods slide. Similarly, the at least one gasket between each intermediate plate can have at least one gasket aperture through which the at least one of the rods slide. The method further comprises sliding a second plate onto the rods and onto an intermediate gasket. The second plate can have a plurality of plate apertures through which the rods slide. Next, the method comprises securing a fastener onto the ends of the rods to secure the plates and gaskets together. [0007] The foregoing embodiments are non-limiting examples and other aspects and embodiments will be described herein. The foregoing summary is provided to introduce various concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify required or essential features of the claimed subject matter nor is the summary intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] The accompanying drawings illustrate only example embodiments of apparatus and methods for an evaporative heat exchanger and therefore are not to be considered limiting of the scope of this disclosure. The principles illustrated in the example embodiments of the drawings can be applied to alternate methods and apparatus Additionally, the elements and features shown in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the example embodiments. Certain dimensions or positions may be exaggerated to help visually convey such principles. In the drawings, the same reference numerals used in different embodiments designate like or corresponding, but not necessarily identical, elements. [0009] Figure 1 illustrates an evaporative heat exchanger formed with fastening rods in accordance with an example embodiment of the disclosure. [0010] Figure 2 illustrates a dry side of a rectangular plate for an evaporative heat exch