Cooling method and apparatus

• US 8,359,875 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2009
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Evaporcool Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Value Added, LLC
• Inventors: Earles, Rick, Beinor, Susan Ann, Cook, Gregory Steven, Flagg, Arthur Joseph, Marini, Mark Thomas, Matracea, Pat
• Primary Examiner(s): NORMAN, MARC E
• Application Number:
  US12/427,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20090308090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,379 Days
• Field of Search: 621/21, 621/71, 621/81, 621/83, 622/594, 623/04
• US Class Current: 62/171
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/10 Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, using filter plates, sheets or pads having plane surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/4263 Means for active heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2339/041 of evaporative condensers
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/02 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/151 of the compressor motor
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21163 of the refrigerant at the outlet of the condenser
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/003 for cooling refrigerating machinery
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/14 Sensors measuring the temperature outside the refrigerator or freezer
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/00 Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into or through the conduit walls ; Heat-exchange apparatus employing intermediate heat-transfer medium or bodies F28D17/00, F28D19/00, F28D20/00 take precedence

Abstract

An apparatus and method to cool compressors, condensing coils, and similar devices. The compressor or condensing coil is cooled by the delivery of water, which may be ambient temperature or chilled. In one embodiment, the water is delivered to a mesh filter or screen via one or more mist spray nozzles. Water conduits may be integrated with the filter frame. The method to control the delivery of the water is designed to conserve water. The control circuit comprises a microcontroller device which contains programming that receives inputs, including but not limited to, outside ambient air temperature, condenser liquid line temperature, relative humidity and electric current, and uses said inputs to provide a stepwise level of control (“solenoid open time”) of water delivery commensurate with outside air temperature and relative humidity.

Claims

1. A frame assembly for a cooling system located within an air stream, comprising:

a filter frame with sides and an open center;

a fine screen mesh affixed to the sides of the filter frame and extending across the open center;

one or more nozzles positioned on the sides of filter frame for delivering water to said screen mesh;

one or more conduits integrated within the sides of the filter frame for delivering water to said nozzles; and

means to control water flow.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the nozzles or nozzles spray water onto the upstream side of the screen mesh.

3. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a screen frame removably attached to the filter frame, said screen frame interposed in the air stream upstream from the filter frame.

4. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising means for attaching the back of the frame assembly to a cooling or compressor unit.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the attaching means comprises one or more magnets.

6. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a sealing gasket located between the back of the frame assembly and the cooling or compressor unit.

7. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a containment tray located on the bottom of the assembly.

8. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising one or more water inlets providing access to the water conduits.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said means to control water flow comprises an electronic control unit.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein said electronic control unit comprises a microprocessor, said microprocessor controlling water delivery based on ambient air temperature, relative humidity, condenser discharge line temperature, and compressor running status.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the ambient air temperature input is received from an ambient air temperature sensor.

12. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the relative humidity input is received from a relative humidity sensor.

13. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the compressor running status input is received from an electrical sensor detecting electrical current.

14. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the condenser discharge line temperature input is received from a temperature sensor attached to the condenser discharge line.

15. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the electronic control unit controls water delivery by opening a water solenoid valve for a period of time, or sequential periods of time, provided certain input conditions are met.

16. The assembly of claim 15, where the number of periods, and the duration of periods, may vary.