Abstract: A device for extracting water vapour from a fluid stream includes a carrier structure, a substrate of fibrous material provided on the carrier structure, the fibrous material including a plurality of individual fibres, a quantity of an LCST polymer coating the individual fibres; and a heating provision arranged to selectively heat the LCST polymer to above its lower critical temperature whereby water absorbed by the fibres can be subsequently released on heating. By providing the LCST polymer as a coating onto the fibres, an increased surface area may be achieved.

Abstract: A two stage evaporative cooling device has a central chamber, divided into an upper chamber and a lower chamber by a divider. one or more heat exchange units surrounding the central chamber; an upper fan arranged above the upper chamber and a lower fan arranged below the lower chamber; and a water circuit; wherein each heat exchange unit comprises an evaporative cooling element and an air to water pre-cooler, the pre-cooler being placed ahead of a lower portion of the cooling element and the water circuit is arranged to irrigate the cooling element and collect the irrigated water below the cooling element for delivery to the pre-cooler whereby pre-cooled air may be drawn inwardly through the pre-cooler and the lower part of the cooling element by the lower fan and ambient air may be drawn inwardly through the upper part of the cooling element by the upper fan.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for extracting water from a fluid medium. The water extracting device comprises a primary channel and a quantity of a light-activated, stimulus responsive polymer (SRP) supported on a carrier within the primary channel. The SRP is capable of absorbing a quantity of water from the medium in a first state and releasing the water in a second state and vice versa. An illumination arrangement allows selective exposure of the SRP within the primary channel to electromagnetic radiation to switch the SRP between the first state and the second state whereby water absorbed by the SRP is released. Also disclosed is a method and device for conducting heat from the primary channel to a secondary channel, adjacent to and in heat conducting relation with the primary channel.

Abstract: A two stage evaporative cooling device has a central chamber, divided into an upper chamber and a lower chamber by a divider. one or more heat exchange units surrounding the central chamber; an upper fan arranged above the upper chamber and a lower fan arranged below the lower chamber; and a water circuit; wherein each heat exchange unit comprises an evaporative cooling element and an air to water pre-cooler, the pre-cooler being placed ahead of a lower portion of the cooling element and the water circuit is arranged to irrigate the cooling element and collect the irrigated water below the cooling element for delivery to the pre-cooler whereby pre-cooled air may be drawn inwardly through the pre-cooler and the lower part of the cooling element by the lower fan and ambient air may be drawn inwardly through the upper part of the cooling element by the upper fan.

Abstract: A evaporative cooling device is described having a pair of heat conducting plates arranged in spaced, generally parallel relationship with spacing elements separating the plates from one another and defining primary and secondary flow channels between the plates. Inlet ducts are connected to the primary channels and outlet ducts connect from the primary and secondary channels. A water distribution system is also provided to supply water to the secondary channels such that a primary air flow through the primary channels may be cooled by heat conduction along the plates to cause evaporation of the water into a secondary air flow through the secondary channels.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for extracting water from a fluid medium. The water extracting device comprises a primary channel and a quantity of a light-activated, stimulus responsive polymer (SRP) supported on a carrier within the primary channel. The SRP is capable of absorbing a quantity of water from the medium in a first state and releasing the water in a second state and vice versa. An illumination arrangement allows selective exposure of the SRP within the primary channel to electromagnetic radiation to switch the SRP between the first state and the second state whereby water absorbed by the SRP is released. Also disclosed is a method and device for conducting heat from the primary channel to a secondary channel, adjacent to and in heat conducting relation with the primary channel.

Abstract: A evaporative cooling device is described having a pair of heat conducting plates arranged in spaced, generally parallel relationship with spacing elements separating the plates from one another and defining primary and secondary flow channels between the plates. Inlet ducts are connected to the primary channels and outlet ducts connect from the primary and secondary channels. A water distribution system is also provided to supply water to the secondary channels such that a primary air flow through the primary channels may be cooled by heat conduction along the plates to cause evaporation of the water into a secondary air flow through the secondary channels.

Abstract: A heat exchanger (20) comprising: a pair of generally planar, heat conducting plates (10) arranged in spaced, generally parallel relationship; spacing elements (22) separating the plates (10) from one another and defining first (26) and second (28) flow channels between the plates (10) for flow in a first direction and a second direction respectively; wherein the plates (10) in at least the first channel (26) are divided into fins (14), the fins being separated from each other in the first direction and being offset from the plate (10) perpendicular to the first direction to a plurality of offset positions.

Abstract: A heat exchange matrix includes a plurality of generally planar foils including a water retaining material, arranged in spaced, substantially parallel relationship. Each foil defines a main plane having a flow direction and a transverse direction and the foils include strips that extend a strip length in the transverse direction and are separated from each neighboring strip in the flow direction and each strip is offset from the main plane by a distance that is different from that of its neighbor. The matrix may be provided in a flow channel for air to be humidified and cooled.

Abstract: A heat exchange matrix includes a plurality of generally planar foils including a water retaining material, arranged in spaced, substantially parallel relationship. Each foil defines a main plane having a flow direction and a transverse direction and the foils include strips that extend a strip length in the transverse direction and are separated from each neighbouring strip in the flow direction and each strip is offset from the main plane by a distance that is different from that of its neighbour. The matrix may be provided in a flow channel for air to be humidified and cooled.

Abstract: A heat exchange system for supplying air to a habitable space at a desired output condition includes a continuously variable mechanical cooler, an indirect evaporative cooler, an adiabatic cooler and a controller arranged to selectively supplement a cooling capacity of the indirect evaporative cooler, with a variable amount of cooling from the mechanical cooler in order to reach the desired output condition.

Abstract: A heat exchanger comprising two sets of medium through-flow channels through which two media can flow in heat-exchanging contact. Walls separating the channels are provided with heat conducting fins arranged on both sides of each wall, wherein a fin on the one side of a wall is in thermal contact with a similar fin on the other side of this wall.

Abstract: A heat exchange laminate comprises a formable carrier layer at least partially covered with a flexible liquid retaining layer having an open structure. By forming such a laminate of two layers, desired properties such as the spatial distribution of the liquid retaining layer, can be imparted to the heat exchange laminate prior to forming. The laminate may then be conveniently formed into any desired shape by known manufacturing procedures for incorporation into a heat exchanger. The laminate may be used to cool a first fluid by evaporation of a liquid into a second fluid operating at or near its saturation point.

Abstract: An evaporative heat exchanger is provided with a working channel that has primary and secondary surfaces and a plurality of product channels. The product channels have primary and secondary surfaces. A liquid supply provides an evaporative liquid to the secondary surfaces. A product fluid may circulate through the product channels in heat exchanging contact with the primary surfaces thereof. The primary surface of the working channel is in flow communication with the secondary surfaces of both the working channel and the product channels such that a working fluid may flow first over a primary surface of the working channel and subsequently over the secondary surfaces where it absorbs liquid by evaporation.

Abstract: A heat exchanger (20) comprising: a pair of generally planar, heat conducting plates (10) arranged in spaced, generally parallel relationship; spacing elements (22) separating the plates (10) from one another and defining first (26) and second (28) flow channels between the plates (10) for flow in a first direction and a second direction respectively; wherein the plates (10) in at least the first channel (26) are divided into fins (14), the fins being separated from each other in the first direction and being offset from the plate (10) perpendicular to the first direction to a plurality of offset positions.

Abstract: A heat exchange system for supplying air to a habitable space at a desired output condition includes a continuously variable mechanical cooler, an indirect evaporative cooler, an adiabatic cooler and a controller arranged to selectively supplement a cooling capacity of the indirect evaporative cooler, with a variable amount of cooling from the mechanical cooler in order to reach the desired output condition.

Abstract: A dewpoint cooler comprises: two medium circuits coupled mutually via a heat-conducting wall, through which circuits two media can flow, wherein the second medium contains gas, which wall has heat-conducting protrusions; wherein the wall and the protrusions are covered with a hydrophilic coating which can absorb an evaporable liquid and relinquish it again through evaporation such that the wetted coating, and thereby also the heath-conducting surfaces and the protrusions, are cooled; a wetting unit for subjecting the secondary medium to wetting by the evaporable liquid by evaporating liquid from the coating such that the evaporated liquid entrained by the secondary medium extracts heat from the primary medium via the heath-conducting wall. The coating consists of a porous technical ceramic material, such as a mineral wool.

Abstract: A heat exchanger comprising two sets of medium through-flow channels through which two media can flow in heat-exchanging contact. Walls separating the channels are provided with heat conducting fins arranged on both sides of each wall, wherein a fin on the one side of a wall is in thermal contact with a similar fin on the other side of this wall.

Abstract: The invention relates to an evaporative cooler having two medium circuits which are thermally coupled to one another by a number of heat-conducting vertical walls. These walls and the heat-conducting fins arranged thereon are provided with a hydrophilic, water-buffering covering layer, for example made from Portland cement. A humidification unit for moistening the covering layer is added to the dew point cooler. According to the invention, the humidification unit comprises a releasable cover which forms part of the casing of the dew point cooler and bears at least one sprinkler or nozzle for distributing water over the covering layer.

Abstract: A dewpoint cooler comprises: two medium circuits coupled mutually via a heat-conducting wall, through which circuits two media can flow, wherein the second medium contains gas, which wall has heat-conducting protrusions; wherein the wall and the protrusions are covered with a hydrophilic coating which can absorb an evaporable liquid and relinquish it again through evaporation such that the wetted coating, and thereby also the heath-conducting surfaces and the protrusions, are cooled; a wetting unit for subjecting the secondary medium to wetting by the evaporable liquid by evaporating liquid from the coating such that the evaporated liquid entrained by the secondary medium extracts heat from the primary medium via the heath-conducting wall. The coating consists of a porous technical ceramic material, such as a mineral wool.