Abstract: A heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and/or refrigeration (HVAC&R) system includes a first modular central utility plant (mCUP) including a first chiller and a first free cooling heat exchanger, and a second mCUP including a second chiller and a second free cooling heat exchanger.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and/or refrigeration (HVAC&R) system includes a process fluid loop configured to receive a process fluid, an internal fluid cooling loop configured to receive a cooling fluid, an air cooled heat exchanger configured to cool the cooling fluid, a vapor compression loop configured to receive a working fluid, and a condenser configured to place the cooling fluid and the working fluid in a first heat exchange relationship. The HVAC&R system also includes a heat exchanger configured to place the cooling fluid and the process fluid in a second heat exchange relationship. The heat exchanger and the condenser are disposed in series relative to a flow of the cooling fluid through the internal fluid cooling loop. The HVAC&R system also includes a pump configured to bias the cooling fluid through the internal fluid cooling loop.

Abstract: A system includes a vapor compression assembly and a free cooling assembly. The free cooling assembly corresponds to a cooling fluid and includes an air cooled heat exchanger, an additional heat exchanger, and a valve. The system also includes a controller configured to receive data indicative of an ambient condition, an operating condition of the system, or both. The controller is also configured to actuate, based on the data, the valve between a first setting in which the cooling fluid is directed to the additional heat exchanger and blocked from a condenser of the vapor compression assembly, a second setting in which the cooling fluid is directed to the condenser and blocked from the additional heat exchanger, and a third setting in which a first portion of the cooling fluid is directed to the additional heat exchanger and a second portion of the cooling fluid is directed to the condenser.

Abstract: A thermal management system includes a heat rejection device configured to fluidly couple to a refrigeration system, a fan configured to provide an entering airflow across the heat rejection device to cool a flow of water within the heat rejection device, and a controller configured to control a speed of the fan based on at least two of (i) a relative humidity of the entering airflow, (ii) a percentage of capacity one or more components of the refrigeration system are operating at, (iii) a ratio of water to energy costs, and (iv) a ratio of a design power of a compressor of the refrigeration system to a design power of the fan to minimize a total utility operation cost of the thermal management system including (i) energy costs to operate the fan and the refrigeration system and (ii) water costs of the flow of water.

Abstract: A decentralized condenser evaporator system includes a condenser system, a controlled pressure receiver, a subcooler system, and an evaporator system. The condenser system is positioned to receive a compressed gaseous refrigerant from a centralized compressor system. The condenser system is configured to condense the compressed gaseous refrigerant into a liquid refrigerant. The controlled pressure receiver is positioned to receive and store the liquid refrigerant. The subcooler system is positioned to receive the liquid refrigerant from the controlled pressure receiver. The subcooler system is configured to sub-cool the liquid refrigerant into a sub-cooled liquid refrigerant. The evaporator system is positioned to receive the sub-cooled liquid refrigerant from the subcooler system.

Abstract: A condenser and evaporator system includes (i) a condenser system positioned to receive a gaseous refrigerant from a compressor system and configured to condense the gaseous refrigerant into a liquid refrigerant, (ii) a controlled pressure receiver (CPR) positioned to receive and store the liquid refrigerant, (iii) an evaporator system including a conduit, an expansion valve, and a fan, and (iv) a controller. The conduit is positioned to receive the liquid refrigerant from the CPR. The expansion valve is positioned between the CPR and the conduit, and configured to facilitate modulating an amount of the liquid refrigerant that flows into the conduit from the CPR. The fan is positioned to facilitate providing a cooling operation to an arca associated with the evaporator system through evaporation of the liquid refrigerant flowing through the conduit.

Abstract: A thermal management system includes a heat rejection device configured to fluidly couple to a refrigeration system, a fan configured to provide an entering airflow across the heat rejection device to cool a flow of water within the heat rejection device, and a controller configured to control a speed of the fan based on at least two of (i) a relative humidity of the entering airflow, (ii) a percentage of capacity one or more components of the refrigeration system are operating at, (iii) a ratio of water to energy costs, and (iv) a ratio of a design power of a compressor of the refrigeration system to a design power of the fan to minimize a total utility operation cost of the thermal management system including (i) energy costs to operate the fan and the refrigeration system and (ii) water costs of the flow of water.

Abstract: A condenser and evaporator system includes (i) a condenser system positioned to receive a gaseous refrigerant from a compressor system and configured to condense the gaseous refrigerant into a liquid refrigerant, (ii) a controlled pressure receiver (CPR) positioned to receive and store the liquid refrigerant, (iii) an evaporator system including a conduit, an expansion valve, and a fan, and (iv) a controller. The conduit is positioned to receive the liquid refrigerant from the CPR. The expansion valve is positioned between the CPR and the conduit, and configured to facilitate modulating an amount of the liquid refrigerant that flows into the conduit from the CPR. The fan is positioned to facilitate providing a cooling operation to an area associated with the evaporator system through evaporation of the liquid refrigerant flowing through the conduit. The controller is configured to control a stage of the condenser system and/or the evaporator system.

Abstract: A decentralized condenser evaporator system includes (i) a condenser system positioned to receive a gaseous refrigerant from a centralized compressor system and configured to condense the gaseous refrigerant into a liquid refrigerant, (ii) a controlled pressure receiver positioned to receive and store the liquid refrigerant, (iii) an evaporator system including a conduit, an expansion valve, and a fan, and (iv) a controller. The conduit is positioned to receive the liquid refrigerant from the controlled pressure receiver. The expansion device is positioned between the controlled pressure receiver and the conduit, and configured to facilitate modulating an amount of the liquid refrigerant that flows into the conduit from the controlled pressure receiver. The fan is positioned to facilitate providing a cooling operation to an area associated with the evaporator system through evaporation of the liquid refrigerant flowing through the conduit.

Abstract: A decentralized condenser evaporator system includes a condenser system, a controlled pressure receiver, a subcooler system, and an evaporator system. The condenser system is positioned to receive a compressed gaseous refrigerant from a centralized compressor system. The condenser system is configured to condense the compressed gaseous refrigerant into a liquid refrigerant. The controlled pressure receiver is positioned to receive and store the liquid refrigerant. The subcooler system is positioned to receive the liquid refrigerant from the controlled pressure receiver. The subcooler system is configured to sub-cool the liquid refrigerant into a sub-cooled liquid refrigerant. The evaporator system is positioned to receive the sub-cooled liquid refrigerant from the subcooler system.

Abstract: A decentralized condenser evaporator system includes (i) a condenser system positioned to receive a gaseous refrigerant from a centralized compressor system and configured to condense the gaseous refrigerant into a liquid refrigerant, (ii) a controlled pressure receiver positioned to receive and store the liquid refrigerant, (iii) an evaporator system including a conduit, an expansion valve, and a fan, and (iv) a controller. The conduit is positioned to receive the liquid refrigerant from the controlled pressure receiver. The expansion device is positioned between the controlled pressure receiver and the conduit, and configured to facilitate modulating an amount of the liquid refrigerant that flows into the conduit from the controlled pressure receiver. The fan is positioned to facilitate providing a cooling operation to an area associated with the evaporator system through evaporation of the liquid refrigerant flowing through the conduit.

Abstract: A cooling tower or, in alternate operation an evaporative condenser, is provided having a dry sensible or indirect heat exchange section and an evaporative heat exchange section. The dry sensible section includes a coil circuit through which a liquid to be cooled passes. The evaporative section is below the dry sensible section and may include a coil circuit or fill sheets. Modulating louvers are provided to allow the air flow and accordingly the evaporative loading to be varied between the dry sensible section and the evaporative section.

Abstract: A cooling tower or, in alternate operation an evaporative condenser, is provided having a dry sensible or indirect heat exchange section and an evaporative heat exchange section. The dry sensible section includes a coil circuit through which a liquid to be cooled passes. The evaporative section is below the dry sensible section and may include a coil circuit or fill sheets. Modulating louvers are provided to allow the air flow and accordingly the evaporative loading to be varied between the dry sensible section and the evaporative section.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for cooling fluids entering a closed circuit cooling tower. A triple circuit assembly is used to cool the fluid in the closed loop. The triple circuit assembly design allows a heat transfer tube bundle to maintain a relatively low pressure drop, but without simultaneously lowering thermal performance to a significant degree as compared to traditional double serpentine or QUAD serpentine designs.

Abstract: A method of controlling the operation of a heat exchanger with evaporative and non-evaporative sections. The method includes the following steps: providing desired values of temperature or pressure; comparing present values of temperature or pressure to the desired values of temperature and pressure; and manipulating an air flowrate to the heat exchanger and load to the evaporative heat exchanger to optimize total energy and water costs while maintaining an outlet fluid at the desired temperature or pressure.

Abstract: The heat exchange apparatus and method is provided with an indirect evaporative heat exchange section and a direct evaporative heat exchange section. An evaporative liquid is sprayed downwardly into the direct evaporative section to directly exchange heat from the evaporative liquid flowing across fill sheets. The evaporative liquid is then collected in a re-spray tray. The collected evaporative liquid is then sprayed onto an indirect evaporative heat exchange section to indirectly exchange sensible heat from a fluid stream flowing within a series of enclosed circuits comprising the indirect evaporative heat exchange section.

Abstract: An assembly for connecting two adjacent liquid collection basins is provided. The assembly includes a flume for connecting a first liquid collection basin to a second liquid collection basin. The flume comprises a generally rectangular structure having a top section, bottom section and two side sections, with an inward flange along one side of the flume and an outward flange along an opposite side of the flume. The flume is inserted through an opening in a wall of the first collection basin, through an opening in the wall of the second collection basin and affixed to each wall, in some embodiments with the use of a support frame.

Abstract: An assembly for connecting two adjacent liquid collection basins is provided. The assembly includes a flume for connecting a first liquid collection basin to a second liquid collection basin. The flume comprises a generally rectangular structure having a top section, bottom section and two side sections, with an inward flange along one side of the flume and an outward flange along an opposite side of the flume. The flume is inserted through an opening in a wall of the first collection basin, through an opening in the wall of the second collection basin and affixed to each wall, in some embodiments with the use of a support frame.

Abstract: A heat exchanger coil assembly is made up of arrays of substantially equally spaced apart serpentine circuits located in the coil assembly region of the conduit, with adjacent circuits being arranged in a parallel offset fashion in which adjacent return bends are overlapping. The tubes have an effective diameter of D. Depression areas are provided at the points of overlap to locally reduce the diameter at the overlap. This provides a circuit-to-circuit with a density D/S>1.0, preferably greater than 1.02, where S is the spacing between adjacent circuits and D is the effective diameter of the tubes.

Abstract: A distribution apparatus for a cooling tower has a source of liquid communicated to a plurality of branches extending from the source of liquid for transfer of a liquid to a cooling tower arrangement, where the branches are provided with a plurality of generally laterally extending protuberances providing a calming region from a generally turbulent liquid flow to produce a relatively quiescent region above a port and nozzle for stable fluid flow to a nozzle and a better controlled flow to the tower media.