Gas-liquid Contact Cooler, Fluid Flow Patents (Class 62/171)
  • Patent number: 6823684
    Abstract: A system and method for cooling air includes using a refrigerant cooling system and further using a refrigerant liquefaction subsystem or method that includes using a heat sink cooler (“pre-cooler”) to cool the heat sink coolant before it is used to cool the refrigerant in the condenser. One aspect of the refrigerant liquefaction subsystem may use a water mist, which may be prepared by atomizers, high pressure nozzles, piezo-electric ultrasonic nebulizers, or the like, to cool the heat sink coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Inventor: Tim Allan Nygaard Jensen
  • Patent number: 6820439
    Abstract: A system for cooling a structure exposed to solar radiation. The system includes a polymeric sheet covering one or more exterior surfaces of the structure. A water dispensing means associated with the sheet provides a flow of water across the sheet to wet the sheet, allowing evaporative cooling to take place. The color and construction of the sheet also provide for insulation against ambient heat and reflection of some solar energy. A sensor detecting an environmental condition, such as roof temperature or sheet wetting, may activate water flow by actuating a valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Inventor: Raymond G. Marek
  • Patent number: 6817209
    Abstract: A fluid cooled air conditioning system for effectively cooling a continuous flow of return air to a desired temperature. The fluid cooled air conditioning system includes a first valve fluidly connected to a chilled fluid supply, a main cooling unit connected to the first valve, a second valve connected to the main cooling unit and a chilled fluid return, and a precooling unit connected to the second valve. During normal cooling requirements, the second valve diverts the chilled fluid to the chilled fluid return instead of the precooling unit. However, during high cooling requirements, the second valve allows the chilled fluid to pass through the precooling unit for precooling the return air prior to entering the main cooling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Inventor: Gordon A. Tiner
  • Patent number: 6817196
    Abstract: A cooling system for cooling one or more components that produce heat. The cooling system includes sprayers configured to spray cooling fluid toward the components. A detection system includes a radiation source and a radiation sensor that pass radiant energy in the vicinity of the component such that the radiant energy is affected by passing through the vaporizing spray coolant. A controller controls the flow rates of the sprayers in response to levels of radiant energy detected by the radiation sensor, allowing the controller to more accurately control the wall temperature and cooling regime achieved by the spray cooling. The source and sensor are aimable or otherwise configured for gathering information for different thermal zones of the component, providing the controller with information that is helpful in separately controlling the wall temperature and/or cooling regime in each zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Christopher G. Malone, Cullen E. Bash, Chandrakant D. Patel
  • Publication number: 20040221601
    Abstract: An evaporative cooling method using an array of evaporative coolers and operation of this array of evaporative coolers at a low fan setting as disclosed. Also disclosed is the location of this array of evaporative coolers in such a manner as to create an optimal cooling effect within the interior of a building or home. Additionally, an apparatus is disclosed for supporting and arranging cooling devices along the outer wall of a home that bridges the gap in cut 2×4s while sustaining the weight of the evaporative cooler or the air conditioner placed upon it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventor: Kevin M. Geary
  • Patent number: 6796136
    Abstract: An evaporative cooling apparatus is provided that may be quickly deployed to cool an area. The apparatus is preferably self-contained or substantially self-contained. The apparatus can be either a dedicated trailer with a conventional draft vehicle or a vehicle itself or a permanently dedicated apparatus. The apparatus creates an evaporatively cooled volume of air with fine entrained water droplets suspended therein. The apparatus transfers the cooling suspension to an area to be cooled proximate the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Inventors: Marcus Ray Sullivan, Gary Alan Hogue
  • Publication number: 20040144110
    Abstract: An evaporative cooling system for evaporatively cooling poultry houses, livestock houses and/or botanical structures, wherein the evaporative cooling system is capable of continually maintaining a sufficient supply of water within a reservoir and trough system, thus eliminating the occurrence of pump deactivation typically associated with low water level conditions, and promoting a more uniform distribution and quantity of water over the cooling pads of the evaporative cooling system for a more efficient and sustained cooling process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventors: Hazel Dickerson Reeves, Wayne Reeves, Harold Wayne Reeves, Benjamin Keith Wiggins, Shawn Edwards
  • Patent number: 6766651
    Abstract: A user-programmable monitoring and dispensing system for controlling the dispensing of water vapor and various other media into an HVAC air stream in residential or commercial structures. The various media to be dispensed are preferably water-soluble, and mixed with the system water supply to be dispensed with the water vapor added to the HVAC air stream. These materials may be fragrances or aromas, intended to produce an aesthetic effect, or they can be agents capable of pesticidal, bacteriacidal, fungicidal or sporacidal effect for use as acute or prophylactic treatment for infestation. The dispensing system central processor is pre-programmed with a default concentration algorithm for each media to be dispensed. The concentration of media in aqueous solution is initially controlled by this default algorithm at each of several concentration levels, from lowest to highest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Inventor: Scott Dillenback
  • Patent number: 6705096
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for indirect evaporative cooling of a fluid stream to substantially its dew point temperature. Plate heat exchanger has perforations (11) and channels (3, 4 and 5) for gas on a dry side and wet side. There is a trough formed in a portion of the plate that temporarily holds evaporative fluid which is in contact with the wick material on the wet side surface of the plate. The evaporative fluid flows through the trough by way of liquid perforations into the next trough. The trough of a plate with a wet side up, the liquid perforations are on the side creating a reservoir to wet the opposing wick materials. As streams flow across the dry side (9), transferring heat to the plate. Working gas stream (2) flows across the dry side and through perforations to channels (5) on wet side (10), which it then cools by evaporative cooling as well as conductive and radiative transfer of heat from plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Idalex Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Valeriy Maisotsenko, Timothy L. Heaton, Alan D. Gillan, Leland E. Gillan
  • Patent number: 6681584
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for efficiently using various components in combination as a system for cooling and cleaning air. The apparatus uses the combination of an evaporative cooler with a water reservoir and a refrigerated air system with a water-cooled condenser. A pump or series of pumps are used to supply water to the evaporative cooler and to the water-cooled condenser from the water reservoir. A mechanism for controlling the hardness of supplied water may also be included. After the reservoir water has been supplied to the other components in the system, it is returned to the water reservoir. During less humid Summer conditions, the output air from the evaporative cooler is supplied to a series of ducts and is used to cool the interior of a structure such as a home.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Inventor: Leo B. Conner
  • Patent number: 6672086
    Abstract: A frosting cooler creates and maintains frost on cold products, such as bottles of a beverage stored in the cooler, thereby to provide a visual manifestation of the cold condition of the beverage. The cooler has the ability to deliver moisture to the products within the cooler so that frosting may be produced in environments where there is low humidity in the ambient air without freezing the liquid contained by the bottle. The cooler is operated to control to protect the frost on the products, once formed. In addition, the cooler is controlled to prevent frost build up on an evaporator and fan of the cooler in the presence of the additional moisture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Hussmann Corporation
    Inventors: Jony M. Zangari, Eduardo Nicolai, Marco Antonio Tadeu Ribeiro, Graziela Bertoni, André Elio Rohloff
  • Patent number: 6666038
    Abstract: An air conditioning system may include an indoor heat exchanger to be positioned within a building including a refrigerant for exchanging heat with air inside the building, and a outdoor unit to be positioned outside of the building. The outdoor unit may include a housing and an outdoor heat exchanger carried by the housing. The outdoor heat exchanger may be connected in fluid communication with the indoor heat exchanger for exchanging heat between air outside the building and the refrigerant, which may be circulated by a compressor. The system may also include a liquid washdown dispenser carried by the housing adjacent the outdoor heat exchanger. In particular, the liquid washdown dispenser may be connected to a liquid dispensing source for dispensing liquid (e.g., fresh water) to wash down the outdoor heat exchanger. A controller may also be included for controlling liquid flow to the liquid washdown dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Inventor: Richard A. Hynes
  • Patent number: 6658872
    Abstract: A must system for use in conjunction with a normally air cooled air conditioner condenser. The mist system provides cooling water to the coils and fins of the condenser to improve efficiency. Misting is normally off but comes on in response to pressure in the high pressure supply line from the condenser rising above a pre-set head pressure level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Dennis James
  • Patent number: 6655162
    Abstract: An auxiliary watering system and methods for lowering the temperature of an ambient air supply to an air-conditioning unit that is controlled solely by an acoustic signal from the air-conditioning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Inventor: Michael C. McKee
  • Publication number: 20030213253
    Abstract: A mist system for use in conjunction with a normally air cooled air conditioner condenser. The mist system provides cooling water to the coils and fins of the condenser to improve efficiency. Misting is normally off but comes on in response to pressure in the high pressure supply line from the condenser rising above a pre-set head pressure level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventor: Dennis James
  • Publication number: 20030177774
    Abstract: A cooling system for cooling one or more components that produce heat. The cooling system includes sprayers configured to spray cooling fluid toward the components. A detection system includes a radiation source and a radiation sensor that pass radiant energy in the vicinity of the component such that the radiant energy is affected by passing through the vaporizing spray coolant. A controller controls the flow rates of the sprayers in response to levels of radiant energy detected by the radiation sensor, allowing the controller to more accurately control the wall temperature and cooling regime achieved by the spray cooling. The source and sensor are aimable or otherwise configured for gathering information for different thermal zones of the component, providing the controller with information that is helpful in separately controlling the wall temperature and/or cooling regime in each zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Christopher G. Malone, Cullen E. Bash, Chandrakant D. Patel
  • Patent number: 6619059
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cooling an air conditioning system's condensing coils utilizing air filter pad made of glass fibers with self contained, perforated water capillary tubes allowing moisture to permeate the filter pad. The filter dads are connectable in series and provided with integral mounting strips for fixed or magnetic, internal or external attachment to the condensing unit. Special adaptive solenoids are also provided to allow for minimum flow of water over long periods of time. Dual sensors are provided connected to both the high and low side of the compressor for sensing compressor temperature status and switching the solenoid on and off, thereby preventing freezing. A unique method for applying chilled water to the capillary tubes by coiling the capillary tube around the suction line of the compressor is utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Inventor: Tommy A. Johnson, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6612120
    Abstract: A semiconductor chip cooling system configured with thermal inkjet type sprayers controlled by a control system. The control system can operate groups of the sprayers at different rates to controllably cool separate regions of a chip at different rates. A detection system is configured to separately detect the cooling regime occurring on the different regions of the chip by reflecting an optical beam off the chip in the region that is being sprayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Chandrakant D. Patel, Cullen E. Bash
  • Publication number: 20030150226
    Abstract: A system and method for cooling air includes using a refrigerant cooling system and further using a refrigerant liquefaction subsystem or method that includes using a heat sink cooler (“pre-cooler”) to cool the heat sink coolant before it is used to cool the refrigerant in the condenser. One aspect of the refrigerant liquefaction subsystem may use a water mist, which may be prepared by atomizers, high pressure nozzles, piezo-electric ultrasonic nebulizers, or the like, to cool the heat sink coolant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventor: Tim Allan Nygaard Jensen
  • Patent number: 6604370
    Abstract: A modular semiconductor chip cooling system having a readily openable enclosure defining a chamber configured to hold a printed circuit board carrying components to be cooled. The enclosure can include a reservoir, a condenser and a pump. Sprayers within the chamber are set in an array to spray a target area, and a controller controls which sprayers are activated based on information delineating the locations of the components to be cooled. The enclosure can be readily removed from a computer system through a quick release connection. The computer system can include a condenser and pump to operate all its modular cooling systems, removing the condensing function from the individual modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Cullen E. Bash, Chandrakant D. Patel
  • Publication number: 20030145609
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for indirect evaporative cooling of a fluid stream to substantially its dew point temperature. Plate heat exchanger has perforations (11) and channels (3, 4 and 5) for gas on a dry side and wet side. There is a trough formed in a portion of the plate that temporarily holds evaporative fluid which is in contact with the wick material on the wet side surface of the plate. The evaporative fluid flows through the trough by way of liquid perforations into the next trough. The trough of a plate with a wet side up, the liquid perforations are on the side creating a reservoir to wet the opposing wick materials. As streams flow across the dry side (9), transferring heat to the plate. Working gas stream (2) flows across the dry side and through perforations to channels (5) on wet side (10), which it then cools by evaporative cooling as well as conductive and radiative transfer of heat from plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventors: Valeriy Maisotsenko, Timothy L. Heaton, Alan D. Gillan, Leland E. Gillan
  • Patent number: 6595014
    Abstract: A cooling system for cooling one or more components that produce heat. The cooling system includes sprayers configured to spray cooling fluid toward the components. A detection system includes a radiation source and a radiation sensor that pass radiant energy in the vicinity of the component such that the radiant energy is affected by passing through the vaporizing spray coolant. A controller controls the flow rates of the sprayers in response to levels of radiant energy detected by the radiation sensor, allowing the controller to more accurately control the wall temperature and cooling regime achieved by the spray cooling. The source and sensor are aimable or otherwise configured for gathering information for different thermal zones of the component, providing the controller with information that is helpful in separately controlling the wall temperature and/or cooling regime in each zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Christopher G. Malone, Cullen E. Bash, Chandrakant D. Patel
  • Publication number: 20030126876
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for providing enhanced indirect evaporative cooling of air, water, fuel, or other fluids while controlling the humidity. The design makes cooling down to the dew point possible without energy input other than the energy to produce the fluid flow needed. The design makes use of stacked composite plates (7) with channels (1, 2) for fluid flow between adjacent plates. On opposing surface areas of these plates, there are wet areas (4) or dry areas (3). The wet areas (4) provide cooling by conventional evaporation which is in turn used to cool the fluids in contact with the dry areas (3). The benefit is controlled heat transfer, which allows selected cooling of fluid flow such that the temperature as low as dew point are reachable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventors: Valeriy Maisotsenko, Leland E Gillan, Timothy L Heaton, Alan D Gillan
  • Publication number: 20030121273
    Abstract: An auxiliary watering system and methods for lowering the temperature of an ambient air supply to an air-conditioning unit that is controlled solely by an acoustic signal from the air-conditioning unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventor: Michael C. McKee
  • Patent number: 6584789
    Abstract: A vehicular cooling system and a related method are disclosed as including a heat-source heat radiator 11 for cyclically supplying coolant water to a heat source 1 for cooling the same, and a moistening-water-condenser heat radiator 19 for cyclically supplying coolant water to and cooling a moistening-water recapturing condenser 5 which condenses and recaptures water from exhaust gases of the fuel cell 1 for moistening the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takayuki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6574975
    Abstract: A dual evaporative pre-cooling system is installed packaged air conditioning units. The dual evaporative pre-cooling system includes an evaporative media disposed in a housing through which incoming condenser air flows. A water distribution device is disposed above the evaporative media. A sump and a pump are located below the evaporative media to recirculate water through the water distribution device and a ventilation air pre-cooling coil. A plurality of pipes connect, and allow circulation of, a water source discharged from the pump through the ventilation air pre-cooling coil, and to the water distribution device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Davis Energy Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Bourne, Marshall B. Hunt
  • Patent number: 6553777
    Abstract: A user-programmable monitoring and dispensing system for controlling the dispensing of water vapor and various other media into an HVAC air stream in residential or commercial structures. The various media to be dispensed are preferably water-soluble, and mixed with the system water supply to be dispensed with the water vapor added to the HVAC air stream. These materials may be fragrances or aromas, intended to produce an aesthetic effect, or they can be agents capable of pesticidal, bacteriacidal, fungicidal or sporacidal effect for use as acute or prophylactic treatment for infestation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Inventor: Scott J. Dillenback
  • Patent number: 6546743
    Abstract: A mobile cooling apparatus is provided that may be quickly deployed to cool an area. The apparatus is preferably self-contained or substantially self-contained. The apparatus can be either a dedicated trailer with a conventional draft vehicle or a vehicle itself. The apparatus creates an evaporatively cooled volume of air with fine entrained water droplets suspended therein. The apparatus transfers the cooling suspension to an area to be cooled proximate the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Inventors: Marcus Ray Sullivan, Gary Alan Hogue
  • Patent number: 6546744
    Abstract: Disclosed is a recreational vehicle having an attached refrigeration unit including heat-dissipating coils and heat-collecting coils. An evaporative cooler disposed adjacent the condenser is capable of pre-cooling air to the heat-dissipating coils, and a thermostat control assembly is capable of sensing ambient temperature and activating the evaporative cooler when the ambient temperature reaches a threshold ambient temperature providing pre-cooled air to the heat-dissipating coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Inventor: Billy Cavender
  • Publication number: 20030041604
    Abstract: Device for enhancing efficiency of air-conditioner, including a water reservoir, a water level sensor, a controller and a water-injecting section. The water reservoir receives the condensed water produced from the water exhaust of the vaporizer of the air-conditioner. The water level sensor is disposed in the reservoir for real-time sending water level signal to the controller for judging whether water should get into the water reservoir or discharge therefrom. The controller is able to detect the operation state of the compressor of the air-conditioner to activate the water-injecting section to inject water onto the heat-radiator at proper time so as to continuously decrease temperature of the heat-radiator and the air therearound and enhance efficiency of the air-conditioner and avoid load loss due to high temperature of the components of the air-conditioner after long period of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventor: Ching-Shiang Jang
  • Publication number: 20030033822
    Abstract: A frosting cooler creates and maintains frost on cold products, such as bottles of a beverage stored in the cooler, thereby to provide a visual manifestation of the cold condition of the beverage. The cooler has the ability to deliver moisture to the products within the cooler so that frosting may be produced in environments where there is low humidity in the ambient air without freezing the liquid contained by the bottle. The cooler is operated to control to protect the frost on the products, once formed. In addition, the cooler is controlled to prevent frost build up on an evaporator and fan of the cooler in the presence of the additional moisture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Applicant: Hussmann Corporation
    Inventors: Jony M. Zangari, Eduardo Nicolai, Marco Antonia Tadeu Ribeiro, Graziela Bertoni, Andre Elio Rohloff
  • Publication number: 20020184901
    Abstract: A vehicular cooling system and a related method are disclosed as including a heat-source heat radiator 11 for cyclically supplying coolant water to a heat source 1 for cooling the same, and a moistening-water-condenser heat radiator 19 for cyclically supplying coolant water to and cooling a moistening-water recapturing condenser 5 which condenses and recaptures water from exhaust gases of the fuel cell 1 for moistening the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takayuki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6484521
    Abstract: A semiconductor chip cooling system configured with thermal inkjet type sprayers controlled by a control system. The control system can operate groups of the sprayers at different rates to controllably cool separate regions of a chip at different rates. A detection system is configured to separately detect the cooling regime occurring on the different regions of the chip by reflecting an optical beam off the chip in the region that is being sprayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Chandrakant D. Patel, Cullen E. Bash
  • Publication number: 20020162349
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus for chilling food product, employing
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventors: Gary D. Lang, Robert J. Chamberlain
  • Patent number: 6467539
    Abstract: Cooling equipment, which may be connected to the water discharge from a working or operating machine with a water (20/20′) cooling circuit (2) to make the water re-circulate once cooled (24), characterized in that the cooling equipment comprises: at least one cooling tower (21-21′) with an extended surface for wetting and evaporation; at least one air flow generator device (3-31) for easing the evaporation; at least one closed cycle frigorific circuit (1) whose condenser (12) is placed downstream (12′) of the cooling tower (21-21′) with respect to the air flow (3-31) and whose evaporator (14) is placed downstream of the water cooling circuit (2) for exchanging heat with the cooled water (22) in the cooling tower (2-21′) for then making the water re-circulate in the operating machine (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Enrico Medessi
  • Publication number: 20020116937
    Abstract: A user-programmable monitoring and dispensing system for controlling the dispensing of water vapor and various other media into an HVAC air stream in residential or commercial structures. The various media to be dispensed are preferably water-soluble, and mixed with the system water supply to be dispensed with the water vapor added to the HVAC air stream. These materials may be fragrances or aromas, intended to produce an aesthetic effect, or they can be agents capable of pesticidal, bacteriacidal, fungicidal or sporacidal effect for use as acute or prophylactic treatment for infestation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventor: Scott J. Dillenback
  • Patent number: 6438977
    Abstract: An air conditioner cooling apparatus which is designed to be used in conjunction with a cabinet type air conditioner that has an air exhaust portal which has an exhaust airflow,path and a length of condenser coils. The cooling apparatus comprises a paddle which is to be placed within the exhaust airflow path and upon operation of the air conditioner, the paddle is to be pivoted from a crosswise position relative to the airflow path to an inclined position relative to the airflow path. The pivoting of the paddle connects by a linkage assembly to a control arm with this control arm to be raised from a lower position to an upper position when the air conditioner is activated. The control arm connects to a water supply valve which is opened when the air conditioner is turned on with water to be caused to flow through the valve to a series of discharge nozzles with this water to be dispensed onto the condenser coils of the air conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Inventor: Richard Duncan McKay
  • Publication number: 20020112497
    Abstract: A semiconductor chip cooling system configured with thermal inkjet type sprayers controlled by a control system. The control system can operate groups of the sprayers at different rates to controllably cool separate regions of a chip at different rates. A detection system is configured to separately detect the cooling regime occurring on the different regions of the chip by reflecting an optical beam off the chip in the region that is being sprayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventors: Chandrakant D. Patel, Cullen E. Bash
  • Publication number: 20020112491
    Abstract: A cooling system for cooling one or more components that produce heat. The cooling system includes sprayers configured to spray cooling fluid toward the components. A detection system includes a radiation source and a radiation sensor that pass radiant energy in the vicinity of the component such that the radiant energy is affected by passing through the vaporizing spray coolant. A controller controls the flow rates of the sprayers in response to levels of radiant energy detected by the radiation sensor, allowing the controller to more accurately control the wall temperature and cooling regime achieved by the spray cooling. The source and sensor are aimable or otherwise configured for gathering information for different thermal zones of the component, providing the controller with information that is helpful in separately controlling the wall temperature and/or cooling regime in each zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventors: Christopher G. Malone, Cullen E. Bash, Chandrakant D. Patel
  • Publication number: 20020073720
    Abstract: A dual evaporative pre-cooling system is installed packaged air conditioning units. The dual evaporative pre-cooling system includes an evaporative media disposed in a housing through which incoming condenser air flows. A water distribution device is disposed above the evaporative media. A sump and a pump are located below the evaporative media to recirculate water through the water distribution device and a ventilation air pre-cooling coil. A plurality of pipes connect, and allow circulation of, a water source discharged from the pump through the ventilation air pre-cooling coil, and to the water distribution device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Applicant: DAVIS ENERGY GROUP, INC
    Inventors: Richard C. Bourne, Marshall B. Hunt
  • Patent number: 6357243
    Abstract: An electronic system for controlling an evaporative cooler (101) away from the location of a wall-mounted control switch (301). A remotely triggered high/low module (302) is installed in a roof-mounted electrical disconnect box (114). The existing wall-mounted manually operated control switch (117) is replaced with a new control switch (301) which contains a pump selection switch (304), a fan motor selection switch (305), and a remotely triggered on/off module (303). A variety of remote control devices can then be used to control the evaporative cooler (101), such as a PLC time-clock (501), an RF keychain remote (601) and PLC transceiver (701), a PLC thermostat (801), a PLC setback thermostat (901), a PLC telephone transponder (1001), or a computer interface (1101).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Inventors: Paul Efron, Billy J Reynolds
  • Publication number: 20020020185
    Abstract: Efficient apparatus and methods are disclosed for interfacing active thermal stores, or cooling loops, to a secondary water loop for decreasing the temperature of an airflow by providing a continuously regenerating water loop that directs chilled water onto a thermally conductive heat exchanger, said loop further comprising supplying water for the loop by collecting water from the heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Applicant: Instatherm Company
    Inventor: Peter Carr
  • Patent number: 6338257
    Abstract: A separated type air conditioner with evaporative condensing apparatus comprises an outdoor unit and at least one indoor unit which the outdoor unit includes an evaporative condensing apparatus, a water chiller type evaporating apparatus and a comparative low pressure compressor for circulating a cooling medium system between the condensing apparatus and the evaporating apparatus within the outdoor unit to avoid long distance medium transmitting for improving the energy saving and environment protecting, and characteristically that the evaporative condensing apparatus comprises an evaporative water intermittent supply system to supply water onto a layer of absorptive material covered on the condensing coils intermittly through an electromagnetic valve automatically controlled by a PC board to assume that the amount of water once supplied to the absorptive material will be approximately fully evaporated within a controlled intermittence to provide a highest effect for absorbing evaporative latent heat form the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Nutec Electrical Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Peng Chu Chiu, Chih Hsien Huang
  • Patent number: 6338471
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an evaporative cooler for a turbine intake system. The evaporative cooler includes a reservoir for holding water, a media, a manifold for dispersing the water from the reservoir above the media, a manifold flow line extending from the reservoir to the manifold, a collector for collecting the water below the media, and a pump for pumping the water through the manifold flow line from the reservoir to the manifold. The evaporative cooler also includes a return line for returning the water from the collector to the reservoir, at least one water supply line for supplying the water to the reservoir, and a valve structure for controlling flow through the at least one water supply line. The evaporative cooler further includes a level sensor for indicating whether a top surface of the water within the reservoir is: (1) above or below a first water line; and (2) above or below a second water line positioned below the first water line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Imsdahl, Michael J. McCarthy
  • Publication number: 20010032714
    Abstract: The ventilating system includes evaporative cooling of the exhaust air before it enters a heat exchanger to cool incoming fresh outside air. A suction fan pulls exhaust air through the heat exchanger and, in combination with a flow restrictor, reduces the pressure on the exhaust air and augments the evaporative cooling. The use of a pusher fan to force outside air through the heat exchanger ensures that any leakage in the heat-exchanger results in outside air entering exhaust air and minimizing the chances of contamination by leaking exhaust air into the incoming fresh air. The heat exchanger is made economically by heat-forming cavities in relatively thick thermo-plastic sheets, interleaving them with other thermoplastic sheets having separate gas flow conduit structures, and securing the sheets together. Preferably, the heat-exchanger is an opposed-flow heat-exchanger giving improved heat-transfer efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Inventor: Klas C. Haglid
  • Patent number: 6293787
    Abstract: A cement production plant and method of regulating the flue gas temperature in a cement production plant. The cement production plant includes a kiln, a flue gas conditioning device, a mill and an electrostatic precipitator. The flue gas from the kiln is passed through the conditioning device. From there, the flue gas is conveyed either via the mill or directly to the electrostatic precipitator. The measurements are carried out in the flow path of the gas of the flue gas temperature before the electrostatic precipitator, and the water is supplied to the flue gas for cooling purposes in the conditioning device as a response to this temperature measurement, provided the temperature is too elevated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: FLS Miljoa A/S
    Inventor: Victor Reyes
  • Patent number: 6286325
    Abstract: An evaporative condensing apparatus used in an air conditioner to reduce the power consumption of the condenser and improves its EER value. The evaporative condensing apparatus is based on the rule that the relative critical pressure needed to condense a cooling medium is directly proportional to the temperature during the exchange of a cooling medium between gas state and liquid state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Nutec Electrical Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Peng-Chu Chiu, Tsui-Ling Hsuen, Chih-Hsien Huang
  • Patent number: 6253565
    Abstract: The efficiency of home external condenser units is improved by cooling ambient air by a water mist, preferably formed about 12 inches away from the condenser unit. Mist-forming nozzles or heads are mounted on the condenser unit housing and coupled to a water supply (spigot) via a solenoid valve coupled to the thermostat control circuit for the condenser unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Inventor: Clifford H. Arledge
  • Patent number: 6253559
    Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining an enclosed space proximate a selected comfort range, and for conserving utilities, the apparatus comprising a housing in communicating relation with the enclosed space and the external environment and having an evaporative cooler for cooling the enclosed space and having a predetermined operating efficiency, and a spaced apart air conditioner for either selectively cooling or heating the enclosed space and having an operating efficiency different from the evaporative cooler, and a control mechanism for automatically and selectively switching back and forth from operation of the evaporative cooler to the air conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Inventors: Stephen W. Kinkel, Steven J. Goettl, Peter J. Kinkel
  • Patent number: 6250091
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficiently applying a thin film of water on a solar energy impacted surface, especially a building. By measuring the rate of evaporation, and the level of absorption of fluid by the surface, the apparatus applies fluid at appropriate times to achieve nearly 100% evaporation, thereby maximizing its cooling effects. The apparatus controls multiple control valves, each valve supplying fluid to one or more spray nozzles, thereby minimizing the need for excessively large water supply pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Inventor: George A. Jerome