Water recirculation system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10619898-B2
Application number	US-201815888938-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 5, 2018
Priority date	Feb 9, 2017
Publication date	Apr 14, 2020
Grant date	Apr 14, 2020

Abstract

A water recirculation system operates in a primary mode for evaporatively cooling air. When the water recirculation mode malfunctions, the controller switches a secondary once-through mode. The system includes a sump for collecting water run-off from the evaporative pads, and a pump in fluid communication with the sump. The pump transfers moisture from the sump to the distribution arrangement located at the top of the evaporative pads during the recirculation mode. An automatically operated make-up water valve delivers water to a distribution arrangement on the evaporative pads. A moisture distribution arrangement distributes moisture to the evaporative pads and an automatically operated sump drain valve retains water in the sump when closed and freely drains water from the sump when open. A water level control communicates the sump water level to a control system. A monitoring mechanism detects whether the water-recirculation system has malfunctioned or is operating correctly.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A liquid distribution system for a cooling device system comprising:
an inlet configured to allow evaporative liquid into the liquid distribution system;
a dispenser positioned to distribute evaporative liquid over an evaporative pad of the cooling system;
a make-up valve that regulates the flow of evaporative liquid between the inlet and the dispenser;
a sump positioned to collect evaporative liquid that runs off the evaporative pad, the sump including a drain valve and a level sensor;
a pump in fluid communication with the sump and the dispenser; and
a controller in communication with the make-up valve, the drain valve, the level sensor, and the pump,
wherein the controller is configured to control the liquid distribution system to operate among one of a plurality of operating modes, the plurality of operating modes including a recirculation mode and a once-through mode,
wherein the recirculation mode of operation involves operating the make-up valve to maintain a sufficient water level in the sump and operating the pump to distribute evaporative liquid from the sump to the dispenser,
wherein the once-through mode of operation involves disabling the pump and opening the make-up valve to allow evaporative liquid to be drawn from the inlet to the dispenser,
wherein the controller is configured to monitor the level of evaporative liquid in the sump via the level sensor, and
wherein the controller is configured to select a particular operating mode among the plurality of operating modes based at least in part the monitored level of evaporative liquid in the sump.

2. The liquid distribution system of claim 1 wherein the controller, in the water recirculation mode of operation, is configured to close the drain valve of the sump and operate a fill timer.

3. The liquid distribution system of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to switch operating modes from the recirculation to the once-through mode where the level of evaporative liquid in the sump does not meet a predetermined level.

4. The liquid distribution system of claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to operate an alarm where the fill timer indicates that a predetermined amount of time has elapsed and the level of evaporative liquid in the sump has not reached the predetermined level.

5. The liquid distribution system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to switch from the recirculation mode back to a dry mode, wherein the controller, while operating in the dry mode, is configured to effect operation of the pump until the monitored level of evaporative fluid within the sump has reaches a predetermined level.

6. The liquid distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to enable an alarm and start a once-through check timer in response to switching to the once-through mode, and wherein the controller is configured to automatically attempt to run the recirculation mode in response to the once-through check timer expires.

7. The liquid distribution system of claim 1 , further comprising an operation monitor configured to monitor operation of the pump.

8. The liquid distribution system of claim 7 , wherein the operation monitor comprises a flow switch in a discharge line of the pump.

9. The liquid distribution system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to operate an alarm and execute operation of the once-through mode of operation in response to the operation monitor detecting that the pump is not operating properly.

10. The liquid distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the dispenser is in fluid connection with the sump and the inlet, and further comprising a check valve in line between the pump and the dispenser.

11. The liquid distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the dispenser includes a first dispenser in fluid communication with the pump and with the inlet and a second dispenser in fluid communication with the make-up valve and the inlet.

12. The liquid distribution system of claim 11 , wherein a conduit establishing fluid communication between the pump and the first dispenser is without a check valve.

13. A cooling system comprising:
a cooling coil configured to pass an internal fluid;
an evaporative pad positioned relative to a cooling coil;
an airflow generator arranged to draw air through the evaporative pad and over the cooling coil; and
a liquid distribution system comprising:
an inlet configured to allow evaporative liquid into the liquid distribution system;
a dispenser positioned to distribute evaporative liquid over the evaporative pad;
a make-up valve that regulates the flow of evaporative liquid between the inlet and the dispenser;
a sump positioned to collect evaporative liquid that runs off the evaporative pad, the sump including a drain valve and a level sensor,
a pump in fluid communication with the sump and the dispenser; and

a controller in communication with the airflow generator, the drain valve, the level sensor, and the liquid distribution system,
wherein the controller is configured to control the liquid distribution system to operate among one of a plurality of operating modes, the plurality of operating modes including a recirculation mode and a onMilesce-through mode,
wherein the recirculation mode of operation involves operating the make-up valve to maintain a sufficient water level in the sump and operating the pump to distribute evaporative liquid from the sump to the dispenser,
wherein the once-through mode of operation involves disabling the pump and opening the make-up valve to allow evaporative liquid to be drawn from the inlet to the dispenser,
wherein the controller is configured to monitor the level of evaporative liquid in the sump via the level sensor, and
wherein the controller is configured to select a particular operating mode among the plurality of operating modes based at least in part the monitored level of evaporative liquid in the sump.

14. The cooling system of claim 13 , wherein the controller, in the water recirculation mode of operation, is configured to close the drain valve of the sump and operate a fill timer.

15. The cooling system of claim 14 , wherein the controller is configured to switch operating modes from the recirculation mode to the once through mode where the level of evaporative liquid in the sump does not meet a predetermined level.

16. The cooling system of claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to operate an alarm where the fill timer indicates that a predetermined amount of time has elapsed and the level of evaporative liquid in the sump has not reached the predetermined level.

17. The cooling system of claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to switch from the water recirculation mode back to a dry mode, wherein the controller, while operating in the dry mode, is configured to effect operation of the pump until the monitored level of evaporative fluid within the sump has reaches a predetermined level.

18. The cooling system of claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to enable an alarm and start a once-through check timer in response to switching to the once-through mode, and wherein the controller is configured to automatically attempt to run the water recirculation mode in response to the once-through check timer expires.

19. The cooling system of claim 13 , further comprising an operation monitor configured to monitor operation of the pump.

20. The cooling system of claim 19 , wherein the controller is configured to operate an alarm and exe

Assignees

• Baltimore Aircoil Co Inc

Inventors

• Hollander Philip
• Martell Gregory
• Uytterhoeven Wim
• Van Dijck Thomas
• Aaron David Andrew

Classifications

• F24F11/61

  using timers · CPC title

• F24F13/222

  for evacuating condensate · CPC title

• F25B2339/041

  of evaporative condensers · CPC title

• F25B19/04

  using liquid jet, e.g. of water · CPC title

• F25B39/04

  Condensers · CPC title