Convection enhanced evaporation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12485362-B2
Application number	US-202418440541-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 13, 2024
Priority date	Sep 13, 2021
Publication date	Dec 2, 2025
Grant date	Dec 2, 2025

Abstract

A system includes an evaporator having sensors and selectable operational parameters and a controller configured to receive data and determine operational configuration for the evaporator. Selectable parameters relate to system heating, liquid flow rate, air flow rate, and environmental data.

First claim

The claimed invention is:

1 . A system comprising:
an evaporator having a duct that with a plurality of evaporation surfaces, wherein the plurality of evaporation surfaces are arranged in parallel, series or concentrically relative to one another, wherein each of the plurality of evaporation surfaces is configured as a tray or pan, a fluid distribution channel, at least one fan, and a pump, wherein the fluid distribution channel is configured to discharge a fluid, at a fluid flow rate, to the tray or pan so as to form a thin film on a first evaporation surface thereof, wherein the pump includes an output port coupled to the fluid distribution channel and wherein the at least one fan is configured to move air relative to the plurality of evaporation surfaces at an air speed; and a controller coupled to the evaporator, the controller having a processor, an interface, and a memory, the memory configured to store data and store instructions for execution by the processor, the interface configured to receive data, and wherein the instructions are configured to select an operational parameter for the evaporator.

2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the evaporator includes a thermal unit, wherein the thermal unit includes a temperature sensor.

3 . The system of claim 1 wherein the evaporator includes a thermal unit, wherein the thermal unit includes a heating element coupled to a housing of the evaporator, at least one evaporation surface of the plurality of evaporation surfaces, the fluid distribution channel, or the pump.

4 . The system of claim 1 wherein the evaporator includes an air speed sensor, wherein the air speed sensor is configured to provide a signal based on air flow proximate the first evaporation surface.

5 . The system of claim 1 wherein the evaporator includes a fluid flow sensor, wherein the fluid flow sensor is configured to provide a signal based on fluid flow proximate the first evaporation surface.

6 . The system of claim 1 wherein the interface is configured to receive a signal corresponding to at least one of ambient temperature and ambient relative humidity.

7 . The system of claim 1 wherein the interface is configured to receive a signal corresponding to at least one of a forecast temperature and a forecast relative humidity.

8 . The system of claim 1 wherein the evaporator includes a valve coupled to the fluid distribution channel and coupled to the controller, and wherein the valve is configured to selectively modulate fluid flow to the first evaporation surface based on a signal from the controller.

9 . The system of claim 1 wherein the pump includes a variable output pump coupled to the controller, and wherein the controller is configured to selectively modulate fluid flow to the first evaporation surface based on a signal from the controller.

10 . The system of claim 1 wherein the evaporator includes a fan controller coupled to a first fan of the at least one fan and coupled to the controller, and wherein the fan controller is configured to selectively modulate air flow proximate the first evaporation surface based on a signal from the controller.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the duct contains a mist eliminator arranged between the plurality of evaporation surfaces and the at least one fan.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid is uniformly released by the fluid distribution channel and a plurality of orifices along a width of each of the plurality of evaporation surfaces forming the thin film.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller operates to:
receive a material cost ratio and energy cost ratio corresponding to an evaporation system, the evaporation system having a plurality of surfaces, a fan, and a fluid distribution system including a valve and a pump; receive a performance prediction model for the evaporation system, the performance prediction model including data corresponding to evaporation rate, energy consumption and cost associated with the evaporation system; generate simulated performance data for combinations of ambient temperature and humidity and determining performance of the evaporation system corresponding to a plurality of fluid flow rates, operating temperature, and air speed rates for at least two combinations; and store the plurality of fluid flow rates, operating temperature, and air speed rates for different system sizes as a function of ambient temperature and humidity.

14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fan is positioned on an opposite side of the duct from discharge of the fluid from the fluid distribution channel to the tray or pan.

15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller operates to:
receive current weather data and forecast weather data; select a duty cycle for the evaporator; and operate the system at the duty cycle as selected, a selected fluid flow rate, a selected operational temperature, and a selected air speed rate based on the current weather data and the forecast weather data.

16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller operates to:
receive data corresponding to weather conditions; receive a model, the model corresponding to a size of an evaporator; and select based on the data and the model, at least one of an evaporator operational mode, a fluid flow rate, a temperature, and an air flow rate, the fluid flow rate corresponding to fluid flow across an evaporation surface of the evaporator, the temperature corresponding to a thermal element, the thermal element corresponding to a fluid temperature, an air temperature, or an evaporation surface temperature, and the air flow rate corresponding to air flow across the evaporation surface of the evaporator.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the evaporator operational mode includes selecting an unpowered mode.

18 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the evaporator operational mode includes selecting a duty cycle.

19 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the data corresponding to weather conditions includes receiving at least one of a temperature and a relative humidity.

20 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the data corresponding to weather conditions includes receiving at least one of a forecast temperature and a forecast relative humidity.

Assignees

• Univ Minnesota

Inventors

• Bhalekar Prakash
• Kaddoura Mustafa F
• Wright Natasha C

Classifications

• C02F1/08

  Thin film evaporation · CPC title

• C02F2209/40

  Liquid flow rate · CPC title

• C02F2209/38

  Gas flow rate · CPC title

• C02F2209/02

  Temperature · CPC title

• C02F1/008

  Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F · CPC title