BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic of a heating and ventilating and air conditioning system according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a psychrometric chart demonstrating the manner in which a system according to the present invention operates to cool air;
FIG. 3 is an isometric view of an evaporative cooler according to a first exemplary embodiment the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a magnified view of a portion of an evaporative cooler showing a valve cover for selectively closing and revealing a plurality of orifices;
FIG. 5 is an isometric view of an evaporative cooler showing an alternative aspect of the first exemplary embodiment;
FIG. 6 is an isometric view of an evaporative cooler according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a method of conditioning air according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a heating and ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system is shown generally at 20. The HVAC system 20 includes a blower 22 for providing a supply of intake air. The intake air has an initial temperature Ti, an absolute humidity ωi, a relative humidity Φi, and a specific heat cpa. The air flows into an evaporative cooler 24, which is shown in more detail in FIG. 3. The evaporative cooler 24 includes a plurality of dry channels 26 and a plurality of wet channels 28 extending transversely to the dry channels 26. A primary airstream flows through the dry channels 26 at a primary mass flow rate {dot over (m)}p. A secondary airstream flows through the wet channels 28 at a secondary mass flow rate {dot over (m)}s. A flow divider 30 separates the dry and wet channels 26, 28 and divides the intake air into the respective primary and secondary airstreams. A tank 32 is placed beneath the wet channels 28. A wicking material 34 is applied to the wet channels 28 to draw liquid from the tank 32.
According to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a 20 liquid, such as water, has a latent heat of evaporation hfg. The wicking material 34 draws the liquid from tank 32 for distributing water to the wet channels 28 by surface tension effect. As the secondary airstream flows through the wet channels 28, the water is evaporated resulting in an absolute humidity of the secondary airstream ωs. An evaporator core 36 is positioned downstream of the evaporative cooler 24 for receiving the primary airstream at an output temperature To from the dry channels 26. As the primary airstream flows over the cold surface of the evaporator core 36, water vapor in the primary airstream condenses. A reservoir 38 collects this condensate from the evaporator core 36 and provides it to the tank 32 of the evaporative cooler 24. A controller 40 maintains the temperature To at a desired value by controlling the flow divider 30. The controller 40 varies the ratio of the secondary airstream to the primary airstream from the intake air. Accordingly, the output temperature is determined by the following equation:
It can be appreciated from the equation that the ratio of latent heat of evaporation of water to the specific heat of air is sensibly constant. For example, consider the dry bulb air temperature between 100° F.(560° R) and 125° F.(585° R):
However, the difference in absolute humidity between the primary and secondary airstreams is largely dependent upon the incoming air temperature:
Hence, the ratio of the secondary mass flow rate to the primary mass flow rate has a significant impact on the output temperature of the primary airstream entering the evaporator core 36.
According to the first exemplary embodiment, the flow divider 30 comprises a plurality of orifices 42 having variable area. The ratio is controlled with the flow divider 30 by selectively increasing or decreasing the area of the orifices 42 to respectively increase or decrease the secondary mass flow rate {dot over (m)}s relative to the primary mass flow rate {dot over (m)}p. According to an aspect of the present invention, shown specifically in FIGS. 3-7, the flow divider 30 includes a cover 46, 44 connected to an actuator 48. The actuator 48 allows the cover 46, 44 to be movable by the controller 40 for selectively increasing and diminishing the flow through the orifices 42. Referring specifically to FIG. 3, a linear actuator 48 is used to move a slide cover 44 fore and aft to selectively obstruct and open the orifices 42. Alternatively, referring to FIG. 5, a rotary actuator 48 is used to accomplish the same fore and aft motion.
According to a second exemplary embodiment, shown in FIG. 6, a hinge cover 46 is shown along the top of the evaporative cooler 24. The hinge cover 46 pivots about the plurality of hinges 50 to selectively diminish and increase the flow through the wet channels 28. By activating the actuator 48 to partially obstruct the wet channels 28, the secondary mass flow rate {dot over (m)}s decreases. By activating the actuator 48 to open the wet channels 28, the secondary mass flow rate {dot over (m)}s increases.
Accordingly, the invention includes a method of conditioning air described with reference to the psychrometric chart in FIG. 2 and the flow chart in FIG. 7. First, intake air is provided with the specific heat cpa, the initial temperature Ti, and the initial absolute humidity ωi. This is indicated at point A in FIG. 2, which corresponds to location A in FIG. 1. The intake air is divided into the primary airstream and the secondary airstream. The primary airstream flows at the primary mass flow rate {dot over (m)}p, and the secondary airstream flows transversely to the primary airstream at the secondary mass flow rate {dot over (m)}s. A liquid, such as water, is provided to the secondary airstream by the capillary action of the wicking material 34. The liquid has a latent heat of evaporation hfg. Heat is extracted from the primary airstream, lowering its temperature to the output temperature To, and transferred to the secondary airstream. The temperature of the primary airstream is indicated at point B in FIG. 2 which corresponds to location B in FIG. 1. All of this heat is used to evaporate the liquid, giving the secondary airstream a secondary absolute humidity ωs, but leaving its temperature unchanged. This is shown at point C in FIG. 2, which corresponds to location C in FIG. 1. As can be appreciated from the psychrometric chart, the airstreams have moved from a relative humidity of the intake air Φi, to a new relative humidity ω=1, which indicates that the air is fully saturated. The output temperature To is maintained by varying the ratio of the secondary airstream to the primary airstream from the intake air according to equations 1-4, above. The primary airstream can then be introduced into the evaporator core 36, where its relative humidity Φo will remain constant, but its temperature and absolute humidity will further decrease to Te and ωe. This is represented at point D in FIG. 2, which corresponds to location D in FIG. 1.
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
Patent Application
20070289320
