US20090293526A1

US20090293526A1 - Water mist cooling system

Info

Publication number: US20090293526A1
Application number: US12/131,572
Authority: US
Inventors: Takumi Ichinomiya; Tomoaki Akiyama
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-06-02
Filing date: 2008-06-02
Publication date: 2009-12-03

Abstract

An indoor and outdoor cooling system that is provided with a one or more nozzles that are adapted to spray a fine water mist into the air. The cooling system also includes a fan and a dehumidifier. The dehumidifier is adapted to introduce dehumidified air into the area being cooled. The mixing of the dry dehumidified air with the water mist causes the water mist to evaporate which causes the removal of the vaporization heat from the surrounding air to lower the air temperature.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to machines, and particularly to indoor and outdoor cooling machines used to cool a given area. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to cooling systems that cool an area without the need for closed loop cfc-type systems. The earth is equipped with preventive features that reduce the amount of harmful cosmic rays that contact the earth. One of these features is the ozone layer which acts as a natural barrier to protect the earth's surface. However, the ozone layer can be effected by artificial gas that mankind has created. It has been known for some time that the cooling medium CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) is destroying the ozone layer. Every year, in the South Pole, an ozone hole is created in the atmosphere allowing harmful cosmic rays to contact earth. A reduced ozone layer increase the risks of skin cancer and causes other adverse impacts. There is a need for a complete replacement for CFC in cooling systems.
Due to the impact of the global warming effect, many weather changes have been seen all over the world. Because of the adverse impact of high temperatures, various problems have occurred throughout the world including damage and injury to people, animals and natural surroundings. Typical examples of issues caused by current cooling systems are the heat island phenomena in cities, and flooding in coastal regions of the world.
Because of these global issues, the Kyoto Protocol and Bali Protocol were announced in 2007. To ease the extreme summer heat and the green house effect caused by global warming, water droplet sprayers (called dry mist sprayers) were recommended. In climates, such as Japan, where it is hot and very humid, effective evaporation and vaporization of water droplets is not successful and such systems only cause a temperature drop of about 2° C. to 3° C., which is the same as sprinkling water. Recently, dry mist sprayers have been installed in the crowded areas in cities and towns to provide cooling. However, these systems provide little cooling relief because the temperature drops by only about 3° C., and do little to provide cooling relief. When the surrounding temperature is 25° C. and humidity is 75% or more, the dry mist sprayer increase the humidity level in the air and increase the unpleasant feeling of high temperature and high humidity to people in the area.

SUMMARY

According to the present disclosure, a cooling system is provided that is designed to cool indoor and outdoor areas, such as sporting events and other open spaces. The system also works in buildings or completely open or closed spaces that is not possible by traditional air conditioners.
Widespread usage of air conditioning system of the present disclosure would reduce the heat discharge effect caused by traditional air conditioners popularizing the air conditioner of the present disclosure, when viewed from a larger scope, would help solve the heat island phenomena in cities.
Current air conditioning/refrigerating equipment uses a closed circuit heat cycle that includes CFC and ammonia, both of which are dangerous to handle as cooling mediums. CFC, which destroys the ozone layer and damages the earth environment, should not be used, if possible. The present disclosure does not depend on closed circuit heat cycles, but uses the evaporation of a direct cooling medium. The cooling medium is dehumidified air having an extremely low dew point that is mixed with fine droplets of water to cool the air. Thus, an air conditioning effect in the surrounding area is created.
In order to provide proper cooling, the cooling system is equipped with a device that spouts fine water droplets into the air (2 mm˜0.1 μm or less, hereinafter called mist). The cooling system also includes a device that blows very dry dehumidified air having a dew point of about 20° C. to about −60° C., hereinafter called dehumidified air) toward the oversaturated water vapor in the air. The cooling system causes the dehumidified air and the mist to mix, which causes the water mist to evaporate. Evaporation of the water mist causes, the vaporization heat to be removed from the surrounding air. Removal of the vaporization to cause the temperature of the surrounding air to drop greatly. Thus cooling and air conditioning of the unlimited outdoor space is enabled, solving a problem which was unthinkable for traditional air conditioners.
According to the present disclosure, when water mist and dehumidified air are sprayed at the same time into the outdoor air, the impact of the dry dehumidified air with the mist causes the mist to evaporate immediately to remove the vaporization heat from the surrounding air to lower the air temperature. The experiments conducted succeeded in lowering the temperature from about 1° C. to about 15° C. or more. The mist, when vaporized, takes the vaporization latent heat from the air, which is the heat of 539 cal per 1 atmospheric pressure, 1 gram from the surrounding air. The drier the air that makes contact with the mist, the bigger the evaporation latent heat effect. In the present invention, in order to enhance this effect, cooled dehumidified air is used. However, it is fine if the dehumidified air temperature is about the same as the outdoor air temperature.
In the case where the cooling system is used indoors, in a closed room, the humidity in the room increases due the continuous production of water mist. When over saturation occurs, the mist system is temporarily stopped, and the dehumidified air is continuously sprayed from the dehumidifying air nozzle inside the room. When the dehumidified air continues to be sprayed into the room having an oversaturated water vapor condition, that is, into the highly humid space, the oversaturated water vapor and the adjusted dehumidified air continuously make contact, causing a reduction in room temperature.
As to the air, where the temperature was reduced using the present cooling device, the saturated vapor in the air becomes oversaturated as the temperature of saturated vapor drops. Under these conditions, moisture is discharged into the space, which makes contact with the dehumidified air sprayed from the nozzle and evaporates. Thus, the cycle allows the temperature to drop continuously. Such humidification and dehumidification cycles are repeated. If the humidity in the room drops below a set value, the spray mist is sprayed again and the spray and dehumidified air are mixed, causing the room to be cooled. What one can understand by this explanation is that if the humidity in a natural air is 75% or more, which is a high humidity, the spraying of mist is not necessary. That is, cooling of the room can be attained by using the natural humidity of the room as the mist. By using the cooling system of the present disclosure, traditional air conditioning methods are not needed.
The dehumidified air used for the present disclosure is very dry air having a low dew point. If water mist particles that were spouted out from the water nozzle remain in an oversaturated condition, dehumidified air is sent out into the water mist from the dehumidifying air nozzle as many times as desired to achieve the desired cooling effect. Thus, second stage and third stage evaporation/vaporization heat can be removed, accelerating cooling. Using a traditional air conditioner multiple stage cooling is not possible.
The cooling system in the present disclosure has a dehumidification system that uses adsorbent materials (silica gel, zeolite, active alumina) or hollow thread membranes (plastic air pass-through type). However, the air can be dehumidified using a desiccant method, to produce the dehumidified air.
According to the present disclosure, dehumidified air is blown into the water mist that is sprayed from the air nozzle and both the make contact. The evaporation of the water mist lowers the temperature of the surrounding air as it takes the heat from the air. As a result, compared with a cooling method by the dispersion of dry mist only, the temperature is dramatically reduced.
Also, the present disclosure utilizes a natural phenomenon, the evaporation/vaporization heat effect, which is obtained by contacting the water mist and the dehumidified air. Since the present disclosure cools the air by mixing the water mist and dehumidified air, little or no ductwork is needed, reducing construction costs.
In evaluating the electric power consumed for the present disclosure, as compared to the power consumption of similar air conditioners, the results are favorable. And, comparing the vaporization latent heat of the cooling medium (CFC, ammonia etc) of a traditional refrigerator and the present disclosure, more cooling occurs. Thus, the consumption of power used to power the cooling system of the present disclosure is less than a traditional air conditioner. The traditional air conditioner can not be effectively used outdoors or in partially open spaces. The cooling system of the present disclosure can be easily used in open spaces, and can obtain the cooling effect capability of the traditional air conditioner.
The cooling system of the present disclosure does not circulate the air in a building, but utilizes the fresh natural air in the open space. Air circulation ducts such as those found in traditional air conditioners in the buildings are not required. Thus, for sites such as hospitals, the proliferation of bacteria in air conditioning ducts and generation of bacteria can be reduced.
Moreover, when the cooling device of the present disclosure is used in open spaces, waste heat is not generated like conventional air conditioning systems. Thus, as the cooling system gets popularized, it can be anticipated that the mid summer heat waves would be alleviated. Furthermore, by using a hollow thread membrane dehumidifier, a battery, a manual air compressor, and a spray generator. Low priced portable air conditioning equipment and air conditioned clothes can be created that do not need much electric power.
In addition, a traditional air conditioner decreases the humidity in room space while air is being circulated. The cold dehumidified air can cause people in the space to feel muscular pain and other health conditions. Since the cooling system of the present disclosure is always generating cool air with up to 100% humidity, the cooling system may provide health benefits. At the same time, if water mist is used for humidifying can prevent dry skin or colds caused by dryness.
Additional features of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a cooling system;

FIG. 2 is an block diagram of a second embodiment of the cooling system;

FIG. 3 is block diagram of a third embodiment of a cooling system;

FIG. 4 is an block diagram of a first type of dehumidifier used with the cooling system;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a second type of dehumidifier used with the cooling system; and

FIG. 6 is block diagram of a third type of dehumidifier used with the cooling system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A cooling system 100 of the present disclosure, includes a spouting device 1 that sprays water mist into the air, a dehumidifier 3 that dehumidifies the air, and a compressor 4 which pressurizes the compressed air, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The air conditioner also includes a water tank 5 that supplies the pressurized water to a spray device 1 a for spraying water mist, a pressurized water feed pump 7, and associated conduits 51, 52.
The spouting device 1 includes a nozzle 1 a that spouts the water mist into the air and one or more air spouting nozzles 1 b that spout the dehumidified air into the air. Spray nozzle 1 a is pressurized by water feeding pump 7 which receives water from a water tank 5 by conduit 51. Air spouting nozzle 1 b ejects compressed air from the compressor 4 via conduit 52 which has been dehumidified via an air dehumidifier 3.
Spouting device 1 may include a fan “F” to mix the fine water droplets and dehumidified air. Using a fan, the pressure of dehumidified air can be as little as 1 psi. Different types of dehumidifiers can be used. A membrane dryer dehumidifier is shown in FIG. 4, an adsorption type dehumidifier is shown in FIG. 5 and a desiccant type dehumidifier is shown in FIG. 6. The desiccant type dehumidifier is an effective dehumidification structure for use in the cooling system.
In the membrane dryer dehumidifier MA in FIG. 4, compressed air CA passes through the inside of a hollow thread membrane PS (plastic fine thread membranes). Moisture runs off from the fibrous air holes to the outer part of the surface of hollow thread membranes PS. Moisture that adheres to the surface of the fibers is spouted by compressed air CA 1. Thus, moisture is removed and evacuated with air purge PA. The humidity level of the air that passes inside the hollow thread membranes PS is adjusted according to the method described above. The hollow thread membranes PS is adapted to pass inside the purging air ducts. Water vapor removal air purge PA is adapted to pass through the clearance between the surface of hollow thread membranes positioned within the duct and is discharged along with the water droplets removed from the air.
The adsorption type dehumidifier in FIG. 5 includes two towers 15 that are selectively cycled to achieve the desired dehumidification in the pressurized air stream. As can be seen in FIG. 5, four way valves 17, 18 are placed in front and in back of the towers 15 a, 15 b which are filled with moisture adsorbent materials such as silica gel, zeolite, and active alumina and the like. Check valves 21, 22 prevent the reverse flow of air, and filters 19, 20, 23 remove impurities from the air. In dehumidifier 3, while humid air passes through one tower 15 a to be dehumidified, the absorbent material in the other tower 15 b can be renewed. By switching the towers 15 alternatively, the dehumidification can be done continuously.
Impurities in the air compressed by the compressor 4, is removed when the compressed air passes through a dust filter 10 and a drain water filter 20. Adjusted dehumidified air passes through the air filter 23 by a four way valve 18. Compressed air that passes through the dust filter 19 and drained water filter 20 goes through a discharge port 45 by the four way valve 17.
Desiccant type dehumidifier in FIG. 6 includes a desiccant rotor 30, a motor 32 and a drive belt 31 that transmits the drive power of motor to the desiccant rotor 30. The desiccant dehumidifier also includes fans 33, 34 and an electric heater 35. The disk shaped desiccant rotor is made of adsorbent materials such as silica gel, zeolite and active alumina and the like, and the front surface is partitioned into lattice or honeycomb shapes.
The desiccant rotor 30 is partitioned into a treatment zone that adsorbs the moisture from the air and a renewal zone that removes the moisture that was adsorbed during air treatment. The desiccant rotor 30 rotates at a fixed speed while humid air passes through the treatment zone and the moisture that is absorbed by the media that makes up the desiccant rotor 30 is removed. By using this arrangement continuous dehumidification and renew can be accomplished.
Another embodiment of the cooling system is shown in FIG. 3. The cooling system includes a conical body 8 that is provided with a fan 8 b. The conduit 8 is structured to mix the sprayed water mist from nozzles 8 c and the dehumidified air from conduit 54, as shown in FIG. 3. The cooling system includes conical conduit 8 that sprays water mist, an air dehumidifying dehumidifier 9 that that gradually sends air to conical body 8. The system also includes spray nozzle 8C, a water tank 5, and a pump 7.
The cooling system of FIG. 3 is a fan-type spray device in which a fan 8 b is positioned within a rear part of conical body 8 a. In the front end of the conical body 8 a, along its periphery, a water header 8 d is connected to duct 53, which supplies water from a water tank 5. The water header 8 d includes nozzles 8 c that allow water mist to be ejected in a forwardly direction. Behind fan 8 b, conduit 54 is positioned and is used to send the dehumidified air, adjusted by the air dehumidifying dehumidifier 9, to the spouting device 8. This embodiment of the cooling system may exclude a compressor which would use less power than the first embodiment.
During testing of the first embodiment, six spray nozzles were used having flow rate of 60 CC/Min per unit and the water temperature of 19° C. The dehumidified air was introduced at a volume of about 2 m³/min at a temperature of 26.5° C., a relative humidity of 3.3%, and absolute humidity 0.7 g/kg. The outer air temperature during testing was 28.8° C.
Using the above parameters the surrounding air temperature, about 2 meters in front of the spray spout nozzle and dehumidified air spout nozzle, was 14.7° C. The outside air temperature during the test was 28° C. and the relative humidity was 82%. The wet bulb temperature, which was calculated from a psychometric diagram, was 25.5° C. Wet bulb temperature is the lowest temperature by which vaporization can occur and corresponds to the surrounding air temperature.
During testing of the second embodiment, six spray spouting nozzles were used rated at 60 CC/Min per unit with a water temperature of 19° C. The dehumidified air was introduced at a volume of 2 m³/min, a temperature of 28.6° C., a relative humidity of 2.9%, and an absolute humidity 0.7 g/kg. The outside air temperature during testing was 31.5° C.
Using above parameters the air temperature, at a position about 2 meters in front of the spray spout nozzle and dehumidified air spout nozzle, was lowered from 31.5° C. to 16.2° C. During the test the outside air temperature was 33.5° C. and the relative humidity was 68%. The wet bulb temperature, obtained from a psychometric diagram, was 28.3° C.
During a third test only dehumidified air was spouted from the cooling system. During the test the outside air temperature was 12.5° C. and the relative humidity was 75%. No water misting was used for this test. The dehumidified air temperature was the same as the outside air temperature, and when only dehumidified air was discharged into the air, the surrounding temperature at 2 meters in front of the dehumidified air spout nozzle 6, was 5° C. and had a relative humidity of 43%. The reason for the cooling is the surrounding air is cooled by the adiabatic expansion of the dehumidified air spray. The oversaturated water vapor gets mixed with dehumidified air and evaporates. This causes vaporization heat to be taken from the surrounding air causing a temperature drop. The outer air temperature was 12° C. and the relative humidity was 75% during the test. The wet bulb temperature obtained from a psychometric diagram was 9.69° C.
While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An indoor and outdoor cooling system for cooling a given area, the cooling system comprising:

a pressurized water supply;

at least one water nozzle coupled to the pressurized water supply, the water nozzle adapted to spray water in fine droplets to form a mist;

an air compressor for compressing air;

a dehumidifier system for dehumidifying the air compressed by the air compressor;

an air nozzle that is adapted to expel air that has been modified by the air compressor and dehumidifier system, the air nozzle positioned to lie near the water nozzle, and

a fan adapted to assist in mixing the mist and the modified air to cause evaporation of the mist, which causes a decrease in the temperature of the given area.

2. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the dehumidifier system uses porous moisture absorbent materials to dehumidify the pressurized air.

3. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the dehumidifier system uses a desiccant type dehumidifier.

4. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the dehumidifier system uses a membrane dryer type dehumidifier.

5. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the dehumidifier system uses an adsorption type dehumidifier.

6. The cooling system of claim 5, wherein the absorption type dehumidifier includes a first tower of absorbing material and a second tower of absorbing material and further including a valve that allows for the selective transfer of compressed air between the towers.

7. The cooling system of claim 2, wherein the fan blade is positioned behind the water nozzle and the air nozzle.

8. The cooling system of claim 7, further including a housing, wherein the fan blade is positioned within the housing.

9. The cooling system of claim 7, wherein the at least one water nozzle is coupled to a water manifold.

10. The cooling system of claim 2, wherein the porous moisture absorbent material is zeolite.

11. An indoor and outdoor cooling system for cooling a given area, the cooling system comprising:

a pressurized water supply;

a compressed air supply;

a dehumidifier system for dehumidifying the compressed air supply;

an air nozzle that is adapted to expel compressed dehumidified, the air nozzle positioned to lie near the water nozzle, and

wherein the mist and the dehumidified air mix to cause the mist to evaporate and decrease the temperature of the air in the given area.

12. The cooling system of claim 11, wherein the dehumidifier system uses porous moisture absorbent materials to dehumidify the pressurized air.

13. The cooling system of claim 11, wherein the dehumidifier system uses a desiccant type dehumidifier.

14. The cooling system of claim 11, wherein the dehumidifier system uses a membrane dryer type dehumidifier.

15. The cooling system of claim 11, wherein the dehumidifier system uses an adsorption type dehumidifier.

16. The cooling system of claim 15, wherein the absorption type dehumidifier includes a first tower of absorbing material and a second tower of absorbing material and further including a valve that allows for the selective transfer of compressed air between the towers.

17. The cooling system of claim 12, wherein the cooling system includes a fan blade that is positioned behind the water nozzle and the air nozzle.

18. The cooling system of claim 17, wherein the cooling system further includes a housing, and wherein the fan blade is positioned within the housing.

19. The cooling system of claim 17, wherein the at least one water nozzle is coupled to a water manifold.

20. The cooling system of claim 12, wherein the porous moisture absorbent material is zeolite.