Title: Indirect evaporative coolers with enhanced heat transfer

Abstract

A separator plate assembly for use in an indirect evaporative cooler (IEC) with an air-to-air heat exchanger. The assembly includes a separator plate with a first surface defining a dry channel and a second surface defining a wet channel. The assembly includes heat transfer enhancements provided on the first surface for increasing heat transfer rates. The heat transfer enhancements may include slit fins with bodies extending outward from the first surface of separator plate or may take other forms including vortex generators, offset strip fins, and wavy fins. In slit fin implementations, the separator plate has holes proximate to each of the slit fins, and the separator plate assembly may include a sealing layer applied to the second surface of the separator plate to block air flow through the holes. The sealing layer can be a thickness of adhesive, and a layer of wicking material is applied to the adhesive.

Inventors:

Kozubal, Eric; Woods, Jason; Judkoff, Ron

Issue Date:

2015-09-22

Research Org.:

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1215829

Patent Number(s):

9140471

Application Number:

13/801,395

Assignee:

Alliance For Sustainable Energy, LLC (Golden, CO)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F24 - HEATING F24F - AIR-CONDITIONING

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F25 - REFRIGERATION OR COOLING F25B - REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS

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F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F24 - HEATING F24F - AIR-CONDITIONING

F24F12/006 - {using an air-to-air heat exchanger
F24F2003/1435 - {comprising semi-permeable membrane}
F24F3/1417 - {with liquid hygroscopic desiccants}
F24F6/02 - by evaporation of water in the air {

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F25 - REFRIGERATION OR COOLING F25B - REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS

F25B15/00 - Sorption machines, plant, or systems, operating continuously, e.g. absorption type

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F28 - HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL F28D - HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT

F28D21/0014 - {the heat being recuperated from waste air or from vapors
F28D21/0015 - {Heat and mass exchangers, e.g. with permeable walls}
F28D5/00 - Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, using the cooling effect of natural or forced evaporation

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02B - CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

Y02B30/62 - Absorption based systems

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DOE Contract Number:  

AC36-08GO28308

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 2013 Mar 13

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION