Chiller control systems and methods for chiller control use iterative modeling of cooling towers, heat exchangers, and pumps to determine the feasibility of integrated free cooling and the ability to take advantage of free cooling. The control systems and control methods can further include selecting the parameters for operating in the free cooling or integrated free cooling mode to improve efficiency and/or reduce energy consumption when operating in these modes. The models can have inputs and outputs that feed into one another, and converge at a solution over multiple iterations. The feasibility of integrated free cooling can be based on providing cooling to a cooling load process fluid at a heat exchanger. The availability of free cooling can be based on the cooling provided at the heat exchanger achieving a target temperature for the cooling load process fluid.

Chiller control systems and methods for chiller control use iterative modeling of cooling towers, heat exchangers, and pumps to determine the feasibility of integrated free cooling and the ability to take advantage of free cooling. The control systems and control methods can further include selecting the parameters for operating in the free cooling or integrated free cooling mode to improve efficiency and/or reduce energy consumption when operating in these modes. The models can have inputs and outputs that feed into one another, and converge at a solution over multiple iterations. The feasibility of integrated free cooling can be based on providing cooling to a cooling load process fluid at a heat exchanger. The availability of free cooling can be based on the cooling provided at the heat exchanger achieving a target temperature for the cooling load process fluid.

Disclosed is an apparatus for use with shell and tube heat exchangers to protect the low-pressure side of the heat exchanger from overpressure in which one or more tubes fractures, allowing high-pressure gas to penetrate the low-pressure side. The apparatus includes a conduit for attachment to the low-pressure side of the heat exchanger and including a rupture disk therein that will rupture when subjected to a predetermined burst pressure. The conduit also includes a surge chamber located therein downstream of the rupture disk assembly, the surge chamber having dimensions resulting in a predetermined volume. A pressure relief valve is located at the downstream end of the conduit capable of opening in response to a pressure increase caused by fluids flowing through the conduit and closing in response to a pressure decrease. Also disclosed are systems and processes using the apparatus, and a method for retrofitting the exchangers with the apparatus.

A cooling system controller, method, and computer program (or product) for an installation of heat generating machines having variable cooling requirements, the cooling system comprising two or more thermal components sharing a first cooling fluid circuit and first cooling fluid for cooling the installation, the cooling system controller comprising: a requirement discovery engine for recording the variable cooling requirements of the machines; a characterizing engine for measuring and recording outputs for each thermal component in response to a plurality of input control settings for generating a respective set of static set-points for each thermal component; a logic model generator for generating a logical model of the thermal components based on: relationships between the thermal components, operating fluid flow and around the thermal components, static set-points of each component; an optimizer for finding minimum energy consumption for the cooling system; and an interface for continuously adjusting control settings for each component to keep the cooling system operating at the minimum energy consumption.

A thermal management system and method includes a conduit assembly having a first conduit and a second conduit fluidly separate from the first conduit. The first conduit is fluidly coupled with and extends between a source of a first fluid and a destination for the first fluid. The second conduit directs a second fluid between an inlet and an outlet. The second fluid is configured to exchange heat with the first fluid within the conduit assembly. A control assembly includes one or more control elements that are configured to control an amount of the second fluid that is directed through the second conduit. One or more processors control operation of the control assembly based on one or more of a temperature of the first fluid or a temperature of the second fluid.

A thermal management system and method includes a conduit assembly having a first conduit and a second conduit fluidly separate from the first conduit. The first conduit is fluidly coupled with and extends between a source of a first fluid and a destination for the first fluid. The second conduit directs a second fluid between an inlet and an outlet. The second fluid is configured to exchange heat with the first fluid within the conduit assembly. A control assembly includes one or more control elements that are configured to control an amount of the second fluid that is directed through the second conduit. One or more processors control operation of the control assembly based on one or more of a temperature of the first fluid or a temperature of the second fluid.

A system and method of controlling corrosion of a heat exchanger, having a hot gas inlet and outlet and a cold side inlet and outlet. The method includes determining a temperature of the heat exchanger at a first selected location, controlling a temperature of a corrosion sensing device to a first selected temperature based on the temperature of the surface of the heat exchanger and determining a corrosion rate associated with the heat exchanger surface at the first selected location for the first selected temperature. The method also includes comparing the corrosion rate to an expected corrosion rate, determining a cold side fluid inlet temperature target for the heat exchanger based at least in part on the comparing, the determined corrosion; and controlling a cold side fluid inlet temperature based at least in part on the determined inlet temperature target, determined corrosion rate, and expected corrosion rate.

A system and method of controlling corrosion of a heat exchanger, having a hot gas inlet and outlet and a cold side inlet and outlet. The method includes determining a temperature of the heat exchanger at a first selected location, controlling a temperature of a corrosion sensing device to a first selected temperature based on the temperature of the surface of the heat exchanger and determining a corrosion rate associated with the heat exchanger surface at the first selected location for the first selected temperature. The method also includes comparing the corrosion rate to an expected corrosion rate, determining a cold side fluid inlet temperature target for the heat exchanger based at least in part on the comparing, the determined corrosion; and controlling a cold side fluid inlet temperature based at least in part on the determined inlet temperature target, determined corrosion rate, and expected corrosion rate.

The invention relates to a method for preventing and detecting coolant discharges from complex hydraulic systems. The aim of the invention is to configure such a method in such a way that this method in particular meets requirements for preventing/limiting the development of explosive atmospheres in working areas and for reducing measures from previously otherwise typical requirements for Ex zones. This aim is achieved in that a circuit carrying coolant is divided into small volumes that have stop valves and a relief valve, wherein a leak detection diagnosis can be carried out by means of a pressure sensor that can be integrated.

The invention relates to a method for preventing and detecting coolant discharges from complex hydraulic systems. The aim of the invention is to configure such a method in such a way that this method in particular meets requirements for preventing/limiting the development of explosive atmospheres in working areas and for reducing measures from previously otherwise typical requirements for Ex zones. This aim is achieved in that a circuit carrying coolant is divided into small volumes that have stop valves and a relief valve, wherein a leak detection diagnosis can be carried out by means of a pressure sensor that can be integrated.