Incrementally cooling and dehumidifying a volume of air that is substantially at its dew point. Developing a pressure differential within an indirect evaporative cooler between a dry passage and ambient air and/or a wet passage and ambient air, to evaporate liquid outside the dry passage and condense liquid within the wet passage. A pressure differential can be developed by selectively pushing and/or blocking air at predetermined portions of the wet and dry passages.

Dynamically cycling of air in an indirect evaporative cooler. A heat exchanger includes a dry passage separated from a wet passage by a membrane, the dry passage including an intake portion, an outlet portion, and a loop portion. By selectively passing intake air from the intake portion and/or recirculation air from the loop portion using a mixing valve, air is moved into and through the loop portion. The air within the heat exchanger can be selectively passed outside through the outlet portion and/or recirculated by the mixing valve. In this manner air is able to be circulated a number of loop circuits through the loop portion, enabling cooling and/or dehumidifying of air.

Dynamically cycling of air in an indirect evaporative cooler. A heat exchanger includes a dry passage separated from a wet passage by a membrane, the dry passage including an intake portion, an outlet portion, and a loop portion. By selectively passing intake air from the intake portion and/or recirculation air from the loop portion using a mixing valve, air is moved into and through the loop portion. The air within the heat exchanger can be selectively passed outside through the outlet portion and/or recirculated by the mixing valve. In this manner air is able to be circulated a number of loop circuits through the loop portion, enabling cooling and/or dehumidifying of air.

A heat exchanger cooling system includes: a passage extending from a water tank and branching off into a first passage and a second passage at a branch portion provided in the middle of extension of the passage, the passage including a water discharge portion provided on a distal end side of the first passage so as to face a radiator; a pump configured to send water into the passage from the water tank; a first opening-closing valve provided in the first passage and configured to open and close the first passage; a second opening-closing valve provided in the second passage and configured to open and close the second passage; and a controlling portion configured to control an operation of the pump and to control opening and closing of the first opening-closing valve and the second opening-closing valve.

An improved water management system with improved airflow distribution for counterflow evaporative heat exchangers is provided. Such heat exchangers include open cooling towers, closed circuit cooling towers, and evaporative condensers. The improved water management system eliminates water splash out and the noise associated with water splashing. Further when the fan assemblies are located below the evaporative heat exchanger, the improved water management system keeps the fans dry and prevents freezing in subzero climates.

A single inlet/single outlet modular counterflow cooling tower having two heat transfer sections installed atop two cold water basin sections and below three fan sections, each heat transfer section having its own water distribution system and draining into its own distinct cold water basin section. The water distribution system can provide flow over both heat transfer sections or over only a single section. The center fan support section supports the mechanical drive system for the fan and has a sealing plate at its bottom for sealing the gap between the two heat transfer sections.

A method by a controller of a cooling system includes calculating a difference between a first temperature of ambient air and a second temperature of pre-cooled air. The pre-cooled air is ambient air that has been cooled by water from a water distribution system before it enters one or more condenser coils. The method further includes determining that the difference between the first and second temperatures is less than or equal to a predetermined temperature difference, and in response, determining that the first temperature is greater than or equal to a minimum temperature. The method further includes, if the first temperature is greater than or equal to the minimum temperature, instructing the water distribution system to distribute the water to pre-cool the ambient air for a predetermined length of time and to disable the distribution of the water after the predetermined amount of time has elapsed.

A method by a controller of a cooling system includes calculating a difference between a first temperature of ambient air and a second temperature of pre-cooled air. The pre-cooled air is ambient air that has been cooled by water from a water distribution system before it enters one or more condenser coils. The method further includes determining that the difference between the first and second temperatures is less than or equal to a predetermined temperature difference, and in response, determining that the first temperature is greater than or equal to a minimum temperature. The method further includes, if the first temperature is greater than or equal to the minimum temperature, instructing the water distribution system to distribute the water to pre-cool the ambient air for a predetermined length of time and to disable the distribution of the water after the predetermined amount of time has elapsed.

A heat exchanger includes a plate with an external surface, a channel, and a nozzle. The external surface bounds an interior of the plate. The channel is disposed in the heat exchanger and passes through a portion of the interior. The nozzle is integrally disposed in the heat exchanger, extends through a portion of the external surface, and is fluidly connected to the channel. The nozzle is configured to transport a liquid from the channel, through the external surface, and to distribute the liquid onto a portion of the heat exchanger.

A heat exchanger includes a plate with an external surface, a channel, and a nozzle. The external surface bounds an interior of the plate. The channel is disposed in the heat exchanger and passes through a portion of the interior. The nozzle is integrally disposed in the heat exchanger, extends through a portion of the external surface, and is fluidly connected to the channel. The nozzle is configured to transport a liquid from the channel, through the external surface, and to distribute the liquid onto a portion of the heat exchanger.