Incremental dehumidification of a volume of air in an indirect evaporative cooler. Dehumidification processes are incorporated with the cooling processes, such that within each circuit a volume of air follows through the indirect evaporative cooler and includes dehumidification as well as cooling of the volume of air. Subsequent circuits of the volume of air, which commence at a lower starting temperature than the prior circuit, result in further dehumidification of the air.

Water temperature conservation for increasing efficiency of an indirect evaporative cooling apparatus. A heat exchanger of the indirect evaporative cooling apparatus 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. Water captured from condensation during a dehumidification process can be stored and/or used to wet the wet passage of the heat exchanger to enhance evaporative function. Stored water can be maintained at a relatively lower temperature than the environment, helping to maintain a lower internal apparatus temperature and to further cool circulating air.

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.

Climate control devices and methods are disclosed. A climate control device includes a housing, an ultrasonic emitter, an ultrasonic receiver, and a controller. The housing defines a receptacle for receiving liquid. The ultrasonic emitter is positioned to emit an ultrasonic wave toward a surface of the liquid received in the receptacle. The ultrasonic receiver is positioned to receive the ultrasonic wave after the ultrasonic wave reflects off of the surface of the liquid. The controller is configured to provide a liquid level indication based on the ultrasonic wave received by the ultrasonic receiver. A climate control method includes receiving liquid in the receptacle, emitting an ultrasonic wave toward a surface of the liquid in the receptacle, receiving at least a portion of the ultrasonic wave after the ultrasonic wave reflects off of the surface of the liquid, and providing a liquid level indication based on the received ultrasonic wave.

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 transportable PCM (phase change material) module comprises a number of PCM packs; a housing for thermally insulting said number of PCM packs from a module's surrounding medium; spaces separating said packs and forming one or more channels for the flow of a fluid; said housing incorporating a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; whereby, in use, fluid flows through said channels from said inlet to said outlet. A PCM (phase change material) pack comprises a laminate of a first conducting panel and a second conducting panel enclosing a portion formed primarily of PCM; wherein said portion of PCM incorporates thermal conductors.

The evaporative condenser cooling system is an air cooling system combining an evaporative condenser and a sensible heat exchanger. The evaporative condenser cools environmental air in a conventional manner, and includes a condenser immersed in water contained within a water reservoir. The water in the reservoir is also used to humidify another portion of environmental air, which is, in turn, cooled by evaporative cooling, and this cooled air is used in a heat exchange process with the sensible heat exchanger. The sensible heat exchanger is in communication with the water reservoir to provide additional cooling to the water therein, which is used to provide a further cooled environment for the condenser, enhancing heat exchange between the condenser and the water in which it is immersed.

The present invention relates to a wet evaporation-based cold concentration system, which is mainly applied to the technical field of air conditioners, and particularly applied to the technical field of heat-source tower heat-pump air conditioners. By utilizing a wet evaporation theory, a low-temperature low-concentration anti-freezing solution is enabled to contact low-temperature air in a wet evaporator to perform the heat and mass transfer, and water in the anti-freezing solution is vaporized at a low temperature into the air, thereby obtaining the high-concentration anti-freezing solution. By reasonably utilizing the concentration pool and the storage pool, the low-concentration anti-freezing solution is separated from the high-concentration anti-freezing solution, thereby achieving a purpose of simultaneously concentrating and storing the anti-freezing solution

The cooling systems and methods of the present disclosure involve modular fluid coolers and chillers configured for optimal power and water use based on environmental conditions and client requirements. The fluid coolers include wet media, a first fluid circuit for distributing fluid across wet media, an air to fluid heat exchanger, and an air to refrigerant heat exchanger. The chillers, which are fluidly coupled to the fluid coolers via pipe cages, include a second fluid circuit in fluid communication with the air to fluid heat exchanger and a refrigerant circuit in thermal communication with the second fluid circuit and in fluid communication with the air to refrigerant heat exchanger. Pipe cages are coupled together to allow for expansion of the cooling system when additional cooling capacity is needed. The fluid coolers and chillers are configured to selectively operate in wet or dry free cooling mode, partial free cooling mode, or mechanical cooling mode.

A personal cooling device includes a rigid ventilation tube that is curved in part to fit around the neck of a human user such that the entire device may be supported solely in this manner. A powered fan is located at one end of the ventilation tube and configured to force air through the ventilation tube. Ventilation holes are arranged to direct air leaving the ventilation tube toward a user's body. A hollow compartment is provided in the ventilation tube adjacent the fan and is configured to received a portion of ice or other frozen material as a frozen liquid-filled sponge to effect evaporative cooling of passing air.