A device for heat transfer between a liquid and a gas, having: a gas inlet for providing the gas into an exchange region, a gas outlet for retrieving the gas from the exchange region, a liquid inlet connected to a reservoir for holding the liquid. The reservoir is formed with an opening in an upper region of the reservoir, the reservoir is arranged at an upper end of the exchange region, an impounding basin. The impounding basin is arranged below the reservoir, the impounding basin is formed with a liquid outlet, and an exchange element arranged in the exchange region. An upper part of the exchange element is disposed through the opening of the reservoir such that the upper part of the exchange element is arranged at least partially inside the reservoir and such that the upper part of the exchange element is at least partially submerged in the liquid.

A device for heat transfer between a liquid and a gas, having: a gas inlet for providing the gas into an exchange region, a gas outlet for retrieving the gas from the exchange region, a liquid inlet connected to a reservoir for holding the liquid. The reservoir is formed with an opening in an upper region of the reservoir, the reservoir is arranged at an upper end of the exchange region, an impounding basin. The impounding basin is arranged below the reservoir, the impounding basin is formed with a liquid outlet, and an exchange element arranged in the exchange region. An upper part of the exchange element is disposed through the opening of the reservoir such that the upper part of the exchange element is arranged at least partially inside the reservoir and such that the upper part of the exchange element is at least partially submerged in the liquid.

A heat and mass transfer system configured to be a passive system using gravitational force to form a thin liquid film flow on an outer surface of a flow distribution head and downstream conduit member to subject the thin liquid film to heat transfer mediums. The at least partially spherical flow distribution head creates a uniform thin flow of liquid on the outer surface increasing the efficiency of the heat and mass transfer system. The heat and mass transfer system may include a heat transfer medium supply system in fluid communication with internal aspects of the downstream conduit such that a heat transfer medium flows within the downstream conduit while the liquid film flows on the outer surface of the downstream conduit. Rather than conventional sheet flow on inner surfaces of a conduit, the flow distribution head enables sheet flow to be formed on an outside surface of a component.

A heat and mass transfer system configured to be a passive system using gravitational force to form a thin liquid film flow on an outer surface of a flow distribution head and downstream conduit member to subject the thin liquid film to heat transfer mediums. The at least partially spherical flow distribution head creates a uniform thin flow of liquid on the outer surface increasing the efficiency of the heat and mass transfer system. The heat and mass transfer system may include a heat transfer medium supply system in fluid communication with internal aspects of the downstream conduit such that a heat transfer medium flows within the downstream conduit while the liquid film flows on the outer surface of the downstream conduit. Rather than conventional sheet flow on inner surfaces of a conduit, the flow distribution head enables sheet flow to be formed on an outside surface of a component.

The present invention relates to a fuel cell device (1) having a fuel cell (2) which, during operation, emits water as a product of cold combustion; a supply air path (3) leading to the fuel cell (2) for a cathode supply air flow (5), which defines a supply air flow direction (4), the cathode supply air flow coming from water-containing supply air supplied to the fuel cell (2); and an exhaust air path (7)leading away from the fuel cell (2), for a cathode exhaust air flow (9), which defines an exhaust air flow direction (8), the cathode exhaust air flow coming from water-containing exhaust air flowing out of the fuel cell (2). The supply air path (3) and the exhaust air path (7) are routed through a humidifier (10) of the fuel cell device (1), which humidifier communicates fluidically with the supply air and the exhaust air, to humidify the supply air and dehumidifying the exhaust air. The exhaust air path (7) is also routed through a water separator (11) of the fuel cell device (1), which water separator communicates fluidically with the exhaust air, for removing water from the exhaust air and for providing this water as evaporation water. The fuel cell device (1) also has a heat exchanger (12) for cooling the fuel cell (2), which heat exchanger has an evaporative cooler (13) for cooling the heat exchanger (12). It is essential that the evaporative cooler (13) is assigned to the water separator (11) in fluidic communication and that it is supplied with evaporation water by same.

The present invention relates to a fuel cell device (1) having a fuel cell (2) which, during operation, emits water as a product of cold combustion; a supply air path (3) leading to the fuel cell (2) for a cathode supply air flow (5), which defines a supply air flow direction (4), the cathode supply air flow coming from water-containing supply air supplied to the fuel cell (2); and an exhaust air path (7)leading away from the fuel cell (2), for a cathode exhaust air flow (9), which defines an exhaust air flow direction (8), the cathode exhaust air flow coming from water-containing exhaust air flowing out of the fuel cell (2). The supply air path (3) and the exhaust air path (7) are routed through a humidifier (10) of the fuel cell device (1), which humidifier communicates fluidically with the supply air and the exhaust air, to humidify the supply air and dehumidifying the exhaust air. The exhaust air path (7) is also routed through a water separator (11) of the fuel cell device (1), which water separator communicates fluidically with the exhaust air, for removing water from the exhaust air and for providing this water as evaporation water. The fuel cell device (1) also has a heat exchanger (12) for cooling the fuel cell (2), which heat exchanger has an evaporative cooler (13) for cooling the heat exchanger (12). It is essential that the evaporative cooler (13) is assigned to the water separator (11) in fluidic communication and that it is supplied with evaporation water by same.

The invention relates to a method, performed by a control device (100), for cleaning an evaporative humidifier and cooler apparatus (1) for humidification and cooling of air, the apparatus (1) comprises: a cooling and humidification media (2), which is configured to receive and evaporate a fluid (4); a fluid distribution element (6), which is configured to distribute the fluid (4) to the cooling and humidification media (2); and a tray (8) arranged to collect fluid (4) downstream of the cooling and humidification media (2), wherein the fluid (4) distributed by the fluid distribution element (6) is collected from the tray (8). The method comprises: determining (s101) the condition of the cooling and humidification media (2) based on data from a sensor device (10) arranged in fluid communication with the fluid (4) downstream of the cooling and humidification media (2); and supplying (s102) at least one cleaning fluid (12; 14) to the cooling and humidification media (2) dependent on the condition of the cooling and humidification media (2). The invention also relates to a system (200) comprising an evaporative humidifier and cooler apparatus (1) for humidification and cooling of air, a control device (100) and a sensor device (10) arranged in communication with the control device (100).

The invention relates to a method, performed by a control device (100), for cleaning an evaporative humidifier and cooler apparatus (1) for humidification and cooling of air, the apparatus (1) comprises: a cooling and humidification media (2), which is configured to receive and evaporate a fluid (4); a fluid distribution element (6), which is configured to distribute the fluid (4) to the cooling and humidification media (2); and a tray (8) arranged to collect fluid (4) downstream of the cooling and humidification media (2), wherein the fluid (4) distributed by the fluid distribution element (6) is collected from the tray (8). The method comprises: determining (s101) the condition of the cooling and humidification media (2) based on data from a sensor device (10) arranged in fluid communication with the fluid (4) downstream of the cooling and humidification media (2); and supplying (s102) at least one cleaning fluid (12; 14) to the cooling and humidification media (2) dependent on the condition of the cooling and humidification media (2). The invention also relates to a system (200) comprising an evaporative humidifier and cooler apparatus (1) for humidification and cooling of air, a control device (100) and a sensor device (10) arranged in communication with the control device (100).

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.