U.S. patent application number 13/095033 was filed with the patent office on 2012-11-01 for earthen evaporative heat exchanger.
Invention is credited to Girish K. Upadhya.
Application Number | 20120273171 13/095033 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47067004 |
Filed Date | 2012-11-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120273171 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Upadhya; Girish K. |
November 1, 2012 |
EARTHEN EVAPORATIVE HEAT EXCHANGER
Abstract
A heat exchanger with earthen material for cooling ambient air
may serve as an energy efficient alternative to air conditioning.
The heat exchanger may take in ambient air and cool the air through
evaporative heat exchange, which may be very useful during summer
months in areas where the day temperatures can be very high. A fan
may be used to provide airflow through an evaporating heat
exchanger, which results in an airflow that is much cooler than the
ambient temperature. The heat exchanger may be made from an earthen
material, such as fired clay, for example, with a large surface
area coming into contact with the airflow. One or more cavities may
be present in the heat exchanger to hold water and allow the water
to percolate through the porous earthen material.
Inventors: |
Upadhya; Girish K.;
(Rockville, MD) |
Family ID: |
47067004 |
Appl. No.: |
13/095033 |
Filed: |
April 27, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/121 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D 3/04 20130101; F28D
7/16 20130101; F28F 21/04 20130101; Y02B 30/54 20130101; F24F
1/0007 20130101; F28D 3/02 20130101; F24F 5/0035 20130101; Y02B
30/545 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/121 |
International
Class: |
F28F 13/00 20060101
F28F013/00 |
Claims
1. A heat exchanger comprising: an earthen heat exchanger element;
a reservoir in fluid connection with at least a portion of the
earthen heat exchanger element; and a plurality of holes in the
earthen heat exchanger element, the holes adapted to allow air to
pass through the heat exchanger.
2. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the earthen heat
exchanger includes potter's clay, mud-based clay, terra cotta or
adobe.
3. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the holes are formed
between fins in the heat exchanger.
4. The heat exchanger of claim 1, further comprising: a plenum
directing air into the plurality of holes; and a fan for moving the
air through the plurality of holes to supply a cooled air.
5. The heat exchanger of claim 4, wherein the cooled air is
delivered to an air conditioning system.
6. The heat exchanger of claim 4, further comprising at least one
water conduit formed in the earthen heat exchanger element, the
water conduit in fluid communication with the reservoir.
7. The heat exchanger of claim 1, further comprising a pump for
circulating water in the reservoir through an air/liquid heat
exchanger.
8. A heat exchanger comprising: an earthen heat exchanger element;
a reservoir in fluid connection with at least a portion of the
earthen heat exchanger element; at least one water conduit formed
in the earthen heat exchanger element, the water conduit in fluid
communication with the reservoir and a plurality of holes in the
earthen heat exchanger element, the holes adapted to allow air to
pass through the heat exchanger.
9. The heat exchanger of claim 8, further comprising a pump for
circulating water in the reservoir through an air/liquid heat
exchanger.
10. The heat exchanger of claim 9, wherein the air/liquid heat
exchanger is disposed in a cooling system, the cooling system
forcing air across the air/liquid heat exchanger to provide a
cooled air.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to heat exchangers and, more
particularly, to an evaporative heat exchanger with earthen
material for cooling ambient air.
[0002] Conventional air conditioners require considerable energy
due to the use of compressor technology. A compressor is typically
used to compress a gas (such as Freon, or some other fluorinated
hydrocarbon, for example) into a liquid. This liquid is allowed to
encounter a reduced pressure area, such as a heat exchanger coil,
where the liquid becomes a cold gas. The gas passes back to the
compressor to repeat the cycle. This continual compression uses a
substantial amount of energy.
[0003] As can be seen, there is a need for an apparatus and method
for cooling air that may use a minimal amount of energy.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In one aspect of the present invention, a heat exchanger
comprises an earthen heat exchanger element; a reservoir in fluid
connection with at least a portion of the earthen heat exchanger
element; and a plurality of holes in the earthen heat exchanger
element, the holes adapted to allow air to pass through the heat
exchanger.
[0005] In another aspect of the present invention, a heat exchanger
comprises an earthen heat exchanger element; a reservoir in fluid
connection with at least a portion of the earthen heat exchanger
element; at least one water conduit formed in the earthen heat
exchanger element, the water conduit in fluid communication with
the reservoir and a plurality of holes in the earthen heat
exchanger element, the holes adapted to allow air to pass through
the heat exchanger.
[0006] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following drawings, description and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger according
to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger according
to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the heat exchanger of FIG. 1
is use with a fan;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a heat
exchanger according to another exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the heat exchanger of FIG. 1
used in an air conditioning application; and
[0012] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the heat exchanger of FIG. 4
used in an air conditioning application.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The following detailed description is of the best currently
contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the
invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense,
but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general
principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is
best defined by the appended claims.
[0014] Various inventive features are described below that can each
be used independently of one another or in combination with other
features.
[0015] Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a
heat exchanger with earthen material for cooling ambient air. The
heat exchanger may serve as an energy efficient alternative to air
conditioning. The heat exchanger may take in ambient air and cool
the air through evaporative heat exchange, which may be very useful
during summer months in areas where the day temperatures can be
very high. In some embodiments, a fan may be used to provide
airflow through an evaporating heat exchanger, which results in an
airflow that is much cooler than the ambient temperature. The heat
exchanger may be made from an earthen material, such as fired clay,
for example, with a large surface area coming into contact with the
airflow. One or more cavities may be present in the heat exchanger
to hold water and allow the water to percolate through the porous
earthen material.
[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, a heat exchanger 10 may include a
reservoir tank 12 adapted to contain a liquid, such as water, and
an earthen heat exchanger element 14. The reservoir tank 12 may be
in fluid contact with at least a portion of the earthen heat
exchanger element 14. A plurality of holes 16 may be disposed
through the earthen heat exchanger element 14. Air may be passed
through the heat exchanger 10 by, for example, a fan 24, as shown
in FIG. 3. A plenum 22 may control the flow of air from the fan 24
to the heat exchanger 10. The earthen heat exchanger element 14 may
be made from a porous material, such as fired clay, potter's clay,
mud-based clay, terra cotta, adobe, or the like.
[0017] As the air is pushed through the holes 16, the air may
evaporate water that has percolated through the earthen heat
exchanger element 14. This evaporation may cool the air. As the
water from the reservoir 12 evaporates in the heat exchanger 10,
water may be replenished. In some embodiments, a water level
measurement device (not shown) may be disposed to automatically
refill the reservoir 12 as needed.
[0018] The style of the heat exchanger 10 may vary. For example, as
shown in FIG. 2, a heat exchanger 11 may include an earthen heat
exchanger body 18 with a plurality of fins 18 formed therein. In
other embodiments, a heat exchanger may include fluid tubes (not
shown) formed in the earthen heat exchanger element to help deliver
water to openings through which the airflow is passing.
[0019] The heat exchangers 10, 11 of FIGS. 1 and 2 may be used, for
example, as a pre-cooler for ambient air being delivered to an air
conditioning system 36 as shown in FIG. 5. In this embodiment, the
air conditioning system 36 may be a conventional system having
refrigerant conduits 38 to cool a coil (not shown) in the air
conditioning system 36. With the heat exchanger 10, 11, the air
conditioning system 36 may be required to cool air fewer degrees,
thus saving energy costs. For example, a conventional system may
take in 80 degree ambient air across a 38 degree coil, cooling the
80 degree ambient air to 68 degrees. With the heat exchanger of the
present invention, the 80 degree ambient air may be precooled to,
for example, 76 degrees, prior to being delivered to the 38 degree
coil, thus cooling the ambient air to, for example, about 65
degrees, thereby needing less air conditioning system running time
to cool a room or home.
[0020] Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 6, a heat exchanger may include
a reservoir tank 27 that is fluidly connected with water conduits
30 through an earthen heat exchanger element 26. The element 26 may
include a plurality of holes 28 therethrough. The holes 28 may
carry air that is cooled by the heat exchanger. In addition, as
water evaporates due to air moving through the holes 28, the water
in the reservoir tank 27 also cools. This cooled water may be moved
with a pump 32 through conduits 42 into an air/liquid heat
exchanger 34. This heat exchanger 34 may be present in a
residential or business air conditioning system 40, where air is
taken from the location, moved over the heat exchanger 34, and
delivered back to the location as cooled air. In some embodiments,
the system 40 may cool air without the use of a conventional
compressor. In other embodiments, the system 40 may be equipped
with a conventional compressor cooled coil (not shown) in addition
to the heat exchanger 34, where the conventional compressor cooled
coil may be activated only when the air temperature at the location
needs additional temperature control.
[0021] It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing
relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
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