US7862011B2 — Non uniform water distribution system for an evap…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 315 words

An evaporative cooler, said evaporative cooler comprising in combination: a) a source of water; b) a media having a front side for air inflow and back side for air outflow; c) a device for providing a flow of air through said media; d) a drain pan for collecting water flowing from said media and including a drain for draining the collected water; e) a water distribution unit in fluid communication with said source of water for distributing water non uniformly onto said media, said water distribution unit producing a water application profile consistent with the water evaporation profile and the media fluid flow characteristics and including: i) a first spray bar having a first row of orifices extending longitudinally along said first spray bar for discharging first streams of water upwardly and a second row of orifices extending longitudinally along said first spray bar for discharging second streams of water generally upwardly and laterally toward said front side of said media; ii) a first spray bar channel for collecting and distributing the first streams of water onto said media in two rows at predetermined distances from said front side of said media; iii) a second spray bar having a third row of orifices extending longitudinally along said second spray bar for discharging third streams of water upwardly and a fourth row of orifices extending longitudinally along said second spray bar for discharging fourth streams of water generally upwardly and laterally toward said back side of said media; iv) a second spray bar channel for collecting and distributing the third streams of water onto said media in two rows at predetermined distances from the first streams of water distributed by said first spray bar channel; v) a distribution cap for deflecting the second streams of water onto said front side of said media and said fourth streams of water onto said back side of said media.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 315 words

An evaporative cooler, said evaporative cooler comprising in combination: a) a source of water; b) a media having a front side for air inflow and back side for air outflow; c) a device for providing a flow of air through said media; d) a drain pan for collecting water flowing from said media and including a drain for draining the collected water; e) a water distribution unit in fluid communication with said source of water for distributing water non uniformly onto said media, said water distribution unit producing a water application profile consistent with the water evaporation profile and the media fluid flow characteristics and including: i) a first spray bar having a first row of orifices extending longitudinally along said first spray bar for discharging first streams of water upwardly and a second row of orifices extending longitudinally along said first spray bar for discharging second streams of water generally upwardly and laterally toward said front side of said media; ii) a first spray bar channel for collecting and distributing the first streams of water onto said media in two rows at predetermined distances from said front side of said media; iii) a second spray bar having a third row of orifices extending longitudinally along said second spray bar for discharging third streams of water upwardly and a fourth row of orifices extending longitudinally along said second spray bar for discharging fourth streams of water generally upwardly and laterally toward said back side of said media; iv) a second spray bar channel for collecting and distributing the third streams of water onto said media in two rows at predetermined distances from the first streams of water distributed by said first spray bar channel; v) a distribution cap for deflecting the second streams of water onto said front side of said media and said fourth streams of water onto said back side of said media.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 33 words

An evaporative cooler as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rate of flow of water is approximately 0.027 gallons per minute through each orifice of said first and second rows of orifices.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 29 words

An evaporative cooler as set forth in claim 1 wherein the diameter of each of said orifices in said first and second rows of orifices is approximately 0.045 inches.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 33 words

An evaporative cooler as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rate of flow of water is approximately 0.016 gallons per minute through each orifice of said third and fourth rows of orifices.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 47 words

An evaporative cooler as set forth in claim 1 wherein two thirds of the orifices in said second spray bar are disposed in said third row of orifices and one third of the orifices in said second spray bar are disposed in said fourth row of orifices.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 26 words

An evaporative cooler as set forth in claim 1 wherein the diameter of each of said orifices in said second spray bar is approximately 0.040 inches.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 33 words

An evaporative cooler as set forth in claim 1 wherein the number of orifices in said fourth row of orifices is less than the number of orifices in said third row of orifices.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 32 words

An evaporative cooler as set forth in claim 1 wherein the number of orifices in said fourth row of orifices is one-half the number of orifices in said third row of orifices.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 50 words

An evaporative cooler as set forth in claim 1 wherein the quantity of water flowing from said first spray bar onto said media proximate said front side of said media is greater than the quantity of water flowing from said second spray bar onto said back side of said media.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 58 words

An evaporative cooler system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said orifices in said first and second spray bars are essentially equidistantly space from one another longitudinally along the respective one of said first and second spray bars with a distance between them that is less than the media wicking distance achieved in the media time constant.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 48 words

An evaporative cooler as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second row of orifices are longitudinally offset from said first row of orifices to prevent the first and second streams of water from interfering with each other and the water flowing along said first spray bar channel.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 48 words

An evaporative cooler as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fourth row of orifices are longitudinally offset from said third row of orifices to prevent the third and fourth streams of water from interfering with each other and the water flowing along said second spray bar channel.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 27 words

An evaporative cooler as set forth in claim 1 wherein the diameter of the orifices in said first and second spray bars is greater than 0.030 inches.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 35 words

An evaporative cooler as set forth in claim 13 wherein said constant flow valve is sized to provide the first, second, third and fourth streams of water with a height greater than six (6) inches.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 27 words

An evaporative cooler as set forth in claim 14 wherein said constant flow valve provides a water make up rate yielding greater than seven cycles of concentration.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 35 words

An evaporative cooler as set forth in claim 1 wherein said constant flow valve is sized to provide the first, second, third and fourth streams of water with a height greater than six (6) inches.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 27 words

An evaporative cooler as set forth in claim 16 wherein said constant flow valve provides a water make up rate yielding greater than seven cycles of concentration.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 27 words

An evaporative cooler as set forth in claim 1 wherein said constant flow valve provides a water make up rate yielding greater than seven cycles of concentration.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 39 words

An evaporative cooler as set forth in claim 1 wherein the diameter of each of the orifices of said first, second, third and fourth rows of orifices is in the range of about 0.040 inches to about 0.050 inches.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 47 words

An evaporative cooler as set forth in claim 1 including sensors responsive to the inlet conditions of temperature, relative humidity, air flow rate, altitude, cycles of concentration and providing output signals, a microprocessor responsive to the output signals for controlling the rate and profile of water evaporation.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 71 words

An evaporative cooler as set forth in claim 20 wherein as a function of signals received from said sensors said micro processor limits the volume of water used by causing water to be distributed onto said media in a profile that matches the thermal profile and water evaporation rate of the air to be evaporatively cooled as the air travels from said front side to said back side of said media.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 52 words

An evaporative cooler as set forth in claim 20 wherein said micro processor is adapted to cause distribution of water onto said media in a profile that results in very little or no mineral buildup and scale formation and thereby achieve maximum cooling performance and extension of the life of said media.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 53 words

An evaporative cooler as set forth in claim 13 wherein said microprocessor is adapted to cause distribution of water onto said media in a profile that results in longer media life by wetting said media effectively to reduce scale on said media and to reduce the need for wash out of regifying agents.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 44 words

An evaporative cooler as set forth in claim 1 including selected flow control valves, spray bar configurations and spray bar channel configurations adapted to provide a flow rate of water that corresponds with the media heat load profiles, media design and media performance characteristics.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 178 words

A method for operating an evaporative cooler, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing a constant flow rate of water; b) establishing an evaporative cooling media having a front side for inflow of air and a back side for outflow of air; c) producing a flow of air through the evaporative cooling media, which evaporative cooling media includes a top surface; d) guiding the flow of air through the evaporative media only through the front and back sides of the evaporative cooling media; e) distributing the water by exercise of step a) non uniformly across the depth of the top of the evaporative cooling media in response to a predetermined water distribution profile and fluid flow characteristics of the evaporative cooling media; f) collecting water dripping from the evaporative media in a drain pan; g) draining the water from the drain pan; h) sensing the instantaneous evaporation rate of the water distributed to the evaporative cooling media; and i) metering the flow of water to the evaporative cooling media in response to exercise of said step h).

Claim 27

Independent Claim 178 words

A method for operating an evaporative cooler, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing a constant flow rate of water; b) establishing an evaporative cooling media having a front side for inflow of air and a back side for outflow of air; c) producing a flow of air through the evaporative cooling media, which evaporative cooling media includes a top surface; d) guiding the flow of air through the evaporative media only through the front and back sides of the evaporative cooling media; e) distributing the water by exercise of step a) non uniformly across the depth of the top of the evaporative cooling media in response to a predetermined water distribution profile and fluid flow characteristics of the evaporative cooling media; f) collecting water dripping from the evaporative media in a drain pan; g) draining the water from the drain pan; h) sensing the instantaneous evaporation rate of the water distributed to the evaporative cooling media; and i) metering the flow of water to the evaporative cooling media in response to exercise of said step h).

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method as set forth in claim 25 , including the step of controlling operation of said step i) in response to a preselected cycle of concentration.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method as set forth in claim 25 , including the step of determining the water discharge upon exercise of said step f) and modifying exercise of said step i) in response thereto.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method as set forth in claim 25 wherein said step e) includes the step of distributing a plurality of rows of streams of water along the top of the evaporative cooling media.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method as set forth in claim 25 wherein said step e) includes the step of distributing water to the front side and to the back side of the evaporative cooling unit.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method as set forth in claim 29 wherein said step e) includes the step of distributing a plurality of rows of streams of water along the top of the evaporative cooling media.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method as set forth in claim 25 wherein exercise of said step h) produces a plurality of signals and including the step of correlating the signals with a microprocessor to produce commands for exercise of said steps a), c) and e).

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method as set forth in claim 25 wherein exercise of said step e) includes the step of distributing more water proximate the front side of the evaporative cooling media than the water distributed proximate the back side of the evaporative cooling media.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method as set forth in claim 25 wherein exercise of step c) includes the step of drawing air through the evaporative cooling media.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2014-01-03	2014-07-05	2015-01-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2018-01-03	2018-07-05	2019-01-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2022-01-03	2022-07-05	2023-01-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Non uniform water distribution system for an evaporative cooler

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