Cooling device
View Patent ↗There is disclosed a cooling system. The cooling system comprises a main cooling unit and a main chilling unit in fluid communication with a heat exchanger, the main chilling unit being configured to cool a liquid coolant for use with the heat exchanger. The cooling system further comprises a back-up cooling unit that includes a cooling reservoir including a plurality of small-sized self-contained cooling accumulators; a secondary chilling unit configured to cool the plurality of small-sized cooling accumulators, during a charging phase; a valve configured to selectively couple the cooling reservoir to the main cooling unit during a release phase so that the plurality of small-sized cooling accumulators provide a heat sink to cool the cooling fluid for the main cooling unit.
1. A cooling system comprising:
a main cooling unit including a heat exchanger;
a main chiller in fluid communication, via a first fluid line, with the heat exchanger, the main chiller being configured to cool a cooling fluid for use with the heat exchanger; and
a back-up cooling unit including:
a cooling reservoir including a plurality of self-contained cooling accumulators;
a secondary chiller configured to cool the plurality of cooling accumulators, during a charging phase;
a second fluid line in fluid communication with the first fluid line;
a first three-way valve coupling the second fluid line to the cooling reservoir;
a third fluid line in fluid communication with the first fluid line;
a second three-way valve coupling the third fluid line to the cooling reservoir;
a fourth fluid line fluidly connecting the first three-way valve to the second three-way valve, the first and second valves being configured to:
form a first closed circuit within the back-up cooling unit during the charging phase by selectively allowing the cooling fluid to flow through the second fluid line, the third fluid line, and the fourth fluid line, flow of the cooling fluid from the first fluid line into the cooling reservoir being restricted during the charging phase, and
form a second closed circuit extending between the back-up cooling unit and the main cooling unit by selectively allowing the cooling fluid to flow through the first fluid line, the second fluid line, and the third fluid line during a release phase, such that the plurality of cooling accumulators provide a heat sink to cool the cooling fluid for the main cooling unit,
the cooling reservoir comprising a compensator configured to expand and contract a volume of the cooling reservoir.
2. The cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of self-contained cooling accumulators house a phase change material.
3. The cooling system of claim 2 , wherein the cooling fluid used in the secondary chiller is chilled to or below the phase change temperature of the phase change material.
4. The cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the secondary chiller uses a cooling fluid and the cooling fluid is implemented as CO2.
5. The cooling system of claim 1 , further comprising a back-up source of power.
6. The cooling system of claim 1 , wherein during said release phase, the main chiller is turned off.
7. The cooling system of claim 1 , wherein during said release phase, the secondary chiller is turned off.
8. The cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the secondary chiller and the main chiller are implemented as the same device.
9. A method of operating unit of claim 1 , wherein the charging phase is implemented during off-peak demand time.
10. A back-up cooling unit for the use with a main cooling unit, the main cooling unit comprising a first fluid line comprising a cooling fluid, the back-up cooling unit comprising:
a cooling reservoir including a plurality of self-contained cooling accumulators;
a secondary chiller configured to cool the plurality of cooling accumulators, during a charging phase;
a second fluid line in fluid communication with the first fluid line;
a first three-way valve coupling the second fluid line to the cooling reservoir;
a third fluid line in fluid communication with the first fluid line;
a second three-way valve coupling the third fluid line to the cooling reservoir;
a fourth fluid line fluidly connecting the first three-way valve to the second three-way valve, the first and second valves being configured to:
form a first closed circuit within the back-up cooling unit during the charging phase by selectively allowing the cooling fluid to flow through the second fluid line, the third fluid line, and the fourth fluid line, flow of the cooling fluid from the first fluid line into the cooling reservoir being restricted during the charging phase, and
form a second closed circuit extending between the back-up cooling unit and the main cooling unit by selectively allowing the cooling fluid to flow through the first fluid line, the second fluid line, and the third fluid line during a release phase, such that the plurality of cooling accumulators provide a heat sink to cool the cooling fluid for the main cooling unit,
the cooling reservoir comprising a compensator configured to expand and contract a volume of the cooling reservoir.
11. The back-up cooling unit of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of self-contained cooling accumulators house a phase change material.
12. The back-up cooling unit of claim 11 , wherein the cooling fluid used in the secondary chiller is chilled to or below the phase change temperature of the phase change material.
13. The back-up cooling unit of claim 10 , wherein the secondary chiller uses a cooling fluid and the cooling fluid is implemented as CO2.
14. The back-up cooling unit of claim 10 , wherein during said release phase, the main chiller is turned off.
15. The back-up cooling unit of claim 10 , wherein during said release phase, the secondary chiller is turned off.