Modular cooling system

Abstract

A heat exchange unit for use in a modular heat exchange system including at least one first heat exchanger having a closed circuit for cooling fluid at least one air cooler located upstream of the first heat exchanger, and at least one first fan arrangement operable to cause air to pass through the at least one air cooler and the at least one first heat exchanger, at least one channel providing cooling fluid interconnection between the first heat exchanger and, when in use in the modular heat exchange system, a heat exchanger in at least one other heat exchange unit.

1 - 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A heat exchange unit for use in a modular heat exchange system including:
 at least one first heat exchanger having a closed circuit for cooling fluid;   at least one air cooler located upstream of the first heat exchanger;   at least one first fan arrangement operable to cause air to pass through the at least one air cooler and the at least one first heat exchanger; and   at least one channel providing cooling fluid interconnection between the first heat exchanger and, when in use in the modular heat exchange system, a heat exchanger in at least one other heat exchange unit wherein the heat exchanger in each heat exchanger unit is a microchannel heat exchanger.   
     
     
         40 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 39 , wherein the at least one first heat exchanger includes at least one fluid carrying passage, and wherein the fluid carrying passage type is any one of plate, plate-fin, spiral, tube, double-pipe or coil arrangement. 
     
     
         41 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 39 , wherein the at least one first heat exchanger includes at least one first and at least one second microchannel heat exchanger modules. 
     
     
         42 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 41 , wherein the at least one first and second heat exchanger modules are arranged such that surfaces of the first module are substantially parallel to surfaces of the second module, and the first module and the second module are aligned such that flow of the air passes through the first module and subsequently through the second module, and wherein the cooling fluid is arranged to flow through the first module and subsequently through the second module. 
     
     
         43 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 39 , wherein the at least one first heat exchanger includes fluid carrying passages extending between vertical sides of the at least one first heat exchanger. 
     
     
         44 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 39 , wherein the cooling fluid is any one or more of water, oil, ammonia, Freon and carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         45 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 39 , wherein the at least one first heat exchanger is configured such that it forms a substantially cross-sectional tubular arrangement with an internal space through which the air can pass. 
     
     
         46 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 45 , wherein the tubular arrangement has a substantially cross-sectional shape including any one of: generally square, generally hexagonal, generally octagonal, generally star-shaped, generally triangular, generally circular, generally rectangular and generally oval. 
     
     
         47 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 45 , wherein the tubular arrangement has a structure which extends circumferentially wholly around the longitudinal axis of the tubular arrangement. 
     
     
         48 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 45 , wherein the tubular arrangement has a structure which extends circumferentially partially around the longitudinal axis of the tubular arrangement. 
     
     
         49 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 45 , wherein the tubular arrangement forms a continuous body around the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         50 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 45 , wherein the at least one first heat exchanger includes a heat exchange body, and wherein the heat exchange body extends partially around the longitudinal axis of the tubular arrangement. 
     
     
         51 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 50 , wherein the closed circuit is formed by a plurality of circumferentially arranged passages that are generally laterally arranged in the heat exchange body relative to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         52 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 45 , wherein the at least one first fan arrangement is operable to cause air to pass longitudinally through the internal space of the tubular arrangement. 
     
     
         53 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 45 , wherein the at least one first fan arrangement is positioned at one end of the tubular arrangement. 
     
     
         54 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 45 , wherein the at least one first fan arrangement causes the air to pass through walls of the tubular arrangement. 
     
     
         55 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 39 , further including a header arrangement for allowing the cooling fluid to enter and to exit the closed circuit. 
     
     
         56 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 39 , further including a header arrangement for allowing the cooling fluid to enter and to exit the closed circuit, wherein
 the at least one first heat exchanger is configured such that it forms a generally square, generally hexagonal, generally octagonal, generally star-shaped, generally triangular, generally circular, generally rectangular and generally oval cross-sectional tubular arrangement with an internal space through which the air can pass, and   the header arrangement includes a header provided at or near one longitudinal end of, and generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular arrangement.   
     
     
         57 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 39 , further including a header arrangement for allowing the cooling fluid to enter and to exit the closed circuit, wherein
 the at least one first heat exchanger is configured such that it forms a generally square, generally hexagonal, generally octagonal, generally star-shaped, generally triangular, generally circular, generally rectangular and generally oval cross-sectional tubular arrangement with an internal space through which the air can pass, and   the header arrangement includes a header provided at both of two spaced apart longitudinal ends of the tubular arrangement, and wherein each of the headers extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular arrangement.   
     
     
         58 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 55 , wherein the cooling fluid flows through the at least one first heat exchanger by entering the header arrangement at the top end of the at least one first heat exchanger and exiting the header arrangement at the base end of the at least one first heat exchanger. 
     
     
         59 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 55 , wherein the header arrangement includes a substantially horizontal supply header provided at or near the top of the at least one first heat exchanger and a substantially horizontal return header provided at or near the bottom of the at least one first heat exchanger; and, wherein the cooling fluid is supplied through the supply header and passed through the at least one first heat exchanger to the return header. 
     
     
         60 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 39 , wherein the air cooler includes a moisture absorbent material in the form of moisture absorbent pads, and wherein the air cooler, when in use, is maintained moist with moisture such that the air passing through the air cooler is cooled by the action of evaporation prior to passing over a portion of the at least one first heat exchanger. 
     
     
         61 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 60 , wherein the moisture absorbent material includes a plurality of fluted apertures. 
     
     
         62 . A heat exchange unit according  claim 60 , wherein the moisture absorbent material supports an adiabatic process. 
     
     
         63 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 60 , wherein the moisture is water. 
     
     
         64 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 63 , wherein the water includes anti-microbial additives. 
     
     
         65 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 60 , further including a moisture recirculation system including:
 a moisture distribution arrangement, when in use, for distributing the moisture to an upper portion of the moisture absorbent material;   a trough disposed below the lower most portion of the moisture absorbent material for initially collecting moisture run-off;   a sump in fluid communication with the trough for collecting and storing the run-off; and,   a pump in fluid communication with the sump which, when in use, transfers the moisture from the sump to the moisture absorbent material.   
     
     
         66 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 65 , further including an external source of make-up moisture in fluid communication with the moisture recirculation system where any supply of make-up moisture is supplied directly to the moisture absorbent material. 
     
     
         67 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 65 , wherein the moisture transferred from the sump to the moisture absorbent material is effected by transferring moisture to the moisture distribution arrangement. 
     
     
         68 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 66 , wherein the make-up moisture is supplied to the moisture distribution arrangement. 
     
     
         69 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 39 , further including at least one second heat exchanger having a dosed circuit for cooling fluid. 
     
     
         70 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 69 , wherein
 the at least one first heat exchanger is configured such that it forms a generally square, generally hexagonal, generally octagonal, generally star-shaped, generally triangular, generally circular, generally rectangular and generally oval cross-sectional tubular arrangement with an internal space through which the air can pass, and   the at least one first heat exchanger and the at least one second heat exchanger are configured such that they form the tubular arrangement.   
     
     
         71 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 69 , wherein the at least one first and the at least one second heat exchangers are aligned substantially in series from an air flow perspective, thereby forming a heat exchanger stack. 
     
     
         72 . A heat exchange unit according to  claim 69 , wherein the at least one first and the at least one second heat exchangers are arranged in parallel. 
     
     
         73 . A modular heat exchange system including:
 at least two heat exchange units each having a first heat exchanger having a closed circuit for cooling fluid;   at least one air cooler forming a second heat exchanger located upstream of the first heat exchanger, and   at least one first fan arrangement operable to cause air to pass through the at least one air cooler and the first heat exchanger,   wherein the first heat exchangers of each of the at least two heat exchanger units are micro-channel heat exchangers and in fluid communication allowing flow of cooling fluid therebetween.   
     
     
         74 . A modular heat exchange system including:
 at least two heat exchange units, each heat exchange unit being in accordance with  claim 39 ,   wherein the at least one first heat exchangers of each of the at least two heat exchange units are in fluid communication allowing flow of cooling fluid therebetween.   
     
     
         75 . A method of circulating moisture for evaporatively cooling air in a moisture recirculation system according to  claim 66 , the method including the steps of:
 applying the moisture to the upper portion of the moisture absorbent material;   initially collecting the moisture run-off in the trough disposed below the moisture absorbent material;   transferring the run-off moisture from the trough to the sump for storage;   transferring the moisture from the sump to the moisture absorbent material; and   monitoring the moisture level in the sump and in the event that the moisture level in the sump falls below a predetermined threshold, activating supply from an external source of make-up moisture and supplying said make-up moisture directly to the moisture absorbent material.   
     
     
         76 . A method of installation of a modular heat exchange system including:
 transporting one or more heat exchange units, according to  claim 39 , to an installation location;   connecting the one or more heat exchange units to a cooling fluid supply;   connecting the one or more heat exchange units to a power supply; and   
       activating the modular heat exchange system.