System and method for operating a cooling loop

Abstract

A system for operating a cooling loop associated with a space and including at least one cooling coil and cooling fluid supply, the system including: a grain sensor positioned with respect to the space and providing a value indicative of the amount of moisture in the space; at least one pump fluidly coupled across the coil; at least one flow limiter fluidly coupled to the coil and limiting a flow of cooling fluid between the cooling fluid supply and the coil; and at least one controller electrically coupled to the flow limiter; wherein, the at least one controller selectively operates the flow limiter responsive to the value indicative of the amount of moisture in the space and the pump re-circulates cooling fluid independent of the cooling fluid supply dependently upon the flow limiter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for operating a cooling loop associated with a space and including at least one cooling coil and cooling fluid supply, the system comprising:
 a grain sensor positioned with respect to the space and providing a value indicative of the amount of moisture in the space;   at least one pump fluidly coupled across the coil;   at least one flow limiter fluidly coupled to the coil and limiting a low of cooling fluid between the cooling fluid supply and the coil; and   at least one controller electrically coupled to the flow limiter;   wherein, the at least one controller selectively operates the flow limiter responsive to the value indicative of the amount of moisture in the space and the pump re-circulates cooling fluid independent of the cooling fluid supply dependently upon the flow limiter.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a variable drive electrically coupled to the at least one pump, wherein the pump is variably operable responsive to the variable drive, the drive is electrically coupled to the at least one controller, and the pump operates at a speed substantially inversely related to value indicative of the amount of moisture in the space. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further including at least one temperature sensor positioned with respect to the coil and providing a value indicative the temperature of the cooling fluid entering the coil, and being electrically coupled to the at least one controller. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further including at least one temperature sensor positioned with respect to the coil and providing a value indicative the temperature of the cooling fluid exiting the coil, and being electrically coupled to the at least one controller. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first temperature sensor positioned with respect to the coil and providing a value indicative the temperature of the cooling fluid entering the coil, and being electrically coupled to the at least one controller.   a second temperature sensor positioned with respect to the coil and providing a value indicative the temperature of the cooling fluid exiting the coil, and being electrically coupled to the at least one controller.   wherein, the pump re-circulates cooling fluid independent of the cooling fluid supply dependently upon the flow limiter and the first and second temperature sensors.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further including at least one temperature sensor positioned with respect to the coil and providing a value indicative the temperature of air exiting the coil, and being electrically coupled to the at least one controller. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one controller selectively operates the flow limiter responsive to the value indicative of the amount of moisture in the space and the value indicative the temperature of air existing the coil. 
     
     
         8 . A method for operating a cooling loop associated with a space and including at least one cooling coil and cooling fluid supply, the method comprising:
 determining a value substantially indicative of the absolute humidity of the space;   selectively recirculating cooling fluid through the at least one coil and independently of the supply dependently upon the determined value substantially indicative of the absolute humidity of the space.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising selectively operating a variable speed pump that recirculates the cooling fluid dependently upon temperatures of cooling fluid entering and existing the at least one coil. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising determining a value substantially indicative of a value indicative the temperature of air exiting the coil, and selectively recirculating cooling fluid through the at least one coil and independently of the supply dependently upon the determined value substantially indicative of the absolute humidity of the space and the determined value substantially indicative of a value indicative the temperature of air exiting the coil.