Cooling system including a controlled atmospheric heat rejection cycle with water re-capture

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a cooling system including a controlled atmospheric heat rejection cycle with water re-capture. The cooling system for cooling a heat load includes a first evaporative section configured to circulate a first fluid to enable heat transfer from the heat load to the first fluid, a second evaporative section in fluid communication with the first evaporative section and configured to circulate the first fluid, and a liquid refrigerant distribution unit in thermal communication with the second evaporative section. The liquid refrigerant distribution unit is configured to circulate a second fluid to enable heat transfer from the first fluid to the second fluid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An evaporative cooling system for cooling a heat load, comprising:
 a first evaporative section configured to circulate a first fluid to enable heat transfer from the heat load to the first fluid;   a second evaporative section in fluid communication with the first evaporative section, the second evaporative section configured to circulate the first fluid; and   a liquid refrigerant distribution unit in thermal communication with the second evaporative section, the liquid refrigerant distribution unit configured to circulate a second fluid to enable heat transfer from the first fluid to the second fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The evaporative cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid is a mixture of air and water, and the second fluid is refrigerant. 
     
     
         3 . The evaporative cooling system of  claim 2 , wherein the first evaporative section comprises a heat exchange member, wherein the heat of the heat load is transferred to the first fluid as an air and water mixture flowing across the heat exchange member. 
     
     
         4 . The evaporative cooling system of  claim 3 , wherein the first evaporative section further comprises a water spray system configured to spray water into to the recirculating flow of the air and water mixture flowing across the heat exchange member. 
     
     
         5 . The evaporative cooling system of  claim 4 , wherein the water spray system is coupled to a grey water storage vessel disposed below the heat exchange member, wherein the grey water storage vessel forms a water supply for the water spray system. 
     
     
         6 . The evaporative cooling system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the liquid refrigerant distribution unit comprises a first liquid refrigerant distribution unit and a second liquid refrigerant distribution unit, and   wherein the second evaporative section comprises a first evaporation coil in fluid communication with a first liquid refrigerant assist circuit of the first liquid refrigerant distribution unit.   
     
     
         7 . The evaporative cooling system of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the second evaporative section further comprises a second evaporation coil in fluid communication with a second liquid refrigerant assist circuit of the second liquid refrigerant distribution unit.   
     
     
         8 . The evaporative cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid refrigerant distribution unit comprises a liquid refrigerant assist circuit in fluid communication with the second evaporative section. 
     
     
         9 . The evaporative cooling system of  claim 8 ,
 wherein the first fluid is a first refrigerant, and   wherein the liquid refrigerant distribution unit further comprises a trim compressor circuit, in which a second refrigerant flows, in thermal communication with the refrigerant flowing in the liquid refrigerant assist circuit.   
     
     
         10 . The evaporative cooling system of  claim 9 , wherein the liquid refrigerant distribution unit comprises a second liquid refrigerant assist circuit in fluid communication with the second evaporative section. 
     
     
         11 . The evaporative cooling system of  claim 10 , wherein the liquid refrigerant distribution unit further comprises a second trim compressor circuit, in which the second refrigerant flows, in thermal communication with the first refrigerant flowing in the second liquid refrigerant assist circuit. 
     
     
         12 . The evaporative cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the second evaporative section further comprises at least one evaporation coil in fluid communication with the liquid refrigerant distribution unit. 
     
     
         13 . The evaporative cooling system of  claim 12 , wherein the at least a portion of the first fluid recirculating in the first evaporative section is condensed into a potable water receiving vessel disposed below the at least one evaporation coil. 
     
     
         14 . The evaporative cooling system of  claim 13 , further comprising a conduit in fluid communication with the potable water receiving vessel to enable flow of potable water from the evaporative cooling system. 
     
     
         15 . The evaporative cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid is air, the evaporative cooling system further comprising:
 an air intake pathway in fluid communication with the first evaporative section to enable the flow of air external to the evaporative cooling system into the first evaporative section; and   a wet bulb temperature sensor disposed in the air intake pathway for sensing the wet bulb temperature of the air external to the evaporative cooling system.   
     
     
         16 . The evaporative cooling system of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a heat rejection member disposed in the first evaporative section to enable the cooling of the heat load;   an enthalpy sensor disposed in proximity to the heat rejection member configured to sense the enthalpy of the air flowing across the heat rejection member;   at least one fan configured to recirculate the air through the first and second evaporative sections; and   a controller configured to control the at least one fan and the liquid refrigerant distribution unit based on the wet bulb temperature sensed by the wet bulb temperature sensor and the enthalpy sensed by the enthalpy sensor.