Modular adiabatic cooling apparatus and related installation method

Abstract

A modular adiabatic cooling apparatus comprises a lower module and an upper module which is provided with a ventilator, wherein each of said modules comprises a pair of heat exchangers disposed parallel in a vertical direction on opposite sides of a housing, and a pair of adiabatic evaporative cooling panels, each disposed on an external side of a heat exchanger, and reciprocal guide and coupler disposed in correspondence with respective connection faces, and have a non-operating configuration in which the lower and upper modules are separated from each other, and an operating configuration in which the upper module is stacked one on top of the lower module.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular adiabatic cooling apparatus comprising a lower module and an upper module which is provided with a ventilator, wherein each of said modules comprises, pre-installed, a pair of heat exchangers disposed parallel in the vertical direction on opposite sides of a housing, and a pair of adiabatic evaporative cooling panels, each disposed on an external side of a heat exchanger, wherein said modules comprise reciprocal guide and coupler disposed in correspondence with respective connection faces and have a non-operating configuration in which they are separated from each other, and an operating configuration in which they are disposed stacked one on top of the other and in which said upper module is located resting on said lower module in correspondence with respective rest portions and said guide and coupler are reciprocally engaged. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said modules comprise respective support structures which, in said operating configuration, are disposed in alignment one on top of another and the lower and upper surfaces of which define said rest portions. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as in  claim 2 , wherein said modules comprise respective support structures disposed internally with respect to the respective heat exchangers and comprise horizontal support elements and vertical support elements connected to said horizontal support elements by connection brackets, wherein the lower and upper surfaces of said facing horizontal support elements constitute said rest portions. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said guides are defined respectively by a lower shoulder element associated with each heat exchanger of said upper module, and by an upper shoulder element associated with a respective heat exchanger of said lower module, the shoulder elements being conformed in such a way as to be inserted one inside the other. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said modules comprise, pre-installed, respective electrical wiring, which, in said operating configuration, are connected by respective connectors. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as in  claim 1 , comprising an upper distributor disposed above each upper evaporative cooling panel, wherein each of said modules already comprises pre-installed respective lower and upper pipes suitable to define at least part of a fluid circuit suitable to supply water at least to said upper distributor, wherein said pipes, in said operating configuration, are connected by a fluid connection joint. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as in  claim 6 , wherein, between each of said upper evaporative cooling panels and the respective lower evaporative cooling panel therebelow, a distribution panel to distribute the water in a longitudinal direction is positioned. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as in  claim 6 , comprising a lower distributor disposed above each lower evaporative cooling panel, wherein said upper distributor is connected by said fluid circuit to a water source and said lower distributor is connected to a water collection tank positioned below the respective upper evaporative cooling panel. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as in  claim 6 , comprising a lower distributor disposed above each lower evaporative cooling panel, wherein said upper distributors and said lower distributors are connected to a water source. 
     
     
         10 . A method for installing a cooling apparatus, including steps for:
 transporting, to an installation site, a pre-assembled lower module that comprises a pair of heat exchangers disposed parallel in the vertical direction on opposite sides of a housing and a pair of evaporative cooling panels each disposed on an external side of a heat exchanger;   transporting, to the installation site, a pre-assembled upper module that comprises a pair of heat exchangers disposed parallel in the vertical direction on opposite sides of a housing and a pair of evaporative cooling panels each disposed on an external side of a heat exchanger and a ventilator;   positioning said upper module above said lower module, engaging respective guide and coupler with each other in order to align them correctly and placing said upper module resting on said lower module in correspondence with respective rest portions.