Evaporative cooling apparatus and methods

Abstract

An evaporative cooling apparatus includes a liquid reservoir and a pump coupled to the liquid reservoir. The pump includes a pressure output that applies a static pressure against the liquid stored in the liquid reservoir. The applied pressure forces liquid through a liquid supply line to a nozzle unit, and the liquid is ejected into a stream of forced air from a fan for evaporative cooling applications. The pressure output is also in fluid communication with the nozzle unit via a gas supply line extending between the pressure output and the nozzle unit for delivering gas into the nozzle unit. The gas delivered to the nozzle unit interacts with the liquid inside the nozzle unit to generate the atomized spray of liquid droplets.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for dispensing an atomized spray of liquid droplets into a stream of forced air generated by a fan, the apparatus comprising:
 a liquid reservoir;   a pump having a pressure output configured to emit pressurized gas;   a fan cover attached to the fan;   a nozzle unit disposed on the fan cover, the nozzle unit configured to dispense the atomized spray of liquid droplets into the forced air stream generated by the fan;   a liquid supply line disposed between the liquid reservoir and the nozzle unit, the liquid supply line configured to deliver liquid from the liquid reservoir to the nozzle unit; and   a gas supply line disposed between the pump and the nozzle unit, the gas supply line configured to deliver gas from the pump to the nozzle unit,   wherein the pressure output of the pump is in fluid communication with both the liquid reservoir and the gas supply line.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a nozzle socket integrally formed in the fan grill,   wherein the nozzle unit is mounted in the nozzle socket.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the fan cover including an inner side substantially facing the fan and an outer side substantially facing away from the fan,   wherein the nozzle unit is mounted in the nozzle socket from the inner side of the fan cover.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a support tower including a tower housing,   wherein the liquid supply line and the gas supply line are enclosed in the tower housing.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the pressure output is configured to simultaneously apply a static pressure to the liquid reservoir and to force gas through the gas supply line toward the nozzle unit.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the static pressure is between about 10 psi and about 50 psi. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the static pressure is between about 20 psi and about 30 psi. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a relief valve attached to the liquid reservoir.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the nozzle unit further comprising:
 a nozzle body forming a hollow interior and a liquid conduit extending axially into the hollow interior, the liquid conduit defining an axial liquid channel; and   a pressure cap disposed on the nozzle body, the pressure cap defining a pressure chamber inside the hollow interior of the nozzle body.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the liquid supply line is in fluid communication with the liquid channel in the liquid conduit; and   the gas supply line is in fluid communication with the pressure chamber.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second nozzle unit disposed on the fan grill; and   a third nozzle unit disposed on the fan grill,   wherein the second and third nozzle units are both in fluid communication with the liquid supply and with the gas supply line.   
     
     
         12 . A method of cooling a stream of forced air from a fan, comprising:
 (a) providing a liquid reservoir coupled to a pressure output from a pump such that the pressure output is in fluid communication with the liquid reservoir, wherein the pressure output on the pump is also coupled to a spray nozzle such that the pressure output is simultaneously in fluid communication with the spray nozzle;   (b) applying pressure from the pressure output against the liquid stored in the liquid reservoir while simultaneously forcing gas from the pressure output through a gas supply line extending from the reservoir to the spray nozzle; and   (c) forcing liquid from the liquid reservoir into a liquid supply line extending from the liquid reservoir to the spray nozzle.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 forcing gas from the gas supply line into the spray nozzle; and   forcing liquid from the liquid supply line into the spray nozzle.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 interacting the gas and liquid in the spray nozzle; and   ejecting an atomized spray of liquid droplets from the spray nozzle.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the atomized spray of liquid droplets is ejected into a stream of forced air from the fan.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 reducing the temperature of the stream of forced air.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the liquid is forced into the liquid supply line solely by the pressure applied from the pressure output on the liquid stored in the liquid reservoir.   
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for covering a fan, comprising:
 a fan grill having an inner side configured for facing toward the fan and an outer side configured for facing away from the fan; and   a nozzle socket integrally formed in the fan grill, the nozzle socket including a nozzle socket opening shaped to receive a spray nozzle.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a spray nozzle inserted into the nozzle socket, the spray nozzle including a liquid channel and a gas port.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a socket flange extending from the nozzle socket into the nozzle socket opening, wherein the socket flange is positioned nearer the outer side of the fan grill than the inner side of the fan grill,   wherein the socket flange provides an axial stop for the spray nozzle.