Method and system for hybrid cooling systems

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for a hybrid cooling system is provided that includes a load center with a load center inlet and a load center outlet. The system also includes a condenser that has a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet. The load center outlet is fluidically coupled to the condenser inlet. The system further includes a cooling tower that has a cooling tower inlet and a cooling tower outlet. The condenser outlet is fluidically coupled to the cooling tower inlet. The system includes an evaporator that has an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet. The cooling tower outlet is fluidically coupled to the evaporator inlet, and the evaporator outlet is fluidically coupled to the load center inlet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hybrid cooling system comprising:
 a load center including a load center inlet and a load center outlet;   a condenser including a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet, the load center outlet fluidically coupled to the condenser inlet;   a cooling tower including a cooling tower inlet and a cooling tower outlet, the condenser outlet fluidically coupled to the cooling tower inlet; and   an evaporator including an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet, the cooling tower outlet fluidically coupled to the evaporator inlet, the evaporator outlet fluidically coupled to the load center inlet.   
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first valve configured to direct a coolant from the cooling tower outlet to the evaporator inlet and a second valve configured to direct the coolant from the load center outlet to the condenser inlet. 
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a variable speed pump configured to circulate a coolant and maintain a flow rate of the coolant. 
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first temperature sensor to monitor a temperature of a coolant that exits the cooling tower outlet. 
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 4 , wherein the cooling tower includes a variable speed fan configured to adjust fan speed based on the temperature of the coolant that exits the cooling tower outlet. 
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooling tower includes a variable speed fan configured to adjust fan speed based on a wet bulb temperature of an exterior atmosphere. 
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a coolant that is cooling water. 
     
     
         8 . A cooling system comprising:
 a load center including a load center inlet and a load center outlet;   a condenser including a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet;   a cooling tower including a cooling tower inlet and a cooling tower outlet;   an evaporator including an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet;   a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of a first coolant that exits the cooling tower outlet;   based on the measured temperature being greater than a first designed temperature, the first coolant directed from the load center outlet to the condenser inlet, from the condenser outlet to the cooling tower inlet, from the cooling tower outlet to the evaporator inlet; and from the evaporator outlet to the load center inlet; and   based on the measured temperature being less than or equal to the first designed temperature, the first coolant directed from the load center outlet to the cooling tower inlet, and from the cooling tower outlet to the load center inlet.   
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 based on the measured temperature being greater than a second designed temperature:
 the first coolant directed from the cooling tower outlet to the condenser inlet and from the condenser outlet to the cooling tower inlet; and 
 a second coolant directed from the evaporator outlet to the load center inlet and from the load center outlet to the evaporator inlet. 
   
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a first valve configured to direct the first coolant from the cooling tower outlet to the evaporator inlet or the load center inlet; and   a second valve configured to direct the first coolant from the load center outlet to the condenser inlet or the cooling tower inlet.   
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a third valve configured to direct the first coolant from the cooling tower outlet to the condenser inlet; and   a fourth valve configured to direct the second coolant from the load center outlet to the evaporator inlet.   
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 8 , further comprising a variable speed pump configured to circulate the first coolant and maintain a flow rate of the first coolant. 
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 9 , further comprising a second variable speed pump configured to circulate the second coolant and maintain a flow rate of the second coolant. 
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 8 , further comprising a variable speed fan operating based on the measured temperature. 
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor configured to measure a wet bulb temperature; and   a variable speed fan operating based on the measured wet bulb temperature.   
     
     
         16 . A method for a cooling system comprising:
 measuring a cooling tower exit temperature of a first coolant;   based on the measured temperature being greater than a first designed temperature, directing the first coolant from a load center outlet to a condenser inlet, from a condenser outlet to a cooling tower inlet, from a cooling tower outlet to an evaporator inlet; and from an evaporator outlet to a load center inlet; and   based on the measured temperature being less than or equal to the first designed temperature, directing the first coolant from the load center outlet to the cooling tower inlet, and from the cooling tower outlet to the load center inlet.   
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 based on the measured temperature being greater than a second designed temperature:
 directing the first coolant from the cooling tower outlet to the condenser inlet and from the condenser outlet to the cooling tower inlet; and 
 directing a second coolant from the evaporator outlet to the load center inlet and from the load center outlet to the evaporator inlet. 
   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 configuring a first valve to direct the first coolant from the cooling tower outlet to the evaporator inlet or the load center inlet; and   configuring a second valve to direct the first coolant from the load center outlet to the condenser inlet or the cooling tower inlet.   
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 configuring a third valve to direct the first coolant from the cooling tower outlet to the condenser inlet; and   configuring a fourth valve to direct the second coolant from the load center outlet to the evaporator inlet.   
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising configuring a variable speed pump to circulate the first coolant and maintain a flow rate of the first coolant.