Evaporative cooling system and device

Abstract

An evaporative cooling system includes an indirect cooling coil containing a cooling fluid to be circulated and a blower assembly configured to generate an inlet air stream through the indirect cooling coil. The cooling fluid in the indirect cooling coil is a slurry of water and phase change material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooling system, comprising:
 a cooling coil containing a cooling fluid to be circulated;   a fan configured to generate an inlet air stream through said cooling coil; and   a thermal battery bank arranged downstream from said indirect cooling coil and configured to absorb heat from said inlet air stream.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said thermal battery bank includes a plurality of thermal battery pods containing a cooling fluid.   
     
     
         3 . The cooling system according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 said cooling fluid is a slurry of water and a phase change material.   
     
     
         4 . The cooling system according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 said phase change material has a latent heat absorption capacity that is approximately 5 times that of water.   
     
     
         5 . The cooling system according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 said cooling coil, said fan and said thermal battery bank are contained within a housing.   
     
     
         6 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said thermal battery pods are removable from said battery bank.   
     
     
         7 . An evaporative cooling device, comprising:
 a housing;   a first heat exchanger containing a first cooling fluid to be circulated through said heat exchanger, said first cooling fluid including a slurry of water and a phase change material; and   a fan configured to generate an inlet air stream through said first heat exchanger.   
     
     
         8 . The evaporative cooling device according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a second heat exchanger, said second heat exchanger containing a second fluid, said second fluid configured to absorb heat from said first cooling fluid.   
     
     
         9 . The evaporative cooling device according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 said phase change material has a latent heat absorption capacity that is approximately 5 times that of water.   
     
     
         10 . A method of cooling a target area, said method comprising the steps of:
 initiating a flow of inlet air;   cooling said inlet air by passing said inlet air through a thermal battery bank having a plurality of thermal battery pods containing a cooling fluid; and   cooling said inlet air by passing said inlet air through a first heat exchanger containing a circulated cooling fluid when a cooling capability of said thermal battery bank is substantially exhausted.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of:
 circulating said cooling fluid through a second heat exchanger to remove heat absorbed by said cooling fluid.