Systems and methods for controlling an evaporative cooling system

Abstract

An evaporative cooling system may be employed in barns or other facilities that house animals to provide cooling and to reduce production loss. The control system for the evaporative cooling system may include circuitry designed to control pumping of water to a water storage facility used to supply water to evaporative cooling pads supply based on data received on inputs for controlling equipment and devices in the evaporative cooling system. The evaporative cooling control system may include a control circuit configured to determine whether or not evaporative cooling would be effective and operates pumps to supply water for the evaporative cooling system at times when that determination is positive and refrains from operating pumps when that determination is negative.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A control circuit for controlling an evaporative cooling system, the control circuit configured to:
 receive an input signal indicating a relative humidity of ambient air of an environment associated with the evaporative cooling system as measured by a relative humidity sensor;   compare the relative humidity as measured by the relative humidity sensor to a defined humidity threshold from a humidity threshold setting; and   when the relative humidity as measured by the relative humidity sensor is below the defined humidity threshold, generate an output signal to cause a pump to pump water from a water storage facility to evaporative cooling pads in the evaporative cooling system.   
     
     
         2 . The control circuit of  claim 1 , further configured to:
 when the relative humidity as measured by the relative humidity sensor is above the defined humidity threshold:
 receive a second input signal generated by a high water level sensor coupled to the water storage facility indicating a water level of the water storage facility; and 
 in response to the second input signal indicating the water level is at or above a designated high water level, generate a second output signal to close a fill solenoid to discontinue introducing new water into the water storage facility. 
   
     
     
         3 . The control circuit of  claim 2 , further configured to, in response to the second input signal indicating the water level is below the designated high water level, generate a third output signal to open the fill solenoid so that new water is introduced into the water storage facility. 
     
     
         4 . The control circuit of  claim 1 , further configured to:
 receive a pH input signal generated by a pH sensor associated with the water storage facility indicating a pH of the water within the water storage facility.   
     
     
         5 . The control circuit of  claim 4 , further configured to:
 in response to a determination that the pH of the water within the water storage facility is below a pH threshold as indicated by the pH input signal, generate a second output signal to close a fill solenoid to discontinue introducing new water into the water storage facility.   
     
     
         6 . The control circuit of  claim 4 , further configured to:
 in response to a determination that the pH of the water within the water storage facility is above a pH threshold as indicated by the pH input signal, generate a third output signal to open a flush solenoid; and   generate a fourth output signal to turn on the pump.   
     
     
         7 . The control circuit of  claim 6 , further configured to:
 receive a low water level input signal; and   in response to a determination that the water within the water storage facility is below a designated low water level, generate a fifth output signal to turn off the pump; and   generate a sixth output signal to close the flush solenoid.   
     
     
         8 . The control circuit of  claim 6 , further configured to
 receive a low water level input signal; and   in response to a determination that the water within the water storage facility is at or above a designated low water level, leave the flush solenoid open and leave the pump on.   
     
     
         9 . The control circuit of  claim 4 , further configured to:
 receive a low water level input signal; and   in response to a determination that the water within the water storage facility is below a designated low water level, generate a fifth output signal to turn off the pump; and   generate a sixth output signal to close a flush solenoid.   
     
     
         10 . The control circuit of  claim 6 , further configured to:
 receive a second input signal generated by a high water level sensor coupled to the water storage facility indicating a water level of the water storage facility; and   in response to the second input signal indicating the water level is at or above a designated high water level, generate a second output signal to close a fill solenoid to discontinue introducing new water into the water storage facility.   
     
     
         11 . The control circuit of  claim 6 , further configured to:
 receive a high water level input signal generated by a high water level sensor coupled to the water storage facility indicating a water level of the water storage facility;   in response to the high water level input signal indicating the water level is below a designated high water level, generate a second output signal to open a fill solenoid to introduce new water into the water storage facility.   
     
     
         12 . The control circuit of  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature input configured to receive a temperature signal from a temperature sensor, wherein the control circuit is further configured to control the pump based at least in part on the temperature signal. 
     
     
         13 . The control circuit of  claim 1 , further comprising a timer, wherein the control circuit is configured to cause the water storage facility to flush at expiration of the timer. 
     
     
         14 . The control circuit of  claim 13 , wherein the control circuit is configured to send a signal to open a flush solenoid to begin flushing the water storage facility. 
     
     
         15 . A method for controlling an evaporative cooling system, the method comprising:
 receiving an input signal at a control circuit, the input signal indicating a relative humidity of ambient air of an environment associated with the evaporative cooling system as measured by a relative humidity sensor;   comparing, with the control circuit, the relative humidity as measured by the relative humidity sensor to a defined humidity threshold from a humidity threshold setting; and   when the relative humidity as measured by the relative humidity sensor is below the defined humidity threshold, generating an output signal from the control circuit to cause a pump to pump water from a water storage facility to evaporative cooling pads in the evaporative cooling system.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 when the relative humidity as measured by the relative humidity sensor is above the defined humidity threshold:
 receiving a second input signal generated by a high water level sensor coupled to the water storage facility indicating a water level of the water storage facility; 
 in response to the second input signal indicating the water level is at or above a designated high water level, generating a second output signal to close a fill solenoid to discontinue introducing new water into the water storage facility. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 in response to the second input signal indicating the water level is below the designated high water level, generating a third output signal to open the fill solenoid so that new water is introduced into the water storage facility.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising receiving a pH input signal generated by a pH sensor associated with the water storage facility indicating a pH of the water within the water storage facility. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 in response to a determination that the pH of the water within the water storage facility is below a pH threshold as indicated by the pH input signal, generating a second output signal to close a fill solenoid to discontinue introducing new water into the water storage facility.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 in response to a determination that the pH of the water within the water storage facility is above a pH threshold as indicated by the pH input signal, generating a third output signal to open a flush solenoid; and   generating a fourth output signal to turn on the pump.   
     
     
         21 . A method for controlling an evaporative cooling system, the method comprising:
 receiving an input signal at a control circuit, the input signal indicating an amount of light within an environment associated with the evaporative cooling system as measured by a photocell;   comparing, with the control circuit, the amount of light as measured by the photocell to a defined threshold; and   when the amount of light as measured by the photocell is indicative of daytime, generating an output signal from the control circuit to cause a pump to pump water from a water storage facility to evaporative cooling pads in the evaporative cooling system.   
     
     
         22 . An evaporative cooling system, comprising:
 a sensor comprising at least one of a photocell or a relative humidity sensor;   a water pump configured to pump water from a water storage facility to evaporative cooling pads; and   a control circuit coupled to the sensor and the water pump, the control circuit configured to:
 receive an input signal from the sensor; 
 based on the input signal from the sensor, determine if a sensor threshold is met; and 
 when the sensor threshold is met, generate an output signal to cause the water pump to pump water from the water storage facility to the evaporative cooling pads. 
   
     
     
         23 . The evaporative cooling system of  claim 22 , further comprising a second water pump and a second control circuit, the second control circuit configured to:
 receive the input signal from the sensor;   based on the input signal from the sensor, determine if the sensor threshold is met; and   when the sensor threshold is met, generate a second output signal to cause the second water pump to pump water from a second water storage facility to second evaporative cooling pads.