Evaporative Cooler and Method for Controlling the Same

Abstract

An evaporative cooler includes a first heat exchanger, a first coolant storage, a second coolant storage, and a first airflow drive. The first heat exchanger is capable of cooling a coolant flowing through the first heat exchanger, and cooling an air flowing through the first heat exchanger by way of the cooled coolant. The first coolant storage forms a first coolant circulating path with the first heat exchanger and provides the coolant to the first heat exchanger. The second coolant storage forms a second coolant circulating path with the first coolant storage and is capable of supplementing the first coolant storage with the coolant. The capacity of the second coolant storage is larger than that of the first coolant storage. The first airflow drive cooperates with the first heat exchanger to direct and eject the air flowing through the first heat exchanger.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An evaporative cooler, comprising:
 a first heat exchanger capable of cooling a coolant flowing through the first heat exchanger, and capable of cooling an air flowing through the first heat exchanger by way of the cooled coolant;   a first coolant storage forming a first coolant circulating path with the first heat exchanger and providing the coolant to the first heat exchanger;   a second coolant storage forming a second coolant circulating path with the first coolant storage and capable of supplementing the first coolant storage with the coolant, the second coolant storage having a larger capacity than that of the first coolant storage; and   a first airflow drive cooperating with the first heat exchanger to direct and eject the air flowing through the first heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The evaporative cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein the second coolant storage, the first heat exchanger, and the first coolant storage are sequentially in communication with one another to form a thirdcoolant circulating path. 
     
     
         3 . The evaporative cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein the first coolant storage is disposed above the second coolant storage, and the first coolant storage is provided with an overflow port communicating with the second coolant storage. 
     
     
         4 . The evaporative cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein the first coolant storage has a water level sensor assembly configured therein, and the second coolant storage has a first pump configured thereon, the first pump being controllable to turn on or off a supply of the coolant to the second coolant storage according to a sensing signal sent by the water level sensor assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The evaporative cooler according to  claim 4 , wherein the water level sensor assembly includes a low-water-level sensor provided within the first coolant storage. 
     
     
         6 . The evaporative cooler according to  claim 5 , wherein the water level sensor further comprises a high-water-level sensor provided within the first coolant storage, the high-water-level sensor being disposed above the low-water-level sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The evaporative cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein a semiconductor cooling component is provided within the first coolant storage. 
     
     
         8 . The evaporative cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein an outer side of the first coolant storage is wrapped with a heat insulating layer. 
     
     
         9 . The evaporative cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein a second pump is provided between the first coolant storage and the first heat exchanger. 
     
     
         10 . The evaporative cooler according to  claim 1 , further comprising a housing having a chamber therein and an inlet and an outlet communicating with the chamber thereon, a first airflow passage being formed between the inlet and the outlet, wehrein the first heat exchanger is disposed in the first airflow passage. 
     
     
         11 . The evaporative cooler according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a second heat exchanger forming a fourth coolant circulating path with the first coolant storage, and   a second airflow drive cooperating with the second heat exchanger to direct and eject the air flowing through the second heat exchanger.   
     
     
         12 . The evaporative cooler according to  claim 11 , wherein a second airflow passage is further formed within the chamber and capable of directing at least part of the air cooled by the second heat exchanger into the first airflow passage. 
     
     
         13 . The evaporative cooler according to  claim 12 , wherein an air valve for controlling an opening degree of the second airflow passage is provided in the second airflow passage. 
     
     
         14 . The evaporative cooler according to  claim 12 , wherein a third airflow passage is further formed in the chamber, the second heat exchanger is disposed in the third airflow passage, and wherein, the water vapor and air that have been heat exchanged in the second heat exchanger can be discharged out of the chamber through the third airflow passage. 
     
     
         15 . The evaporative cooler according to  claim 10 , further comprising a dehumidifier provided on a side of the inlet and/or a side of the outlet of the first heat exchanger. 
     
     
         16 . The evaporative cooler according to  claim 15 , wherein the dehumidifier is a semiconductor dehumidifier or an adsorbent dehumidifier. 
     
     
         17 . A method for controlling the evaporative cooler according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 in operation, the first coolant storage provides the coolant for the first heat exchanger.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the second coolant storage supplements the first coolant storage with the coolant when a water level in the first coolant storage is lower than a preset level. 
     
     
         19 . A method for controlling the evaporative cooler according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 in a first mode, operating the first heat exchanger and the first airflow drive, and guiding and ejecting, by the first airflow drive, the air flowing through the first heat exchanger; and   in a second mode, operating the first heat exchanger and the first airflow drive, and guiding and ejecting, by the first airflow drive, the air flowing through the first heat exchanger; operating the second heat exchanger and the second airflow drive, and guiding and ejecting, by the second airflow drive, the air flowing through the second heat exchanger.