Material cooling system having a variable heat rejection interface

Abstract

A cooling system for an industrial facility includes a facility that has a thermal energy output and an input, a dry cooler that includes a plurality of blowers, an evaporative cooling tower, a fluid-cooled chiller, a valving system that receives a thermally-charged media from the thermal energy output for delivery to at least one of the dry cooler, the evaporative cooling tower, and the fluid-cooled chiller, and a temperature sensor that is in communication with the valving system via a controller. The temperature sensor measures a current ambient temperature and cooperates with the controller to automatically adjust the valving system to direct the thermally-charged media to one of the dry cooler, the evaporative cooling tower, and the fluid-cooled chiller for rejecting heat from the thermally-charged media to define a thermally-receptive media. The cooling system further includes a return conduit that delivers the thermally-receptive media to the input.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooling system for an industrial facility, the cooling system comprising:
 a facility having a thermal energy output and an input;   a dry cooler that includes a plurality of blowers;   an evaporative cooling tower;   a fluid-cooled chiller;   a valving system that receives a thermally-charged media from the thermal energy output for delivery to at least one of the dry cooler, the evaporative cooling tower, and the fluid-cooled chiller;   a temperature sensor in communication with the valving system via a controller, wherein the temperature sensor measures a current ambient temperature and cooperates with the controller to automatically adjust the valving system to direct the thermally-charged media to one of the dry cooler, the evaporative cooling tower, and the fluid-cooled chiller for rejecting heat from the thermally-charged media to define a thermally-receptive media; and   a return conduit that delivers the thermally-receptive media to the input.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the valving system operates to deliver the thermally-charged media to the fluid-cooled chiller when the ambient temperature is within a predetermined temperature range. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling system of  claim 2 , wherein the valving system operates to deliver the thermally-charged media to the dry cooler when the ambient temperature is below the predetermined temperature range. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling system of  claim 3 , wherein the valving system operates to deliver the thermally-charged media to the evaporative cooling tower when the ambient temperature is above the predetermined temperature range. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling system of  claim 4 , wherein the predetermined temperature range is between approximately 30 degrees Fahrenheit at dry bulb and approximately 70 degrees Fahrenheit at dry bulb. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is incorporated within the valving system. 
     
     
         7 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the valving system, the dry cooler, the evaporative cooling tower, and the fluid-cooled chiller are incorporated within a self-contained assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermally-charged media is delivered from the thermal energy output to the valving system via a gravity-operated drain. 
     
     
         9 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the return conduit includes a process pump that directs the thermally-receptive media to the input. 
     
     
         10 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , further comprising a filtration system that is positions between the thermal energy output and the valving system. 
     
     
         11 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , further comprising a supplemental delivery conduit having a cooling fluid that extends from the fluid-cooled chiller to the dry cooler and the evaporative cooling tower. 
     
     
         12 . The cooling system of  claim 11 , wherein the dry cooler and the evaporative cooling tower provide a supplemental thermal exchange system that supports the fluid-cooled chiller. 
     
     
         13 . A cooling system for an industrial facility, the cooling system comprising:
 a dry cooler that includes a plurality of blowers;   an evaporative cooling tower;   a fluid-cooled chiller;   a valving system that delivers a thermally-charged media to one of the dry cooler, the evaporative cooling tower, and the fluid-cooled chiller, wherein the valving system is configured to receive the thermally-charged media from an injection molding facility;   a temperature sensor in communication with the valving system via a controller, wherein the temperature sensor measures a current ambient temperature and cooperates with the controller to automatically adjust the valving system to direct the thermally-charged media to one of the dry cooler, the evaporative cooling tower, and the fluid-cooled chiller for rejecting heat from the thermally-charged media to define a thermally-receptive media; and   a supplemental cooling system that extends between the fluid-cooled chiller to the dry cooler and between the fluid-cooled chiller to the evaporative cooling tower, the supplemental cooling system assisting the fluid-cooled chiller in rejecting heat from the thermally-charged media.   
     
     
         14 . The cooling system of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the valving system operates to deliver the thermally-charged media to the fluid-cooled chiller when the current ambient temperature is within a predetermined temperature range;   the valving system operates to deliver the thermally-charged media to the dry cooler when the current ambient temperature is below the predetermined temperature range; and   the valving system operates to deliver the thermally-charged media to the evaporative cooling tower when the current ambient temperature is above the predetermined temperature range.   
     
     
         15 . The cooling system of  claim 14 , wherein the predetermined temperature range is between approximately 30 degrees Fahrenheit at dry bulb and approximately 70 degrees Fahrenheit at dry bulb. 
     
     
         16 . The cooling system of  claim 13 , wherein the valving system, the dry cooler, the evaporative cooling tower, and the fluid-cooled chiller are incorporated within a self-contained assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The cooling system of  claim 13 , wherein a filtration system is positioned upstream of the valving system. 
     
     
         18 . The cooling system of  claim 13 , wherein the controller is incorporated within the valving system. 
     
     
         19 . A method for operating a cooling system for a facility, the method including steps of:
 delivering a thermally-charged media from a facility to a cooling system;   measuring a temperature of ambient air surrounding the facility utilizing a temperature sensor;   operating a valving system based upon the temperature of the ambient air to deliver the thermally-charged media to one of a dry cooler, an evaporative cooling tower and a fluid-cooled chiller;   rejecting heat from the thermally-charged media to define a thermally-receptive media; and   returning the thermally-receptive media to the facility.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the step of operating the valving system includes:
 operating the valving system to deliver the thermally-charged media to the fluid-cooled chiller when the temperature of the ambient air is within a predetermined temperature range;   operating the valving system to deliver the thermally-charged media to the dry cooler when the temperature of the ambient air is below the predetermined temperature range; and   operating the valving system to deliver the thermally-charged media to the evaporative cooling tower when the temperature of the ambient air is above the predetermined temperature range.