초록 ▼

A system for cooling gas heated by passing the gas over heat-producing equipment to cool the equipment comprises a heat exchanger including a first heat transfer mechanism configured to transfer heat from the heated gas to a first coolant, and a first condensing module connected for fluid communicat

A system for cooling gas heated by passing the gas over heat-producing equipment to cool the equipment comprises a heat exchanger including a first heat transfer mechanism configured to transfer heat from the heated gas to a first coolant, and a first condensing module connected for fluid communication with the heat exchanger and including second and third heat transfer mechanisms, the first condensing module being configured to transfer heat through the second and third heat transfer mechanisms from the first coolant to second and third coolants in the second and third heat transfer mechanisms, respectively.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A system for cooling gas heated by passing the gas over heat-producing equipment to cool the equipment, the system comprising: a heat exchanger including a first heat transfer mechanism configured to transfer heat from the heated gas to a first coolant; a first condensing mo

What is claimed is: 1. A system for cooling gas heated by passing the gas over heat-producing equipment to cool the equipment, the system comprising: a heat exchanger including a first heat transfer mechanism configured to transfer heat from the heated gas to a first coolant; a first condensing module connected for fluid communication with the heat exchanger and including second and third heat transfer mechanisms, the first condensing module being configured to transfer heat through the second and third heat transfer mechanisms from the first coolant to second and third coolants in the second and third heat transfer mechanisms, respectively, the first condensing module comprising: a first cooling subsystem including the first heat transfer mechanism and being configured to receive heated vapor phase first coolant and to transfer heat from the first coolant to the second coolant in the first heat transfer mechanism to cool and condense the heated first coolant; and a second cooling subsystem including the second heat transfer mechanism and being configured to receive heated vapor phase first coolant and to transfer heat from the first coolant to the third coolant in the second heat transfer mechanism to cool and condense the heated first coolant; at least one processor electrically coupled to the first condensing module and configured to control which of the first and second cooling subsystems cools and condenses the first coolant; and a distribution arrangement connected for fluid communication with the first condensing module and the heat exchanger and configured to transfer the first coolant from the first condensing module to the heat exchanger. 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one processor is configured to actuate the second cooling subsystem for cooling the heated first coolant if the first cooling subsystem is inoperable, the system further comprising an uninterruptible power supply, including a battery, coupled to the second cooling subsystem to provide battery power to the second cooling subsystem. 3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a backup condensing module that is connected for fluid communication with the second cooling subsystem and that comprises an ice storage tank. 4. The system of claim 3 wherein the backup condensing module is configured to receive third coolant from the second cooling subsystem and to transfer heat between the third coolant and water in the ice storage tank to cool the third coolant if the water is cooler than the received third coolant, and to cool the water if the received third coolant is cooler than the water. 5. The system of claim 4 wherein the at least one processor is configured to control operation of the first and second cooling subsystems such that: if the first cooling subsystem is operational and it is currently desired to form ice in the backup cooling subsystem, then the second cooling subsystem is actuated to subcool the third coolant below 32° F. and to provide the subcooled third coolant to the backup condensing module; and if the first cooling subsystem is non-operational and the second cooling subsystem is operational, then the second cooling subsystem is actuated to cool the third coolant using the ice in the backup cooling subsystem and to cool the first coolant using the third coolant that is cooled by the ice. 6. The system of claim 5 wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the second cooling subsystem to be actuated to subcool the third coolant only if the first cooling subsystem, in combination with other condensing modules if any, is able to supply cooling of the first coolant in excess of a demand for cooling of the first coolant. 7. The system of claim 6 wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the second cooling subsystem to be actuated to subcool the third coolant only if the first cooling subsystem, in combination with other condensing modules if any, is able to cool the first coolant in excess of a maximum anticipated demand for cooling of the first coolant. 8. The system of claim 6 wherein the system comprises at least one condensing module in addition to the first condensing module, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the second cooling subsystem of the first condensing module to be actuated to subcool the third coolant only if the at least one condensing in addition to the first condensing module is able to supply cooling of the first coolant in excess of a maximum anticipated demand for cooling of the first coolant. 9. The system of claim 3 wherein the backup cooling subsystem comprises multiple ice storage tanks and wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine that it is undesirable to form ice in the backup cooling subsystem if all of the ice storage tanks are considered full of ice. 10. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one processor is configured to control the first and second cooling subsystems and the distribution arrangement such that the first coolant is provided to the heat exchangers at a desired temperature and pressure. 11. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one processor is configured to control the first and second cooling subsystem and the distribution arrangement such that the third coolant is provided to the heat exchangers at a desired, constant temperature with different amounts of the third coolant in the system.