Abstract: An apparatus for use in a counter flow heat exchange assembly that provides increased heat exchange. The apparatus includes a plurality of adjacently spaced arrays, each array having a plurality of cooling conduits that are connected to one another through the utilization of connector portions. In addition, the apparatus includes a vertical partition that extends between some or all conduits of each array.

Abstract: A cross-flow cooling tower having a frame assembly that is unitarily molded from a plastic material. The frame assembly has opposing top and bottom walls along with opposing side walls and opposing ends. The side walls extend parallel to one another between the top and bottom walls. In addition, the opposing ends extend parallel to one another between the top and bottom walls. The frame assembly additionally has a vertical stack extending vertically from the top wall. The top covers of the tower extend outwardly and downwardly from the vertical stack.

Abstract: A top for a cooling tower having a bottom wall at least one opening therein for accommodating an air current generator. The cooling tower top additionally includes a plurality of hot liquid distributors for distributing hot liquid. The cooling tower top also includes a top wall having an opening for accommodating an air cooling generator and a liquid inlet.

Abstract: Heat exchanger packs having a first set of passageways for receiving a stream of ambient air and a second set of passageways for receiving a stream of warm water laden air is disclosed. The first set of passageways and second set of passageways being separate and permitting the warm water laden air stream to be cooled by the stream of ambient air so that water can condense out of the warm water laden air stream. Cooling tower configurations including the heat exchanger pack are disclosed for achieving effluent plume abatement, and capture of a portion of the effluent for replacement back into the cooling tower reservoir or as a source of purified water.

Abstract: Heat exchanger packs having a first set of passageways for receiving a stream of ambient air and a second set of passageways for receiving a stream of warm water laden air is disclosed. The first set of passageways and second set of passageways being separate and permitting the warm water laden air stream to be cooled by the stream of ambient air so that water can condense out of the warm water laden air stream. Cooling tower configurations including the heat exchanger pack are disclosed for achieving effluent plume abatement, and capture of a portion of the effluent for replacement back into the cooling tower reservoir or as a source of purified water.

Abstract: A nested, expandable, compact, liquid film fill sheet bundle is provided which facilitates shipment and then installation of the sheets to present a film fill pack for use in liquid cooling apparatus. The bundle includes a plurality of shingled, nested film fill sheets each having repeating, successive, area-increasing surface patterns on opposite faces thereof which complementally nest when the sheets are in bundled, shingled relationship. The sheets which are shingled are offset from the other sheets of the bundle by an amount equal to the width of each of the successive, repeating, surface area-increasing patterns in the sheets. The nested bundle is raised as a unit to the site of the fill pack where it is installed on support structure for the fill pack. The film fill sheets are then successively and sequentially expanded while carried by the fill pack support structure by shifting either one sheet with respect to the next adjacent sheet, or by shifting adjacent sheets relative to one another.

Abstract: Improved water cooling towers are provided which include pultruded fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) structural components and assemblies. To this end, integrally formed, pultruded channels (26, 26a) are provided having central web sections (28, 28a), endmost flanges (30, 30a, 32, 32a), and obliquely oriented, reinforcing legs (34, 34a, 36, 36a). Pultruded tubular columns or beams (68) are also provided having thickened central wall sections (94, 96, 98, 100) and relatively thin corner sections (102, 104, 106, 108). In order to connect the beams (68) and channels (26, 26a), use is made of connectors (110) having pultruded FRP sleeves (118) and an associated bolt and nut assembly (112, 114). The sleeve (118) is designed to pass through aligned apertures (120, 124, 122, 126) in the beam walls and channel member sections to provide greater strength and shear capacity.

Abstract: A high thermal capacity crossflow water cooling tower (30) is provided having upright fill structure (32) with a plurality of water distributors (34) oriented to deliver initially hot water to upper portions of the fill structure (32) for gravitation therethrough, with a cooling air current generator for producing cooling air currents which enter the fill structure inlet face (44) and exit the fill both laterally through the fill outlet face (46) and upwardly through the horizontal fill upper face (48). In practice, at least about 50% (more preferably at least about 70%) of the total airflow through the fill structure (32) exits the fill through the outlet face (46). Low cooling potential air traversing the fill structure (32) is thus vented upwardly so that greater volumes of more effective cooling air may be drawn through the fill structure (32).

Abstract: A dry-air-surface heat exchanger is provided for use in a liquid cooling tower, and includes a plurality of preformed, shape-retaining heat transfer members of relatively thin synthetic resin sheet material. Each member presents a pair of upright, side-by-side panels that are preferably folded together about a vertical axis to present inward-facing wet-transfer surfaces adapted to transfer heat between the fluid and the member, and an outward-facing dry-transfer surface adapted to transfer heat between the member and air. The folded member is configured to present a series of tortuous liquid flow paths between the panels extending between the upper and lower edges, and the side edges are secured together in substantially fluid tight sealing engagement. A plurality of the folded members are provided in a pack, and a diffuser is positioned adjacent to the upper edges of the folded members for receiving hot liquid and directing the hot liquid between the panels of each member.

Abstract: A pultrudable, fiber reinforced synthetic resin multiple purpose panel for cooling towers is provided of construction such that when a series of the panels are mounted in side-by-side relationship on supporting structure of the tower, they may be used to form either a deck or wall of the tower. Each of the panels has an elongated main panel section, and two longitudinally extending end sections which project from the main panel section in the same direction. A flange extending outwardly from the outer margin of one of the end sections is adapted to receive a series of self-tapping fasteners for securing each of the panel sections to the tower supporting structure.

Abstract: A fire resistant industrial water cooling tower (20) is disclosed having normally closed passive vent structure (28) which vents the interior of the tower (20) above the area which is undergoing combustion to enhance suppression of the fire. The vent area is dependent upon the location and extent of the fire. The vent structure (28) comprises means presenting a series of vent openings which are closed by a component (88) that responds to flames and/or hot products of combustion to move out of blocking relationship to the opening thus venting the interior of the tower. In preferred embodiments, the vent includes a panel member (82) having a series of openings (83) therein which are either covered or blocked by a synthetic resin member (88) formed of a material which will burn and has a relatively low melt temperature thereby causing the material to either burn or rapidly melt when subjected to flames and/or hot products of combustion resulting from a fire in a part of the tower.

Abstract: A counterflow cooling tower (10) is provided having specially designed inlets (14, 16) which minimize turbulence and air flow disruption at the inlet region of the tower (10), thereby increasing cooling efficiency. The tower (10) preferably includes a casing (12) presenting sidewalls (28, 30) each having a lower edge (14a, 16a) which defines the upper margins of the inlets (14, 16). The tower fill structure (20) presents, adjacent each inlet (14, 16) a relieved air entrance face (44, 46) which extends at an angle both downwardly and inwardly from the adjacent casing wall edge (14a, 16a); in addition, the fill structure (20) includes a generally horizontal bottom surface (48) inboard of and below the edges (14a, 16a). A substantially unrestricted, fill-free air flow zone (51) extends between the inlets (14, 16) and between the fill bottom surface (48) and the tower cold water collection basin (22).

Abstract: A retractable cover unit for a hot water distribution basin of a cooling tower includes a frame secured to the basin and a flaccid cover. The frame includes opposed framing members overlying the opposed side walls of the basin, and a pair of connectors are secured between the framing members and spaced laterally from one another. A plurality of grommets are presented along the lateral sides of the cover through which the connectors are threaded. The end edges of the cover are attached to the framing members for holding the cover over the basin, while structure is provided for detaching at least one of the end edges of the cover to permit the cover to be moved along the connectors allowing access to the basin.

Abstract: A multi-level film fill industrial size water cooling tower is disclosed having upper and lower film fill packs arranged one above the other, and wherein a self-balancing hot water distribution system is provided for directing flows of hot water from the main supply line to respective distributors which are proportional to flow of hot water in the main supply line. Laterally extending distribution pipes connected to the main supply line in overlying relationship to the film fill packs have restrictor nozzles thereon all located in a common horizontal plane, so that the flow of hot water from all of the nozzles remains proportional to the flow in the main supply line. Each of the restrictor nozzles is vented to the surrounding atmosphere to prevent creation of significant negative pressure on the hot water flowing from each nozzle.

Abstract: A method of rehabilitating existing circular, industrial-size crossflow water cooling towers is provided wherein a new fill ring is built by sequentially constructing segments of the new ring around the old ring until the full circumference thereof has been encased. The individual structural segments are added to the existing fill ring without the necessity of deactivating the tower or significantly decreasing its performance output. New ring segments may be sequentially constructed next adjacent a previously initiated fill supporting structure well before completion of the latter. As soon as each new fill supporting structure is completed to a point that new fill components may be incorporated therein, hot water from the existing distribution basin may be directed to the new fill section, and the old fill removed. Addition of the fill ring around the existing fill ring increases the capacity of the tower at a cost substantially less than constructing a new tower.

Abstract: A fill pack for counterflow water cooling towers is disclosed which is provided a series of generally parallel upright film fill sheet sections wherein each of the sheet sections has wall structure configured such that adjacent sheet sections define therebetween a series of elongated, side-by-side, vertical, longitudinally non-linear passages for receipt of hot water which flows in counter-current heat exchange relationship with upflowing coolant air. Each of the passages is defined fully formed tube sections having an open area throughout their length of dimensions such that there is no tendency for the passages to become clogged by extraneous objects in the water or microorganism growth on the wall structure defining the passages. Transition zones between horizontally offset vertical segments of the passages provide for smooth and uniform film flow of water from one passage segment to the offset passage segments therebelow.

Abstract: An elongated, flexible protective urethane member is bonded and firmly affixed to the leading edge of a glass fiber reinforced polyester skin fan blade for large diameter industrial water cooling tower fans. The polyester blade without such protective member would be subject to leading edge abrasion and deterioration during use. The flexible protective member is applied to the blade prior to curing of the chemically thickened polyester skin. Firm bonding and adherence of the protective member to the leading edge of the blade skin is obtained by curing of the skin with the protective member in place over the leading edge of the blade.

Abstract: Improved synthetic resin splash-type fill bar (32) for water cooling tower fill assemblies (26, 28) are provided which give enhanced cooling results over virtually the entire range of duty conditions encountered in commerical practice. The bars (32) are preferably integrally formed of PVC and present a dome-like cross-sectional configuration, with an imperforate, fore and aft extending upper apex section (36) and downwardly and outwardly diverging, apertured sidewalls (38, 40) terminating in bifurcated feet (42, 44). The sidewall apertures (50) are nominally circular and are arranged in staggered rows to maximize dispersal of descending hot water in a tower fill. The bars (32) are advantageously used in crossflow cooling tower (10), and are preferably oriented transverse to incoming cooling air currents entering the fill assemblies (26, 28) of the tower (10).

Abstract: An improved splash-type fill bar (32) for water cooling towers (10) is provided which gives enhanced water cooling as compared with conventional bars. The bars (32) are of trapezoidal configuration and present a flat, apertured top wall (36), a pair of obliquely oriented, downwardly and outwardly extending apertured sidewalls (42, 44) and short, horizontal, imperforate flange walls (50, 52) extending from the lower margins (46, 48) of the sidewalls (42, 44). The width of top wall (36) is at least four times the vertical height of a sidewall (42, 44) so as to present an effective water dispersal surface; the oblique sidewalls (42, 44) and flange walls (50, 52) prevent formation of gravitating sheets or films of water which can inhibit tower performance.