Gas-flow Control Patents (Class 261/109)
  • Patent number: 5344614
    Abstract: A reactor for reducing sulfur oxides emissions in a combustion process in which flue gases containing entrained fuel and sorbent particles are humidified so that the sulfur oxides are absorbed on the sorbent particles to reduce the discharge of the sulfur oxides into the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation
    Inventor: John T. Tang
  • Patent number: 5227096
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: The Marley Cooling Tower Company
    Inventor: Thomas W. Bugler, III
  • Patent number: 5028356
    Abstract: A cooling tower assembly comprising at least first and second layers of fill within the tower chamber, each of the first and second layers of fill having a source of water introduced above the fill for moving through gravity downthrough the fill during the cooling process. There is further included an upper fan member circulating at the top portion of the tower for drawing air through inlet panels along the walls of the tower through the first and second layers of fill to cool the water as it is percolating through the fill contents. The first and second layers of fill would be separated by a horizontal baffle member so that air pulled through the lower layer of fill would be prevented from the first layer, but would flow through a centrally located air flow chamber within the upper layer of fill to be drawn out of the chamber by the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Inventor: Vincent Wiltz
  • Patent number: 5019300
    Abstract: A direct contact water-to-air heat exchanger includes a columnar air/water contact chamber which includes inclined sheet-like turning vanes for establishing three heat transfer zones therein and a partly countercurrent, partly crosscurrent heat exchange environment. The heat exchanger has applicability for supplying cold moisture laden air in the postharvest forced air precooling of agricultural produce.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignees: Carolina Power & Light Company, North Carolina Alternative Energy Corporation, North Carolina Department of Economic
    Inventors: Thomas L. Davis, John P. Shell, Robert N. Elliott, III, Carsie K. Denning
  • Patent number: 4955585
    Abstract: An energy conserving highly efficient hydraulically energized cooling tower fan system is provided having a rotary fan and hydraulic motor for operation thereof located at elevation within the upper portion of a cooling tower. An axial piston, variable displacement, pressure compensation hydraulic pump and its electric motor, together with a hydraulic fluid reservoir, hydraulic fluid filters and coolers arranged in closed loop assembly are located remotely from the hydraulic motor and fan assembly such as at ground level, to facilitate ease of maintenance and to minimized fire hazard and electrical hazard within the cooling tower itself. The rotational speed of the cooling tower fan is within a predetermined infinitely variable range and is controlled responsive to the temperature sensed in the cool water basin of the cooling tower by a temperature sensor and controller which controls the velocity of fluid output from the hydraulic pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Inventor: John A. Dickerson
  • Patent number: 4936881
    Abstract: A cooling tower has a flue gas outlet extending upwardly above the heat exchanger baffles in which the water from a steam power plant is cooled in counterflow to a rising cooling air stream. The mouth of the duct is formed with a droplet trap supplied with rinse water and cooperates with a collector for the rinse water which is led out of the tower independently of the cooled water of the heat exchanger zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Assignee: Saarbergwerke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sigurd Jorzyk, Gerhard Scholl, Heinz Holter, Heinrich Igelbuscher, Heinrich Gresch, Heribert Dewert
  • Patent number: 4885011
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooling tower for the cooling water that drains from the condensor of a steam generator or from the condensors of a plurality of steam generators; the tower is fitted with large-area inserts and these form a heat-exchange area into which the cooling water is passed; a rising flow of air passes through this zone in counterflow to the cooling water, the cooling tower being provided with a smoke-gas feed to introduce cleaned, preferably wet-cleaned, smoke gas into the flow of cooling air, which is connected to a plurality of gas outlet pipes, the outlet cross-sections of which open out into the cooling tower above the heat-exchange zone. In order to improve the introduction of the cleaned smoke gases into the flow of cooling air within a cooing tower, the present invention proposes that rotors be provided in the gas outlet pipes in the area of their outlet cross-sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1989
    Assignee: Saarbergwerke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sigurd Jorzyk, Gerhard Scholl, Heinz Holter, Heinrich Igelbuscher, Heinrich Gresch, Heribert Dewert
  • Patent number: 4873028
    Abstract: The vertical height requirement of a cooling tower is reduced by utilizing trapezoidal shaped fill sheets which are suspended generally in line with the entering air stream so as to form a wedge shaped plenum space beneath the lower sloped edges of the fill sheets. This enables a method of lengthening the vertical air paths through the media as distance from entry is increased thereby promoting vertical air flow near the entry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1989
    Assignee: Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryan F. Garrish
  • Patent number: 4851198
    Abstract: Chlorine dioxide is increasibly used to bleach pulp and the like. Chlorine dioxide is produced in a reactor, which contains a plurality of superimposed bubble cap trays, which are provided with passages for the gas and with duct, which is independent of the gas passages and serves as an overflow for the liquid. In order to maintain a maximum ClO.sub.3 /acid ratio for the longest time possible, the reaction chamber above each bubble cap tray is divided into a large number of reaction compartments by vertical partitions, which define openings for the passage of the reaction liquid. Acid can be supplied to each compartment. The partitions can be used to define in each reaction chamber any desired number of reaction compartments, which are connected in parallel for the flow of acid and are connected in series for the flow of the chlorate solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Inventor: Karl Lohrberg
  • Patent number: 4836239
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus for monitoring the level of a liquid such as water in a reservoir of a water cooling tower or the like wherein it is required to maintain a predetermined desired liquid level and for generating a first control signal for controlling the addition of make-up liquid to the reservoir and a second control signal for terminating the addition of liquid to the reservoir. The apparatus includes a float chamber having it bottom coupled to the reservoir for equalizing the water levels therebetween. A float is positioned within the float chamber for rising and falling with the level of monitored liquid therein. A float rod extends vertically upward from a central portion the float for movement therewith. A lever housing is fixedly secured in an intermediate position within the float chamber, and the lever housing pivotally mounts a lever member therein. The lever member has a long lever arm and a short lever arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Inventor: Clifford W. Kinkead
  • Patent number: 4784810
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooling tower for the cooling water that drains from the condensor of a steam generator or from the condensors of a plurality of steam generators; the tower is fitted with large-area inserts and these form a heat-exchange area into which the cooling water is passed; a rising flow of air passes through this zone in counterflow to the cooling water, the cooling tower being provided with a smoke-gas feed to introduce cleaned, preferably wet-cleaned, smoke gas into the flow of cooling air, which is connected to a plurality of gas outlet pipes, the outlet cross-sections of which open out into the cooling tower above the heat-exchange zone. In order to improve the introduction of the cleaned smoke gases into the flow of cooling air within a cooling tower, the present invention proposes that rotors be provided in the gas outlet pipes in the area of their outlet cross-sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: Saarbergwerke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sigurd Jorzyk, Gerhard Scholl, Heinz Holter, Heinrich Igelbuscher, Heinrich Gresch, Heribert Dewert
  • Patent number: 4781737
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed which receives flue gases from a flue gas source, reduces the velocity of the gases, and maintains the gases at a reduced substantially uniform velocity for delivery to a cooling tower. The apparatus includes a conduit for receiving the gases at a first velocity from the flue gas source. The conduit has a longitudinal slot formed therein at the uppermost portion thereof. A tank having respective side surfaces is in communication with the tower and is positioned on the conduit; the tank overlies the conduit and receives gases from the longitudinal slot in the conduit. A plurality of arcuately-shaped, inclined, spaced-apart deflectors contact gases having the first velocity entering the tank, thereby reducing the velocity of the gases to a second reduced velocity, controlling the velocity of the gases received in the tank, and maintaining the gases on the side surface of the tank at a substantially uniform velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Inventors: Heinz J. Pflaumbaum, Pierre L. Lemmens
  • Patent number: 4781869
    Abstract: A cooling tower assembly comprising at least first and second layers of fill within the tower chamber, each of the first and second layers of fill having a source of water introduced above the fill for moving through gravity down through the fill during the cooling process. There is further included an upper fan member circulating at the top portion of the tower for drawing air through inlet panels along the walls of the tower through the first and second layers of fill to cool the water as it is percolating through the fill contents. The first and second layers of fill would be separated by a horizontal baffle member so that air pulled through the lower layer of fill would be prevented from contacting the first layer, but would flow through a centrally located air flow chamber within the upper layer of fill to be drawn out of the chamber by the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Inventor: Vincent Wiltz
  • Patent number: 4774033
    Abstract: A tower structure for gas-liquid interaction produces rolling turbulence in a gas flow path that has low pressure drop. The structure includes a spaced plurality of vertically disposed wall members in an upwardly directed flow path, a staggered array of horizontally extending deflectors protruding from facing wall members, forming a series of converging and diverging chamber portions in which the gas flows generally perpendicular to the deflectors. Rolling turbulence is produced between apexes of the deflectors and the facing wall portions, the gas flow being offset toward opposite wall members at succeeding apexes. In one configuration, a liquid is transported within the gas flow, in contact with the gas. In another configuration, the liquid is separate from the gas. In a further configuration, two liquid paths are provided, one in contact with the gas, one separate from the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1988
    Assignee: Energair Research and Development
    Inventor: Charles L. Raybon
  • Patent number: 4769186
    Abstract: A tower structure for gas-liquid interaction produces rolling turbulence in a gas flow path that has low pressure drop. The structure includes a spaced plurality of vertically disposed wall members in an upwardly directed flow path, a staggered array of horizontally extending deflectors protruding from facing wall members, forming a series of converging and diverging chamber portions in which the gas flows generally perpendicular to the deflectors. Rolling turbulence is produced between apexes of the deflectors and the facing wall portions, the gas flow being offset toward opposite wall members at succeeding apexes. In one configuration, a liquid is transported within the gas flow, in contact with the gas. In anothor configuration, the liquid is separate from the gas. In a further configuration, two liquid paths are provided, one in contact with the gas, one separate from the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: Energair Research and Development
    Inventor: Charles L. Raybon
  • Patent number: 4737321
    Abstract: Airflow to the interior portions of large counterflow cooling towers is improved by the provision of passageways from about the perimeter of the tower which passageways are free of fill and descending water so as to not obstruct inward movement of air from the perimeter, and which passageways also segregate fill against the possible spread of combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Assignee: Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.
    Inventors: William D. McCloskey, John R. Huffaker, Nelson T. Smith
  • Patent number: 4720359
    Abstract: An initially flat sheet of a fan cylinder assembly is formed to an exact cylindrical configuration in such a manner that less than 20% of the material comprising the sheet in a direction along the thickness of the same is exposed to stress above the yield strength of the material. The sheet is provided with tabs bent to a perpendicular orientation relative to remaining regions of the sheet, and holes are punched in certain of the tabs at precise, predefined locations and which are related to precise, predefined locations of apertures spaced around the periphery of an exact circular opening in an upright support panel of the tower housing. The sheet is formed to a true cylinder by causing the major region of the sheet to bear against the periphery of the circular opening of the support panel so that the flat panel functions as a guide both during forming of the cylinder and also thereafter to retain the sheet in its proper cylindrical configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Assignee: The Marley Cooling Tower Company
    Inventors: Robert S. Glauz, Joyce D. Holmberg
  • Patent number: 4706554
    Abstract: A system of vertical louvers for installation on a cooling tower having fixed horizontal slats. The louvers are mounted side by side for opening and closing movement about vertical axes. When closed, the louvers block the air spaces between the slats. When open or partially open, the air spaces are exposed to varying degrees in order to provide control of the pattern of air flow through the cooling tower. The louvers are mounted between concrete or wood beams of the cooling tower by a steam of angle brackets, pins or bolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Kelly Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Micheal Baldino, Robert L. Voss, Larry L. Hladik
  • Patent number: 4637903
    Abstract: A cooling tower is formed from fiberglass reinforced polyester resin structural components including a basin, vertically extending columns, vertical side panels, and a cover. The fill material for heat/mass exchange is supported directly by the basin to eliminate the weight of a separate support system and to reduce the load on the columns and panels. A fan is mounted on the cover, and the weight of the fan is supported by the cover and the columns. The panels do not have to support the weight of the cover and the fan, and the panels can be formed of relatively thin, lightweight material. The columns do not have to support the weight of the fill material and can also be relatively lightweight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1987
    Assignee: Ceramic Cooling Tower Company
    Inventors: Charles J. Bardo, Jesse Q. Seawell, Anthony J. Dylewski, John L. Clark, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4632787
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is disclosed having a coil positioned between an outer casing member with a bottom having a sump formed therein and an inner casing member containing a rotatable shaft to which a fan is mounted. The fan has a first stage or set of blades which pushes air from the outside down over the coils and a second stage or set of blades having a pitch opposite the first set for pulling the air up through the inner casing member to exhaust. A distributor having a pump which operates on centrifugal force is also provided which draws a liquid heat transfer medium preferably water from the sump and rotates with the fan blades to effectively "sling" the medium over the coils as the fan rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Inventor: Robert T. Tippmann
  • Patent number: 4627941
    Abstract: Gas/liquid contacting apparatus comprising a vertical column with a plurality of substantially horizontal trays arranged one above the other in the column, each tray having a plurality of apertures for ascending gas and at least one discharge device for descending liquid, the discharge devices being open at their upper ends and extending at least partly below the relevant trays, the parts of the liquid discharge devices extending below the trays being provided with liquid discharge openings, wherein the liquid discharge devices are each provided with a gas passage having at least one gas entry arranged in the lower part of the discharge device and having a gas outlet arranged substantially above the upper end of the discharge device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1986
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Jeremy B. Bentham
  • Patent number: 4623493
    Abstract: Gas/liquid contacting apparatus comprising a normally substantially vertically extending column enclosing a plurality of substantially horizontal gas/liquid guiding units vertically spaced apart from one another and extending over substantially the cross section of the column. Each gas/liquid guiding unit comprising a plurality of alternating upwardly converging gas passages and downwardly converging liquid passages, the gas passages and the liquid passages alternating in vertical direction. The liquid passages have open upper ends, and are provided with bottomwalls and with liquid discharge openings at or near said bottomwalls. Each upwardly converging gas passage is provided with an open lower end and terminates at its upper end in a plurality of substantially horizontal, parallel walls having a length increasing in downward direction and forming a plurality of substantially horizontal, constricted gas outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1986
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Jeremy B. Bentham
  • Patent number: 4592877
    Abstract: A cooling tower including counter flow film fill extending in a generally horizontal direction. Gravitating liquid is supplied to the film fill upper surface. Below the film fill is mounted splash fill disposed in the cooling tower inlet plenum. It includes an inner side sloping from an outboard portion of the film fill generally downward in an inboard direction and a conforming generally open central chamber. Air is optimally directed to the lower surface of the film fill means while simultaneously cooling the liquid on the splash fill means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1986
    Inventor: Peter M. Phelps
  • Patent number: 4563314
    Abstract: In an apparatus for cooling of cooling water trickler plates are arranged essentially in parallel. Along one side of each trickler plate water sprayed from the top trickles down, while the other side is kept dry. Thus a pair of adjacent trickler plates each forms a duct through which the cooling air flows. The trickler plates are provided with depressions in the wet side protruding from the dry side in order to increase the dry cooling effect with respect to the wet cooling effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1986
    Assignee: Gunter Ernst
    Inventors: Gunter Ernst, Dieter Wurz
  • Patent number: 4549999
    Abstract: A cooling tower is provided with a crown inwardly tapered towards the upper discharge opening defined by the upper rim of the crown to create a pressure differential greater on the inside than on the outside of the crown to inhibit cold air break-ins in still air or winds of low velocity. The cooling tower shell is tapered inwardly in the crown region and the angle between the tangent to the internal contour and the vertical in said crown region of the shell is preferably chosen to be not smaller than results from the following equation: ##EQU1## in which .alpha. is the angle in question, g is the acceleration due to gravity, .rho..sub.a and .rho..sub.i are the gas densities inside (i) and outside (a) of the cooling tower, z is the vertical coordinate, d.sub.o and d(z) are the diameters of the internal shell contour at the level z=o and z, respectively, and w.sub.o is the gas velocity at the level z=o.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1985
    Assignee: Gunter Ernst
    Inventors: Gunter Ernst, Edmund Baer, Dieter Wurz, Hans Dittrich
  • Patent number: 4543219
    Abstract: A baffle tray tower comprising a tubular tower body, a plurality stages of baffle tray members disposed within the tower body, and partition plates each disposed within the tower body so as to generally vertically divide a curtain zone defined between two adjacent stages of the baffle tray members into an upper curtain zone for mainly passing a gas therethrough and into a lower curtain zone for mainly passing a liquid therethrough can be operated as a gas-liquid contacting device with a high gas-liquid contact efficiency and a low pressure loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1985
    Assignee: Nippon Kayaku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Yamato, Tsutomu Ohba, Tunetoshi Kabata
  • Patent number: 4541968
    Abstract: A cooling tower is provided with a crown inwardly tapered towards the upper discharge opening defined by the upper rim of the crown to create a pressure differential greater on the inside than on the outside of the crown to inhibit cold air break-ins in still air or winds of low velocity. To reduce the effect of side winds of high velocity, the crown may carry a wind-deflector ring with an upwardly-inclined deflecting surface to inhibit the creation of a vortex over the tower. The tower may be suspended by cables from a central mast, and the wind-deflector ring may be suspended by separate cables from the mast, these latter cables being tensioned between the masthead and the lower part of the crown by means of a support ring arranged at the base of the wind-deflector ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1985
    Assignee: Gunter Ernst
    Inventors: Gunter Ernst, Edmund Baer, Dieter Wurz, Hans Dittrich, Wilhelm Roller
  • Patent number: 4527903
    Abstract: An apparatus for uniformizing the parameters of flow and/or for mixing at least two individual streams which discharge into a main flow, as in cooling towers with natural draft and/or with forced ventilation, with stacks or in pipeline systems. At least one element is provided having an upstream edge initiating vortexes which uniformize the parameters of flow and/or mix the streams. The course of the edge of the element defines a component extending in the main direction of flow and a component extending in a direction transverse to the main flow direction. The surface of the element is set at an acute angle with respect to the direction of the main flow. The edge of the element is symmetrical having a plane of symmetry extending in the direction of the main flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1985
    Assignee: Balcke-Durr Aktiengsellschaft
    Inventor: Hans Ruscheweyh
  • Patent number: 4521227
    Abstract: Improved air washer or scrubber for a center draw, down draft paint spray booth is disclosed which results in twenty percent (20%) or greater improvement in cleaning and removal of entrained matter from the exhaust air. The air washer may be adjusted to accommodate different air flow requirements, for example, for conventional or electrostatic spray painting. The adjustment may be made manually, by power devices, or automatically to accommodate the changed air flow desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1985
    Assignee: Binks Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Donald F. Gerdes, Steve E. Telchuk
  • Patent number: 4514344
    Abstract: Apparatus for the mixing of different streams of air and particularly dry and moist streams of air, in a cooling tower. In order to obtain an effective low-loss mixing over a short flow path by simple means, eddy fields are produced by at least one cylindrical flow body arranged transversely to the direction of flow of one of the streams of air (the main air stream) in the cooling tower as a result of the burbling or separation of the flow on the sides of the body. The transverse components of the eddy fields produce an intensive mixing of the different streams of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1985
    Assignee: Balcke-Durr Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hans Ruscheweyh
  • Patent number: 4499034
    Abstract: A cooling tower for cooling large quantities of effluent water from a production facility by utilizing natural wind forces includes the use of a series of helically directed air inlet passages extending outwardly from the base of the tower to introduce air from any direction in a swirling vortical pattern while the force of the draft created in the tower makes it possible to place conventional power generating windmills in the air passages to provide power as a by-product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: John E. McAllister, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4486362
    Abstract: A process and an arrangement for the formation of an ignitable mixture from iquid fuel and combustion air, wherein preheated combustion air is conducted with a flow chamber along a surface which is moistened with fuel for take-up of fuel. In the process and arrangement, combustion air is conveyed into the flow chamber in the flow direction of the fuel which streams off the surface moistened by the fuel under the effect of gravity. Achieved hereby is an intensive contacting between the combustion air and the fuel. The fuel is dosed in excess so as to constantly afford a sufficient quantity of fuel for vaporization. During the through flow of the combustion air, there is formed, in the contact with the fuel, a saturated fuel-air mixture in conformance with the temperature of the preheated combustion air and the temperature of the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Assignee: Kernforschungsanlage Julich Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung
    Inventors: Siegfried Forster, Hubert Jaegers, Hans Kammerling, Peter Quell
  • Patent number: 4421303
    Abstract: Cross-flow cooling tower with perforate member to catch wind borne spray from the packings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1983
    Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries PLC
    Inventor: Sydney P. S. Andrew
  • Patent number: 4418023
    Abstract: An air inlet control assembly for cooling towers including air control panel members pivotally secured to the louver blades. The panel members are pivotted between a down position wherein they preclude the entry of air between the louver blades and an up position wherein they permit the entry of air between the louver blades. The panel members are formed from a lightweight fiberglass material and include means to direct liquid away from the outer edge of the louver blade when the panel member is in its down position. Cover members extend across the louver blade support arms and are releasably secured to the adjacent panel members when the panel members are in their down positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1983
    Assignee: Ecodyne Corporation
    Inventor: Norman E. Dolan
  • Patent number: 4397793
    Abstract: Means for increasing the efficiency of effluent discharge from a cooling tower or other stack by means of introducing gaseous fluid streams through at least one or more vertical slots positioned about the periphery of a chimney of said tower or stack wherein said slots are capable of directing said fluid streams tangentially within the periphery of said chimney to create a vortex within said chimney. Each of said slots extend at least a portion of the height of said chimney, and preferably extends from above a fill at the base of said chimney to approximately the mouth of said chimney. Means are provided for introducing cooling gaseous fluid streams into and through said fill to a cavity within said fill which also contains heat transfer or other effluent constituent removal surfaces or passages or other means to provide heat or other effluent constituent dissipation. The upper limit of said cavity is bounded by a floor, which defines the demarcation between said chimney and said fill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1983
    Inventors: Gerald I. Stillman, Rudolf A. Wiley
  • Patent number: 4388276
    Abstract: Spent hydrochloric copper chloride etching solution used in production of printed circuit boards for etching non-galvanized printed circuits is continuously or cyclically regenerated by spraying spent etching liquid from an interconnected etching machine, as with mist projectors, into an upper area of an enclosed regeneration housing, which is also provided with an oxidating gas selected from oxygen, chlorine and a mixture of oxygen and chlorine. The chemical regeneration reaction takes place within the falling mist and a regenerated etching liquid falls to the bottom of the regeneration housing from where it is pumped back to the connected etching machine or station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1983
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Efthimios Konstantouros, Karl Hoeck
  • Patent number: 4386946
    Abstract: A water cooling tower is disclosed which comprises cooling means and a suction fan arranged in the air outlet passage. Water catching means is provided including at least one water catching channel formed in the wall of the air outlet passage at a location other than the narrowest cross section of the air outlet passage, which channel collects water separated at and flowing along the air outlet passage wall. A water discharging device connects the channel directly with a collecting basin for draining the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1983
    Inventor: Dieter Wurz
  • Patent number: 4381268
    Abstract: In a device for gassing liquids or suspensions, a first guide means is located at a short distance, opposite the orifice of a jet pipe. This guide means is supported via a gas inlet on a second guide means. The first guide means provided can be a cone and the second guide means can be a truncated cone which merges into a disc-shaped annular zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1983
    Assignee: Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Muller, Gunther Sell
  • Patent number: 4380517
    Abstract: The process avoids, in a cold period, the formation of ice inside a cooler having lower air inlets and employing atmospheric air and a freezable liquid stream. The process comprises providing the air inlet apertures with vertical metal trellises which extend in a part of the apertures from the top of the latter downwardly. In cold periods, cold water is caused to stream along the trellises so as to form, under controlled conditions, curtains of ice on the trellises which partly close the apertures. When the temperature of the air, and consequently the temperature of the water cooled inside the cooler, resumes a sufficiently high temperature to avoid the formation of ice inside the cooler, the curtains of ice formed on the trellises are melted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1983
    Assignee: Hamon-Sobelco, S.A.
    Inventor: Jacques G. P. E. Bosne
  • Patent number: 4374072
    Abstract: An improved recovery fan cylinder for mechanical draft water cooling towers is provided which is configured with an upper reflex angle recovery section above the fan blade which gives unexpected increases in velocity head recovery as compared with conventional frustoconoidal stacks. The reflex stack hereof includes first and second superposed portions above the blade which are respectively oriented so that the external surfaces thereof cooperatively define a reflex angle; in preferred forms, the lower portion lies at an angle of from about 15.degree. to 30.degree. relative to the central upright stack axis, whereas the upper portion is oriented at an angle of 0.degree.-10.degree. on the same basis. Test evidence demonstrates that the stack of the invention permits unexpected reductions in fan horsepower, as compared with typical prior art stacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1983
    Assignee: Marley Company
    Inventor: Samuel W. Bell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4374071
    Abstract: A counterflow cooling tower includes a casing having cooling air inlet openings formed at its lower end and cooling air outlet openings formed at its upper end, a contact body positioned in the casing and formed from a plurality of contact layers arranged in banks and defining a plurality of water and air flow channels therebetween providing communication between the air inlet and outlet openings, a water distribution installation positioned above the contact body for supplying warm water to be cooled to the channels, channel caps on top of only some of the channels fitted geometrically to adjacent contact layers and covering some of the channels against water from the water distribution installation, and an air supply installation for supplying cooling air from the air inlet openings through substantially all of the channels to the air outlet openings, whereby the temperature and moisture-content of air supplied to the channels to which warm water is supplied are increased while the temperature of air suppli
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1983
    Inventor: Ulrich Regehr
  • Patent number: 4367183
    Abstract: Device for mixing dry and humid air streams of a combined atmospheric cooler employing parallel air streams. The device comprises a wet exchange unit and a dry heat exchange unit which are disposed in parallel in the air stream. The device for mixing the dry and humid air streams comprises surfaces for deflecting the air streams disposed upstream of the wet heat exchange unit and is characterized in that the deflecting surfaces are constituted by at least one channel which is open in the direction of the air outlet of the cooler and which extends in the space located upstream of the wet heat exchange unit. The at least one channel extends from the region in which the humid air stream arrives adjacent the part of the dry heat exchange unit which is the nearest of said region and toward the center of the cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1983
    Assignee: Hamon-Sobelco, S.A.
    Inventor: Mario G. B. Carbonaro
  • Patent number: 4334897
    Abstract: Gas scrubbing apparatus for removing sulfur dioxide from a gas stream with a cleaning liquid capable of absorbing the sulfur dioxide in the gas stream comprising a housing defining scrubbing chamber therein, a plurality of baffles in the scrubbing chamber at longitudinally spaced positions therealong for generating turbulence in the gas stream and rotating the gas stream about the central axis of the scrubbing chamber, spray means for spraying the cleaning liquid into the scrubbing chamber between the baffles to absorb the sulfur dioxide from the gas stream, and a mist eliminator downstream of the baffles to remove liquid droplets from the gas stream. The baffles are oriented so that each baffle rotates the gas stream approximately ninety degrees about the central axis of the scrubbing chamber as the gas stream flows thereby with all of the baffles rotating the gas stream in the same direction about said central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1982
    Assignee: Andersen 2000, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack D. Brady, Kenny M. Graves
  • Patent number: 4309366
    Abstract: An induced draft cooling tower having an annular outer support structure for the dispersion section and the inner support structure for the ventilation section. The inner support structure is essentially constructed of precast reinforced concrete elements and comprises a first plurality of columns supporting a circumferential beam, a second plurality of columns arranged around a hexagonal central tower in a hexagonal network with beams extending between and supported in slotted capitals of the second plurality of beams. The diffusers which are precast reinforced concrete shells include a toroidal base element which bears on three beams supported on a column of the second plurality coaxial to the diffuser. Stacks of annular elements rise from the upper edges of the base elements. The lower edges of the base elements are polygonal and substantially meet the lower edges of adjacent base elements. Slabs cover openings between lower edge segments of base elements and in the peripheral area beyond the diffusers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1982
    Assignee: Coignet S.A.
    Inventor: Bernard Fougea
  • Patent number: 4301097
    Abstract: A portable auxiliary cooling tower which is transportable over-the-highway for temporary or permanent use at a desired site. The tower is typically constructed on a trailer frame and is designed to provide maximum air flow for maximum cooling to temporarily replace or supplement larger fixed cooling tower cells. Another use of the portable cooling tower is to aerate stock ponds, chemical holding ponds and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1981
    Inventor: Harold D. Curtis
  • Patent number: 4278620
    Abstract: Apparatus are provided for reducing detrimental wind influence on cooling towers by mounting at the air inlet to the towers a plurality of spaced baffles, each of which have continuous, smooth, curved, low wind resistance surfaces directed outwardly of the air inlet and high wind resistance surfaces directed toward the interior of the tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1981
    Assignee: Research-Cottrell, Inc.
    Inventor: Marcel R. Lefevre
  • Patent number: 4272014
    Abstract: An improved humidification system for jet-powered commercial aircraft comprising an evaporator adapted to add moisture to a gas flow, a gas flow control system for applying to the evaporator a gas flow having an internal energy sufficient to vaporize the moisture and a temperature measuring system for measuring the temperature of the gas flow exiting from the evaporator for regulating the amount of moisture added to the gas flow so as to maintain the evaporator exit temperature constant is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1981
    Assignee: Lockheed Corporation
    Inventors: Paul F. Halfpenny, Camillo L. Passarelli, Philip S. Starrett
  • Patent number: 4267130
    Abstract: A portable auxiliary cooling tower which is transportable over-the-highway for temporary or permanent use at a desired site. The tower is typically constructed on a trailer frame and is designed to provide maximum air flow for maximum cooling to temporarily replace or supplement larger fixed cooling tower cells. Another use of the portable cooling tower is to aerate stock ponds, chemical holding ponds and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1981
    Inventor: Harold D. Curtis
  • Patent number: 4261931
    Abstract: A cooling tower self-supporting vertical shell essentially circular in horizontal section and wider at the base than at the top,said shell comprising a series of courses set one above the other with each adjacent upper course supported by the course beneath it,most of the courses from at least near the bottom to the shell top portion constituting a frusto-conical shell with vertical flutes, andthe diameter of the bottom of each course being about equal to the diameter of the top of the course beneath it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1981
    Assignee: Chicago Bridge & Iron Company
    Inventors: Elmer W. Rothrock, Clarence D. Miller
  • Patent number: 4252751
    Abstract: A fan control system for cooling apparatus such as cooling tower in which water and air are brought into contact together. According to this system, the running speed of the fan is continuously and proportionally changed responsive to the temperature of the cooling water or the external atmospheric conditions, to substantially control the cooling capacity of the cooling apparatus. The control system consists of a main fan motor, an electronic adjustment circuit and a power transmission means consisting of a variable pitch diameter belt speed changing means and a constant pitch belt reduction device, whereby the speed changing ratio of the belt speed chaning means is continuously and proportionally changed depending upon the control signals from the adjustment circuit. Further, the adjustment circuit may have a soft-start control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1981
    Inventor: Naomichi Shito