Plume Abatement Patents (Class 261/DIG77)
  • Patent number: 6105663
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat dissipation unit for cross flow type cooling tower with which it is possible to prevent the emission of white vapor without lowering the cooling power of the cooling tower, and also without requiring troublesome routine operation. In order to accomplish the above object, the heat dissipation unit of the present invention comprises filling plates arranged vertically and parallel with each other so as to form spaces therebetween, each of the filling plates having uneven surfaces down which water to be cooled flows when water to be cooled is supplied onto the filling plates, and cowl members disposed between neighboring filling plates, each of the cowl members including a pair of side plate portions having upper ends and a roof portion connecting the upper ends of the side plate portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Usui, Shigehira Yamamoto, Osamu Goto
  • Patent number: 5958308
    Abstract: Hot water is sprayed to fillers arranged immediately under a hot water vessel through spray ports opened on a lower surface of the hot water vessel. The hot water flowing down along the fillers is cooled through direct contact with ambient air. The cooling tower includes fillers partitioned alternately into permanent wet and wet-dry changeover regions which are mutually isolated for flow passages of the ambient air and spray pipes provided on the lower surface of the hot water vessel exclusively for the wet-dry changeover regions such that the hot water can be sprayed to the wet-dry changeover regions separately from the permanent wet regions. The hot water vessel is supported by the spray pipes. The spray ports of the hot water vessel is communicated only with the permanent wet regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kesaaki Mochizuki, Osamu Goto, Katsutoshi Shibata
  • Patent number: 5800743
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cross flow type cooling tower with which it is possible to prevent the emission of white vapor in cold weather with certainty. In order to accomplish the above object, the cooling tower of the present invention comprises: a heat dissipation unit having filling plates arranged vertically and parallel with each other so as to form dry air passages and moist air passages therebetween, each of the dry air passages and the moist air passages having inner surfaces; water supply means for supplying water to be cooled to the inner surfaces of the moist air passages for cooling the water by contact with air passing through the moist air passage; and water invasion stoppers provided at side ends of the filling plates for preventing the water flowing down the inner surfaces of the moist air passages from invading the dry air passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Usui, Shigehira Yamamoto, Osamu Goto
  • Patent number: 5775409
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cross flow type cooling tower with which it is possible to prevent emission of white vapor in cold weather. In order to accomplish the above object, the cooling tower of the present invention is constructed of heat exchange units each of which having plates arranged vertically and parallel from each other so as to form passages therebetween, which are separated into wet air passages and switchable air passages capable of switching from dry air passages and wet air passages; a water bath divided into upper and lower baths by a partition plate with holes, the upper bath is provided with spray nozzles for spraying water into the switchable passages, the lower bath provided with spray nozzles for spraying water into the wet passages.When the weather is warm, hot water is supplied into the upper bath, and both the upper and lower baths are filled with water and cooling is performed in every passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Goto, Koji Kimura
  • Patent number: 5724828
    Abstract: A heat exchange apparatus which can be used as an evaporative condenser, fluid cooler or wet-air cooler, is provided with a direct evaporative heat exchange section overlying an indirect evaporative heat exchange section. An air entry zone common to both heat exchange sections receives an air stream blown into this zone by at least one fan, thereby pressurizing the plenum such that the air stream is forced to split and enter each section while inside the apparatus. This eliminates the need for separate air entries, thus condensing the size and cost of the apparatus, while increasing heat exchange capacity. A countercurrent air flow pattern through the direct section provides a uniformly cooled evaporative liquid for use in the indirect section. The evaporative liquid flow is parallel to the air stream provided in the indirect section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Branislav Korenic
  • Patent number: 5695006
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat dissipation unit for cross flow type cooling tower with which it is possible to prevent the emission of white vapor without lowering the cooling power of the cooling tower, and also without requiring troublesome routine operation. In order to accomplish the above object, the heat dissipation unit of the present invention comprises filling plates arranged vertically and parallel with each other so as to form spaces therebetween, each of the filling plates having uneven surfaces down which water to be cooled flows when water to be cooled is supplied onto the filling plates, and cowl members disposed between neighboring filling plates, each of the cowl members including a pair of side plate portions having upper ends and a roof portion connecting the upper ends of the side plate portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Usui, Shigehira Yamamoto, Osamu Goto
  • Patent number: 5585046
    Abstract: A column for performing thermal separations includes a vertical cylindrical outer column wall defining an inner volume which is subdivided by a separating wall into two halves filled with mass exchange packs, each of the mass packs has horizontal strip-like two rim guards, a lower guard is interrupted in the area of opposite corners of the respective mass exchange pack and an upper rim guard is a continuous flexible fabric strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Julius Montz GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Jansen, Jochen Leben, Thomas Rietfort, Egon Zich
  • Patent number: 5505882
    Abstract: Water to be cooled is sprayed through water spray ports at a bottom of an upper water vessel into a filler unit having a plurality of heat exchange surface members extending in parallel with each other to define flow passages between them and concurrently ambient air is sucked transversely into the flow passages. Thus, the water flowing down over the heat exchange surface members is cooled by the ambient air in a cross flow manner. In such cooling of water, some of the flow passages are sectioned so as to supply the water in the upper water vessel to some of flow passages so that in a normal condition with no fear of white smoke being generated, the water is sprayed over all of the heat exchange surface members and direct cooling is effected in every flow passage by the ambient air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kanji Kato
  • Patent number: 5505883
    Abstract: Water to be cooled is sprayed through water spray ports at a bottom of an upper water vessel into a filler unit having a plurality of heat exchange surface members extending in parallel with each other to define flow passages between them and concurrently ambient air is sucked transversely into the flow passages. Thus, the water flowing down over the heat exchange surface members is cooled by the ambient air in a cross flow manner. In such cooling of water, some of the flow passages are sectioned so as to supply the water in the upper water vessel to some of flow passages so that in a normal condition with no fear of white smoke being generated, the water is sprayed over all of the heat exchange surface members and direct cooling is effected in every flow passage by the ambient air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kanji Kato
  • Patent number: 5468426
    Abstract: Water to be cooled is sprayed through water spray ports at a bottom of an upper water vessel into a filler unit having a plurality of heat exchange surface members extending in parallel with each other to define flow passages between them and concurrently ambient air is sucked transversely into the flow passages. Thus, the water flowing down over the heat exchange surface members is cooled by the ambient air in a cross flow manner. In such cooling of water, some of the flow passages are sectioned so as to supply the water in the upper water vessel to some of flow passages so that in a normal condition with no fear of white smoke being generated, the water is sprayed over all of the heat exchange surface members and direct cooling is effected in every flow passage by the ambient air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kanji Kato
  • Patent number: 5449036
    Abstract: A method for reducing the amount of water vapor in gas exhausted from closed loop evaporative heat exchange systems wherein the low energy air which has been warmed and moistened within the heat exchange system is mixed with cooler air to condense moisture out of the low energy air for recovery and reuse. Various methods and apparatus for controlling and effecting the mixing are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Inventors: John P. Genge, Clarence T. Moss, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4964977
    Abstract: A cross-flow type cooling tower comprises a cooling tower main body, a water tank placed at the upper part of the main body, a plurality of closed type heat exchanging units arranged in the main body in substantially horizontal manner and in parallel to each other in multi-stage below the water tank, a supplying header placed near an air discharge opening of the main body, which is detachably connectable to supplying ports of the heat exchanging units, a discharge header placed near an air intake opening of the main body, which is detachably connectable to discharge ports of the heat exchanging units, wherein the water tank is divided into a first water receiving part near the air intake opening and a second water receiving part near the air discharge opening by way of a partition wall, and a switching valve is provided at at least a water feeding pipe to the second water receiving part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Assignee: Shinwa Sangyo Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jujiro Komiya, Tadanobu Muto
  • 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: 4662902
    Abstract: An evaporation cooling tower, includes an outer tower wall defining an interior of the cooling tower having upper and lower regions, the wall having ambient air intake holes formed in the periphery thereof at the lower region, a cooling water trickling system disposed in the interior of the cooling tower through which ambient intake air flows, electrostatic discharge shafts at the upper region for receiving relatively moist and warm exhaust air and precipitating fine water droplets therefrom, and a device for admixing relatively cool ambient air to the warm and moist exhaust air flowing to the discharge shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Assignee: Kraftwerk Union Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Roland Meyer-Pittroff
  • Patent number: 4623494
    Abstract: A wet atmospheric cooling tower has a vertical chimney defining an air path from air inlet openings at the lower end thereof for admitting atmospheric air to an exhaust opening at the upper end thereof, a stationary packing extending circumferentially without any gap across the air path, and a distributor for spraying water to be cooled onto the packing from above. Water is cooled down by air while it flows down across the packing. For dry air-water heat exchange air ducts extend through the packing and open into the air path in a zone which is downstream of the packing. The heat exchanger includes a two dimensional network of passages arranged to receive atmospheric air only and distributed according to a two dimensional network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1986
    Assignee: Electricite de France
    Inventors: Daniel M. Gautier, Andre Lagoutte
  • Patent number: 4616697
    Abstract: A heat pipe apparatus incorporated in a heat exchanger comprises an evaporative pipe group disposed within a flow of a heating fluid, a condenser pipe group located away from the evaporative pipe group, a passage for connecting both pipe groups and for circulating therethrough a working medium, an another passage branching off from the connecting passage, and at least one another condenser pipe group associated with the another passage. The condenser pipe group and the another condenser pipe group are disposed within two flows of fluid to be heated so as to heat them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1986
    Assignee: Babcock-Hitachi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ikuo Kotaka
  • 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: 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: 4435339
    Abstract: The invention relates to a low pressure heat exchanger for use in an environment where metal parts would be subject to corrosion or scaling comprising a plurality of vertically disposed mutually parallel membranes acting as heat transfer surfaces and including fluid distributors and dispensing nozzles disposed near the top edge of the membranes so as to distribute hot liquid as a falling film down the membrane surface. From a second distributor set, a second liquid may be passed down the opposite surface of each membrane to provide liquid-to-liquid heat transfer. A draft producing device is employed to either allow a gas to flow directly over the heat transfer membrane or over the second liquid as it falls down the membrane surface to obtain a liquid-to-gas heat transfer or evaporative cooling of the second liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1984
    Assignee: Tower Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Loren G. Kragh
  • Patent number: 4427607
    Abstract: In an evaporative cooler having a casing, a multi-layer type contact body and means for supplying water to selected channels in the contact body, the top edges of the contact body are formed to define outwardly widened openings communicating with only selected channels in the body. The water supply means supplies water to only some of the openings so that alternating channels on the contact body are passed with both water and air and the remainder only with air. As a result the formation of mist at the discharge end of the cooler can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1984
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget Carl Munters
    Inventor: Lars E. R. Korsell
  • 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: 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: 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: 4361524
    Abstract: Plume formation by exhaust air from wet cooling towers during periods when ambient air conditions are conducive to the formation of such plumes is prevented by preheating inlet air and/or precooling influent hot water to reduce the temperature difference between the air and water and consequently the water content of exhaust air to that which can be absorbed by the ambient atmosphere thus avoiding plume formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1982
    Inventor: Larry D. Howlett
  • Patent number: 4337216
    Abstract: In an evaporative cooler having a casing, a multilayer type contact body and means for supplying water to selected channels in the contact body, the top edges of the contact body are formed to define outwardly widened openings communicating with only selected channels in the body. The water supply means supplies water to only some of the openings so that alternating channels on the contact body are passed with both water and air and the remainder only with air. As a result the formation of mist at the discharge end of the cooler can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1982
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget Carl Munters
    Inventor: Lars E. R. Korsell
  • Patent number: 4315873
    Abstract: There is disclosed cooling equipment wherein air is caused to pass through a wet cooling tower section and thus precooled prior to passage across the tube bundle of a dry cooling tower section through which a medium to be cooled is circulated, and then either selectively vented or recirculated successively through the wet section and across the tube bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1982
    Assignee: Hudson Products Corporation
    Inventors: Ennis C. Smith, Addison Y. Gunter, deceased
  • Patent number: 4300920
    Abstract: In a method of treating flue gas which results from the burning of coal in a boiler wherein the flue gas is passed through a wet scrubber and proceeds in a saturated condition as a flue gas stream to an exhaust fan and then up a stack to the atmosphere, and wherein a reheat heat exchanger is employed to heat the saturated flue gas prior to its introduction to the exhaust fan to a sufficiently high temperature above its dew point the improvement in that method which comprises heating at least a portion of the flue gas stream subsequent to its passage through the wet scrubber and prior to its passage through the reheat heat exchanger to prevent any condensation from the flue gas stream in or on the reheat heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1981
    Assignee: Tranter, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward E. Grove
  • Patent number: 4269796
    Abstract: A wet/dry cooling tower wherein a liquid to-be-cooled is flowed along channels of a corrugated open surface or the like, which surface is swept by cooling air. The amount of the surface covered by the liquid is kept small compared to the dry part thereof so that said dry part acts as a fin for the wet part for heat dissipation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1981
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Leon R. Glicksman, Warren R. Rohsenow
  • Patent number: 4252752
    Abstract: Heat exchange units are disclosed for exchanging heat between at least one fluid, for example water, and a gas, for example air, comprising at least one battery of heat exchange tubes which are parallel to each other and extend generally vertically and in which circulates one of the fluids. The gas, such as air, passes between the tubes of the battery generally transversely of the heat exchange tubes, and means are provided for selectively spraying a liquid on the heat exchanger tubes. The heat exchange units may be employed in atmospheric natural draft, or forced draft coolers, or cooling towers, or combinations of such draft-producing means may be employed in a single cooling tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1981
    Assignee: Hamon-Sobelco, S.A.
    Inventor: Myriam R. C. G. Flandroy
  • Patent number: 4217317
    Abstract: A cooling tower comprising at its lower portion, beneath an exchange surface, a catch basin receiving the cooled water and having an aperture formed therein, a vertical-axis fan mounted in the aperture being adapted to draw air from beneath the basin and force it upwards through the tower, a conventional water streaming mechanism being provided at the upper portion of the tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1980
    Assignee: S.A. Delta Neu
    Inventor: Francis Neu
  • Patent number: 4202847
    Abstract: A water cooling tower and method which provides for both wet and dry cooling within the same vertical space and significantly reduces the discharge of water particles out of the tower. Water is deposited on one side of each of a plurality of trickler plates and flows downwardly under the influence of gravity substantially undisturbed as a low speed film. Air flows at low speed by natural draught in a substantially undisturbed path on the other side of each of the plates. Important dimensional ratios and construction details are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1980
    Assignee: Gunter Ernst
    Inventors: Gunter Ernst, Edmund Baer, Dieter Wurz
  • Patent number: 4157368
    Abstract: An air-cooled tower for cooling of fluid wherein a vortex is established within a vertically standing cylinder.Air entering through the upper portion of the cylinder is directed tangentially and downwardly, establishing a downwardly flowing vortex which is reversed at the bottom forming a smaller diameter intense upwardly flowing vortex. Additional air is induced through the center of the cylinder at the bottom. Heat exchange between the fluid to be cooled and the air is through indirect heat exchange surface or direct injection of the fluid. Evaporative cooling is accelerated due to the turbulent conditions, and the centrifugal action reduces the water carryover in the airstream exiting from the top of the cylinder. A turbine-fan combination centrally located at the bottom of the cylinder permits supplementing the airflow under low-wind conditions and extracting energy from the induced airflow under high wind conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1979
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: John H. Fernandes
  • Patent number: 4152123
    Abstract: The gases emerging from a high-pressure gas furnace are subject to coarse particle separation and then to washing and scrubbing with water before driving an expansion turbine which has a gas bypass so that the turbine can be cut off. The scrubbing water recycled to the scrubber when the turbine is cut off, is permitted to traverse a cooler of the washing-water recovery unit but, when the turbine is operative, the scrubbing water bypasses the cooler. The water introduced into the scrubber can thus have a temperature of about 25.degree. C. when the turbine is bypassed and about 50.degree. C. when it is effective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1979
    Assignee: Gottfried Bischoff Bau Kompl. Gasreinigungs- und Wasserruckkuhlanlagen GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft
    Inventors: Karl-Rudolf Hegemann, Helmut Weissert, Theodor Niess
  • Patent number: 4148850
    Abstract: Supporting structure for a large natural draft cooling tower consisting of a central tower support in the form of a hollow column of reinforced concrete and hyperboloid-shaped cooling tower mantle supported by the central tower support with the aid of cables and tie rings at the top and bottom of the cooling tower mantle. The upper tie ring is suspended from the top of the central tower support by means of a series of inclined supporting cables and the lower tie ring is connected to the upper tie ring by means of two sets of oppositely diagonally inclined mantle supporting cables, under a downwardly directed preload, forming a hyperboloid-shaped cable grid. To this grid are attached the section panels of the cooling tower mantle. The cable preload is provided by means of holding cables extending between the lower tie ring and a series of ground anchors, or by means of the diagonally inclined cables themselves which may be attached to the ground anchors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1979
    Assignee: Balke-Durr Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hugo Schulte, Wolfgang Muller, Jorg Schlaich, Gunter Mayr
  • Patent number: 4121541
    Abstract: A process is provided for removing pollutants from flue gases generated in a steam generating power plant. The flue gases are partially cooled and directly contacted with a portion of the cooling water of a circulating cooling water system used to remove waste heat of the generated steam in a waste heat condenser. The pollutants are thereby washed out of the flue gases into the cooling water and thereafter removed from the cooling water. The heat exchange of the cooling water and the flue gases can take place in a cooling tower, wherein ambient cooling air is drawn in to cool the circulating cooling water. The flue gases can also be further cooled prior to the direct washing thereof by indirect heat exchange in the cooling tower with said upwardly moving cooling air and washed flue gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1978
    Assignee: Saarbergwerke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hannes Kneissl, Alexander Uebbing
  • Patent number: 4112027
    Abstract: A high efficiency, induced draft, combination counterflow-crossflow fluid cooling apparatus and method is provided which gives unexpectedly enhanced cooling of hot fluid by causing the fluid to pass upwardly through a series of serpentine heat exchange conduits in primarily countercurrent, indirect sensible heat exchange relationship with external cooling water gravitating from an overlying evaporative water cooling section. Crossflowing air currents are pulled through the apparatus to evaporatively cool the water not only in the upper cooling section but also in the sensible heat exchange area as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1978
    Assignee: The Marley Company
    Inventor: Robert E. Cates
  • Patent number: 4098854
    Abstract: Liquid used in a liquid-heating machine such as a turbine condenser is continuously circulated in an endless fluid flow path which passes through the machine and which is subdivided at a location spaced from the machine into a pair of parallel branches. A closed dry-type heat exchanger is provided in one branch and a wet-type evaporative cooler is provided in the other branch. A fan or the like is operated to form a pair of parallel streams of air one of which is passed over the closed heat exchanger for cooling the liquid purely by conduction, and the other stream is passed directly over the liquid in the evaporative cooler so as to cool it largely evaporatively. The heated air coming off the dry-type heat exchanger is mixed with the heated humid air coming off the wet-type evaporative cooler and liberated to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1978
    Assignee: GEA Luftkuhlergesellschaft Happel GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hermann Knirsch, Hans-Bernd Gerz
  • Patent number: 4088717
    Abstract: A cooling tower for condensing water has a hyperbolical main wall with an per portion which defines a passage for ascending vapor-laden air. The upper portion contains an annular insert serving to intercept currents of cool air which develop and tend to flow into the interior of the intermediate portion of the main wall at low wind velocities and/or to intercept turbulent air which develops and tends to flow into the intermediate portion when the wind velocity at the top of the tower is high. The insert may constitute a sheltered passageway for workmen and may be made integral with the upper portion of the main wall. The width of the annular space which is defined by the insert and upper portion of the main wall may be a whole multiple of the depth of such space, and the cross-sectional area of this space can approach one-half the cross-sectional area of the passage through which cooling air escapes from the tower by flowing upwardly within and above the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1978
    Assignees: GEA Kuhlturmbau und Systemtechnik Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Hamon-Sobelco S.A.
    Inventors: Heinz Ruhl, Jean Gilbert
  • Patent number: 4076771
    Abstract: A generally rectangular, bottom-vented, mechanical draft combination wet-dry water cooling tower is provided which has excellent water conservation properties and resistance to recirculation of heated discharge air, and which is designed for minimizing undue low level deflection and spreading of hot moist discharge air with essentially complete elimination of visible fog plumes above the tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1978
    Assignee: The Marley Cooling Tower Company
    Inventors: James R. Houx, Jr., Richard D. Landon, Paul A. Lindahl, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4070279
    Abstract: An apparatus for dissolving at least one gas in a liquid comprises an eductor submerged in a liquid, desirably in combination with a high turbulence mixing device, so that synergistic results are obtained. The inlet portion of the eductor generally has an inward convergence towards a throat. The outlet portion of the eductor has an outward divergence. A diffuser which generally carries the gas mixed with a liquid extends through the eductor inlet portion and through the throat portion into the outlet portion. In a desired embodiment, the diffuser is connected or attached to a high turbulence mixing device such as desirably, a flat plate orifice in a conduit. An injection tube extends through the flat plate orifice downstream into the conduit pipe and injects a gas into the liquid to produce a gas-liquid mixture.The apparatus dissolves an exceedingly high amount of gas into a liquid and requires very low amounts of energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1978
    Inventor: Edward T. Armstrong
  • Patent number: 4022853
    Abstract: An installation for changing the temperature of fluid media has a gas-liquid contacting arrangement and an indirect heat-exchange arrangement. The gas-liquid contacting arrangement is made up of a chamber and a device inside the chamber through which liquid may flow to be converted into the form of a spray. A collecting vessel at the bottom of the chamber collects the liquid which passes through the spray device. The wall of the chamber is provided with openings for the admission of a gas into the chamber and louvers may be provided for regulating the flow of gas into the chamber. The indirect heat-exchange arrangement is made up of two portions which are located at a level above that of the spray device and which extend upwardly and outwardly from the vicinity of the wall of the chamber. Each of the heat-exchange portions is constituted by a plurality of parallel conduits provided with fins. Where the installation is used for cooling purposes, the heat-exchange portions may serve as condensers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1974
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1977
    Assignee: Gea Luftkuhlergesellschaft Happel GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Franz J. Schulenberg
  • Patent number: 4014669
    Abstract: A drift eliminator assembly for a liquid cooling tower employs deformable resilient drift eliminator blades which snap into mounting slots and are held in place without fasteners or a bonding agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1977
    Assignee: Ecodyne Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley E. Thompson, Joseph Michael Schwinn
  • Patent number: 4003970
    Abstract: An adjustably operable heat transfer system for cooling tower installations, the heat transfer units consisting of a section of only "wet" operating evaporative heat exchanger units and a section of dual-purpose heat exchanger units which are adapted for alternative or simultaneous wet evaporative heat transfer and "dry" convective heat transfer. All units are operated in the wet mode, when the air temperatures are highest, for maximum heat transfer output, but a mixed mode is used, when the air temperature is lowest, dry warm air obtained through convective heat transfer being admixed to the moist warm air obtained through evaporative heat transfer, in order to prevent cloud formation by the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1977
    Assignee: Balcke-Durr Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Vladimir Vodicka
  • Patent number: 3997635
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for preventing formation of mist by the discharge of moistened air from an evaporative cooler, primarily a cooling tower of the multi-layer type, comprising a contact body composed of a plurality of layers forming between themselves gaps passed by water to be cooled and atmospheric air which is moistened and heated by contact with the water in counter-current or cross-current flow. Under certain conditions as when the temperature of the atmospheric air is so low, when the moistened and heated air is discharged to the atmosphere and cooled to the low temperature of the latter, the moisture contained in the discharged air will be condensed and precipitated in the form of mist to the extent it exceeds the saturation point of the air. Such precipitation can be avoided by mixing the moistened air prior to its escape into the atmosphere with preheated dry air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1976
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget Carl Munters
    Inventor: Karl A. Hallgren
  • Patent number: 3994999
    Abstract: A wet-dry cooling tower with an upper tubular heat exchange section superposed over a lower sloped film fill section. The film fill comprises a number of spaced sheets, preferably of the corrugated type. Also, splash-type fill may be disposed on either side of the film fill for increased gas-liquid contact. After partial cooling in the upper tubular section, liquid is either directed to the lower film fill section or bypasses it depending on cooling requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1976
    Inventor: Peter M. Phelps
  • Patent number: 3982914
    Abstract: Crescent shaped vanes are so disposed in an evaporative cooling tower that the vanes generally have their leading edges aligned with a plane which forms an acute angle with a vertical plane and that adjacent vanes form a continuous smooth curve flow path which is generally directed upwardly and changes less than 90.degree. in direction to form an effective, low-pressure drop drift eliminator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1974
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1976
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Ralph E. Grimble
  • Patent number: 3965672
    Abstract: A wet cooling tower has an encircling exhaust header in communication with the exhaust of a plurality of gas turbines and a plurality of upwardly inclined conduits, which direct the hot exhaust gas tangentially into the cooling tower to increase the temperature and velocity of the moisture laden air flowing therethrough to lift the effluent air into the upper atmosphere and eliminate the plume under many weather conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1974
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1976
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventor: James O. Stephens
  • Patent number: 3944636
    Abstract: A cooling tower has circumferentially distributed inlet openings at the lower end for the entrance of cooling air and a central upper outlet opening. Cooling air flows through the tower, on the one hand, counter-currently to a medium to be cooled which flows in downward direction over a trickling unit (wet cooling section), and on the other hand, parallel thereto about heat-exchanger elements, flown through by a medium to be cooled (dry cooling section). The trickling unit and the heat-exchanger elements are separated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1976
    Assignee: GEA Luftkuehlergesellschaft Happel GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Franz J. Schuldenberg, Hans-Bernd Gerz