Abstract: An arrangement of apparatus for the measurement of the quantity amount of ice in an ice thermal storage system having a storage tank with a storage fluid and a cooling coil assembly therein, and the method for measuring such ice quantity, which apparatus includes a means to provide an uplift force to the coil assembly and, means for measurement of the vertical displacement of the coil in the storage tank and means for relating the vertical displacement of the cooling coil assembly to the quantity of ice on the cooling coil assembly, and further noting a specific uplifting force assembly for use in such storage tanks.

Abstract: An arrangement of apparatus for the measurement of the quantity amount of ice in an ice thermal storage system having a storage tank with a storage fluid and a cooling coil assembly therein, and the method for measuring such ice quantity, which apparatus includes a means to provide an uplift force to the coil assembly and, means for measurement of the vertical displacement of the coil in the storage tank and means for relating the vertical displacement of the cooling coil assembly to the quantity of ice on the cooling coil assembly, and further noting a specific uplifting force assembly for use in such storage tanks.

Abstract: A film fill-pack has a plurality of fill-sheets with an ordered array of ridges and grooves generally extending above a planar surface on both the obverse and reverse surfaces of a fill-sheet, which fill-sheets at an assembled state provide the ridges and grooves of facing obverse and reverse surfaces of adjacent fill-sheets in an arrangement providing a plurality of channels between adjacent fill-sheets for gas flow therethrough and where the ordered arrangement of ridges and grooves induces spiraling of the gas flow through the channels for promotion of improved heat transfer; and, where the fill-sheets further include a spacing arrangement providing a compact nesting of adjacent sheets with minimal sheet-to-sheet displacement at least at two of the edges for compact handling, transfer and storage with a self-spacing of adjacent fill-sheets at assembly of the film fill-pack.

Abstract: A thermal storage apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus uses a group of heat exchange members immersed in a phase change medium to store coolness by freezing the heat exchange medium. The heat exchange members each include tubular passageways to carry a heat transfer fluid through the apparatus to freeze the phase change material during an ice-forming cycle and to be chilled by the solid phase change material during a melt cycle. The heat exchange members each have substantially continuous opposite surfaces to prevent the solid phase change material from forming an annulus encircling the tubular passageways. During the ice-forming cycle, the solid phase change material forms in complementary sheets or volumes so that during the melt cycle the heat transfer fluid does not gain heat near the outlets. The heat exchange members may be made of a lightweight material, such as plastic.

Abstract: A heat exchanger is disclosed. The heat exchanger has structural members made of fiber reinforced resin material. These structural members include vertical columns and walls. The walls are bonded to the columns to create rigid joints. The bonded joints have large surface areas. The walls are defined by individual panels that may be bonded together along abutting horizontal box beam sections. The panels have additional box beam sections to strengthen the panels, and connecting webs extending between the box beam sections. Both the box beam sections and connecting webs are bonded to the columns. Mechanical fasteners are used to hold the walls and columns together until the bonding material cures. The heat exchanger is an evaporative heat exchanger with a basin with a sloping floor having a low point. The sloping floor may be made of panels bonded together. The panels are similar in structure to the wall panels, although the box beams may be of different sizes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a planned array tubes and circuits in a cooling coil for a thermal storage unit to maintain at least some of the vertical aisles between adjacent circuits or sets of circuits to provide communication through the coil to present more ice-contact surface area to the heat transfer fluid for maintenance of a fluid temperature at about the desired output temperature and to provide a circuit having a means to monitor and control termination of the ice build in a thermal storage unit.

Abstract: A system and method of exchanging heat are disclosed. Three heat exchange sections are used: a dry indirect contact heat exchange section, a second indirect contact heat exchange section that is operable in either a wet or dry mode, and a direct contact heat exchange section. The three sections are next to each other in an apparatus to reduce the overall height of the apparatus. The dry and second indirect contact heat exchange sections receive a process fluid in series or in parallel. Separate ambient air streams pass through the second indirect and direct contact heat exchange sections before mixing and entering the dry indirect contact heat exchange section. Another ambient air stream is mixed in upstream of the dry indirect contact heat exchange section when the system is operated in the dry mode. Two independent evaporative liquid distribution systems are included. One selectively distributes evaporative liquid over the second indirect contact heat exchange section.

Abstract: A film fill-pack has a plurality of fill-sheets with an ordered array of ridges and grooves generally extending above a planar surface on both the obverse and reverse surfaces of a fill-sheet, which fill-sheets at an assembled state provide the ridges and grooves of facing obverse and reverse surfaces of adjacent fill-sheets in an arrangement providing a plurality of channels between adjacent fill-sheets for gas flow therethrough and where the ordered arrangement of ridges and grooves induces spiraling of the gas flow through the channels for promotion of improved heat transfer; and, where the fill-sheets further include a spacing arrangement providing a compact nesting of adjacent sheets with minimal sheet-to-sheet displacement at least at two of the edges for compact handling, transfer and storage with a self-spacing of adjacent fill-sheets at assembly of the film fill-pack.

Abstract: A cooling coil arrangement for a cylindrical tower provides coverage of a larger area of the cylindrical footprint of a cooling tower to enable more economical usage of the vertical tower storage capacity for ice thermal storage, which coil arrangement has a plurality of coils arranged in multiply arranged planes with serpentine layouts of each tubing length generally having a vee-shaped layout in each plane between the longitudinal axis of the tower and the tower housing, which tubing lengths are provided in each sector of each plane normal to the axis and having a tubing length therein, and the manifolds coupling the tubing lengths to inlet and outlet ports for circulating coolant fluid through the tubing lengths to cool the phase change fluid in the cooling tower, and a plurality of the serpentine tubing lengths vertically aligned and preferably arranged with the tubing section of one u-shaped segment of a first tubing length in vertical alignment with the gap of another of the tubing lengths which provide

Abstract: A robotic welding method for making a heat exchanger having tubes and inlet and outlet headers is disclosed. The headers have planar tubesheets and covers. The planar tubesheets are welded to the inlet and outlet ends of tubes. The tubesheets have two co-linear edge portions and a third edge intersecting a line through the two co-linear edge portions. The tubesheet has interior edges defining holes through which the ends of tubes extend. A robotic welding system is provided, with a sensor, a welding apparatus and a controller for controlling the movement and operation of the welding apparatus. The tubesheet is scanned to find the first and second co-linear edge portions, the third intersecting edge portion, and the face of the tubesheet.

Abstract: A cooling tower is disclosed that is resistant to lateral displacement while minimizing the number and type of parts, and while limiting the amount of horizontal bracing. The cooling tower has a fiber reinforced material skeletal frame. Moment-transferring connections are provided in the connections between the elements of the skeletal frame and between the skeletal frame and the base on which it sits. Further cost savings may be realized by using separable parts made of wood instead of fiber reinforced material. The moment-transferring connections between the frame members are made by bonding the joined elements to a mounting plate. The moment-transferring connections between the frame and the base are made by bonding the frame members and the base to footings. A method of constructing such a cooling tower is also disclosed. Diagonal bracing may be provided at preselected joints.

Abstract: A cooling tower is disclosed that is resistant to lateral displacement while minimizing the number and type of parts, and while limiting the amount of horizontal bracing. The cooling tower has a fiber reinforced material skeletal frame. Moment-transferring connections are provided in the connections between the elements of the skeletal frame. The moment-transferring connections between the frame members are made by bonding the joined elements to a mounting plate. The mounting plate may be held in place by mechanical fasteners that bear construction loads until the bonding material cures. The mounting plate, columns, beam and mechanical fasteners define construction joints that are capable of bearing construction loads until the bonding material cures. The mounting plate, columns, beam and cured bonding material define post-construction joints that are capable of transferring moments from the beam to the columns and are capable of bearing post-construction loads on the joints.

Abstract: A heat exchange apparatus is provided with an indirect evaporative heat exchange section and a direct evaporative heat exchange section. A uniform temperature evaporative liquid is downwardly sprayed into the indirect section to indirectly exchange sensible heat with a hot fluid stream flowing within a series of enclosed circuits which comprise the indirect evaporative heat exchange section. After the evaporative fluid descends through the entire indirect heat exchange section and absorbs heat, it is distributed across fill media within the direct evaporative heat exchange section for cooling. Separate streams of ambient cooling air are simultaneously drawn into each of the heat exchange sections crosscurrently to evaporatively cool the evaporative liquid flowing within each section. The water cooled in the direct heat exchange section is then collected in a sump where it is allowed to mix and resultantly become uniform in temperature before being redistributed.

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.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus is provided comprising a vessel confining a pool of liquid. A plurality of separate tubular passageways are immersed in the liquid. A header assembly is provided having a first chamber and a second chamber. The first chamber is operatively connected to one end of each of the separate tubular passageways and the second chamber is operatively connected to the other end of each of the separate tubular passageways.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an improved method and apparatus for treating water in heat exchange systems. The present invention automatically and inexpensively provides an effective chemical to process water systems at times and in proportion to the need for water treatment in such systems. When used in evaporative cooling systems, the present invention adds the treatment chemical to the system via the make-up water. The make-up water acquires a substantially constant concentration of treatment chemical as it is passed through a device containing a treatment chemical. The constant concentration of chemical is achieved by dividing the make-up flow into two streams within the device, saturating the smaller of the two streams with chemical, and re-mixing the two streams. The biocide agent used in the preferred embodiment of the invention is prilled elemental iodine.

Abstract: A heat exchange apparatus is provided with an indirect evaporative heat exchange section and a direct evaporative heat exchange section. A uniform temperature evaporative liquid is downwardly sprayed into the indirect section to indirectly exchange sensible heat with a hot fluid stream flowing within a series of enclosed circuits which comprise the indirect evaporative heat exchange section. After the evaporative fluid descends through the entire indirect heat exchange section and absorbs heat, it is distributed across fill media within the direct evaporative heat exchange section for cooling. Separate streams of ambient cooling air are simultaneously drawn into each of the heat exchange sections to evaporatively cool the evaporative liquid flowing within each section. The water cooled in the direct heat exchange section is then collected in a sump where it is allowed to mix and resultantly become uniform in temperature before being redistributed.

Abstract: A side feeding fluid distribution system is provided which is used for uniformly distributing a heat exchange fluid to an underlying structure. The distribution system comprises a distribution pan, a pre-distribution box, and a removable basket strainer housed within the pre-distribution box. The fluid transporting pre-distribution box is centrally located in resting relationship on top of the distribution pan. The pre-distribution box has a pair of uniquely configured converging sidewalls which allow portions of the flowstream to be incrementally stripped from the main flowstream as it flows towards the backwall of the pre-distribution box. The velocity energy of the stripped portion of flow is thereby conserved, and then advantageously used to create uniform water distribution throughout the distribution pan, and hence, to the nozzles attached in the bottom of the pan. The pre-distribution box sidewalls also form an internal chamber for receiving a removable in-line basket filter or strainer.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an improved method and apparatus for treating water in heat exchange systems. The present invention automatically and inexpensively provides an effective chemical to process water systems at times and in proportion to the need for water treatment in such systems. When used in evaporative cooling systems, the present invention adds the treatment chemical to the system via the make-up water. The make-up water acquires a substantially constant concentration of treatment chemical as it is passed through a device containing a treatment chemical. The constant concentration of chemical is achieved by dividing the make-up flow into two streams within the device, saturating the smaller of the two streams with chemical, and re-mixing the two streams. The biocide agent used in the preferred embodiment of the invention is prilled elemental iodine.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooling, air which apparatus includes an indirect evaporative cooler, an indirect contact chiller, a reheat coil component, an ice-thermal-storage component and an ice-manufacturing refrigeration chiller to provide alternative air-flow paths and alternative component combinations. Alternative fluid-flow paths are provided through electable combinations of the several components to effect the desired lowering of air temperature, relative humidity and air density in the cooled air.