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.

Abstract: The present invention provides method and apparatus for incorporating thermal storage and other low-temperature reservoirs with new or retrofittable refrigerant circuit devices to increase their thermal operating capacity and efficiency by subcooling refrigerant condensate with subcoolers, as illustrated in a plurality of structural arrangements, which allows simultaneous cooling of a refrigerated volume and recharging of the thermal storage system, and further, it may utilize proportional subcooling to proportionally control evaporator capacity.

Abstract: A supplemental cooling system couplable to at least one refrigerant-cooled apparatus with a refrigerant circuit to reduce the refrigerant temperature in the refrigerant circuit, which cooling system is shown with a thermal storage system as well as an auxiliary condensing arrangement for coupling the refrigerant circuit and supplemental cooling system.

Abstract: A cooling system with at least one cooling tower and multiple upper pans or distribution manifold pipes is provided with a strainer tank assembly at the tower lower end in proximity to the sump to receive incoming fluid for cooling, which strainer tank includes a screen to strain particulate material from the inlet fluid communicated to the tower upper end and to equally distribute this fluid at the lowest elevation at a pressure with a higher static pressure component than its dynamic pressure component to avoid a requirement for a flow control valve to provide relatively quiescent fluid for fluid distribution to the tower and fluid transfer media therein. A pressure relief baffle in the strainer tank is operable in response to a fluid overpressure condition to bypass the screen and open fluid communication to avert catastrophic failures within the fluid circuit.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and the method to treat process water of heat exchange systems with fluid flow through the system at an idling or inoperative system mode, which system may have a biocidal treatment arrangement coupled thereto.

Abstract: A large anti-vortexing nozzle is provided which may be used in a distribution system comprising multiple nozzles to uniformly distribute fluid to an underlying surface. The nozzle is non-clogging, operates at very low spray pressures, and evenly distributes fluid over a wide area due to its ability to eradicate vortex formations within the nozzle. The nozzle comprises a main body with integrally formed anti-vortexing ears extending upward from the top of the nozzle into the pipe and an underlying dual pyramid shaped deflecting apparatus. In operation, the nozzle produces consistent and continuous, multiple uniform flat planes of fluid because the nozzle now will not sputter, vibrate or induce air because ears on the nozzle eliminate vortex pair formations which are detrimental to nozzle performance.

Abstract: A cooling system with at least one cooling tower and multiple upper pans or distribution manifold pipes is provided with a strainer tank assembly at the tower lower end in proximity to the sump to receive incoming fluid for cooling, which strainer tank includes a screen to strain particulate material from the inlet fluid communicated to the tower upper end and to equally distribute this fluid at the lowest elevation at a pressure with a higher static pressure component than its dynamic pressure component to avoid a requirement for a flow control valve to provide relatively quiescent fluid for fluid distribution to the tower and fluid transfer media therein. A pressure relief baffle in the strainer tank is operable in response to a fluid overpressure condition to bypass the screen and open fluid communication to avert catastrophic failures within the fluid circuit.

Abstract: The present invention provides an outlet connection for use in a lined basin. A structural steel basin, usually part of a cooling tower, includes a fiberglass reinforced polyester liner. Such liner is desired to provide corrosion resistance and watertightness to the steel basin. The outlet connection includes a piping section of cylindrical shape affixed to a backing plate. The piping section passes through an opening in the liner, with the backing section and another backing plate holding gaskets compressed against the liner. The piping section extends through an opening in a basin wall section, and a closure plate is affixed to the basin wall section. The closure plate also has an opening corresponding to the outer surface of the piping section, and is held to the piping section along the sides of said opening by welding or other similar means.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method and apparatus for conditioning air utilizing a desiccant based air conditioning system requiring substantially less regeneration energy than typical systems. This regeneration energy reduction is accomplished through the use of two separate desiccant devices and an indirect evaporative cooler having both a wet and dry side for air flow-through. The first desiccant device regeneration air is first passed through the wet side of the indirect evaporative cooler wherein it is humidified and heated. This air is then dehumidified by passing through the second desiccant device which operates at a high moisture content. This results in a substantial amount of moisture being absorbed from the first regeneration air stream causing a substantial air temperature increase and thereby, reducing the auxiliary heat required. The second desiccant device may be regenerated with ambient air.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method of controlling the head pressure in a refrigeration or air conditioning system in order to maintain the internal discharge pressure and discharge line pressure substantially equal. The method consists of the steps of measuring the suction pressure of the working fluid, calculating the internal discharge pressure of the working lfuid by multiplying the suction pressure by the internal pressure ratio of the compressor, measuring the discharge line pressure of the working fluid and then comparing the internal discharge pressure to the discharge line pressure. If the difference between the internal discharge pressure and discharge line pressure is greater than some allowable tolerance, the capacity of the condenser is adjusted to equalize these two pressures.

Abstract: A method and apparatus combining absorption refrigeration and mechanical expansion refrigeration to chill an air conditioning medium wherein a mechanical refrigeration system is alternately (1) connected in series with an absorption refrigeration system during a cooling cycle to cool an external air conditioning medium, and (2) connected to drive the absorption system during a storage cycle to concentrate and store a strong internal liquid absorbent solution and to store an internal diluent refrigeration liquid which liquids are utilized during the cooling cycle.

Abstract: An absorption refrigeration method and apparatus having concentrator and evaporator phases operated at substantially equal pressure and wherein the concentrator phase utilizes a mechanically driven heat pump to concentrate absorbent solution and to condense the diluent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cooling system with supplemental thermal storage. The cooling system comprises a compressor, an evaporative condenser, a thermal storage unit, and an evaporator. During normal outdoor temperatures when building cooling is desired, the compressor output is connected to the evaporative condenser which in turn is connected to the evaporator coil. During periods of time when the building is not occupied, the evaporator coil is removed from the cooling circuit and the working fluid passing through coils in the thermal storage unit acts to freeze liquid surrounding the coils within the thermal storage unit tank. During unusually warm outdoor temperatures, when additional building cooling is required, the compressor output is connected to the evaporative condenser which in turn is connected to the thermal storage unit which output is in turn connected to the evaporative coil.

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.

Abstract: Tubular containers, preferably corrugated, containing plural thermal storage medium compositions having different fusion temperatures are arrayed in zones or layers within a vessel through which liquid is circulated to exchange heat with the containers.

Abstract: A modular cooling tower assembly is provided that comprises at least one cooling tower module having extendible legs capable of supporting the assembly when fully extended. When more than one cooling tower module is used in the assembly, adjacent modules are attached together at their respective frames. A single exit plenum chamber is placed over the joined modules and a single fan in the exit plenum chamber causes an air intake from an air entrance plenum chamber at the bottom of the modules upwardly past the fill sheets and out the exit plenum chamber and fan cowl. The cooled liquid falls into a common collection basin in which the extended legs of the modules are standing.

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.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for thermal storage improved to deliver cold liqud refrigerant during a supply cycle by freezing storage liquid envelopes only on tubes defining refrigerant flow paths during an ice production and storage cycle and extending the effective flow paths during the supply cycle through supplementary conduits immersed in free storage liquid which is chilled by the exterior of the frozen envelopes.