Abstract: A vapor-liquid contactor includes a plurality of vertically stacked trays (151) within a containment column, the central downcomer (152) provides a liquid supply and removal area at the same location on each tray (151), so that the horizontal liquid flow pattern is the same on each tray (151). The contactor also includes vertical partitions (154) positioned transverse to the liquid flow within the vapor space of each tray (151) to minimize vapor mixing. The trays (151) may also include an indirect heat exchanger in the form of tubing arrays (208).

Abstract: A gas is dissolved into a liquid by first pressurizing the liquid to a predetermined level. The pressurized liquid is then directed into a hydrocyclone to form a vortex stream having an evacuated central area. The hydrocyclone has an inlet aperture size and configuration and a barrel diameter and length optimized for liquid particle movement through the liquid vortex stream. Gas is injected into the evacuated area for absorption into the liquid vortex stream. The liquid is then directed from the hydrocyclone into a diffusion column, and subsequently to a pressure chamber in order to collect non-adsorbed gas. The collected non-adsorbed gas is then recycled back into the evacuated area of the vortex stream. Pressurized gas is added to the system as the gas is adsorbed and dissolved into the liquid.

Abstract: A gasification device is described for the introduction of a gas into a liquid, in particular of air into waste water. The gasification device has a blower body element, which carries a membrane made of an elastic material with perforation slits. The gasification device also has a longitudinal ridge arranged in an area located at the top, related to the installation location. When the gas feed is switched off and the hydrostatic pressure of the waste water is imposed, an axial fold of the membrane is formed in this upper area. This area is, at the same time, free of perforation slits.

Abstract: An apparatus for aerating water is provided, and includes a support body and disposed thereon a slitted sleeve of rubber or similar elastomeric material. The support body has sides of greatly different lengths, with the longer sides being essentially vertical. The support body is preferably a board-like, flat, rectangular upright support body.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a evaporative cooling pad and method of making the same. The cooling pad features a non-reflective, non-light transmissive surface finish incorporated directly into the cooling pad. In one embodiment, this surface finish would be a dark color, gray to black, with a non-gloss surface. The coupling of this type of finish and colored sheet with the plurality of angled cross-corrugated flutes featured on the cooling pad serves the function of breaking the light source at various flute angles and attenuating the light value during its passage through the cooling pad.

Abstract: An evaporative humidifier including a base removably supporting a water tray for holding a quantity of water. A blower assembly and a water tank are removably supported by the base above the water tray. The blower assembly includes a housing and a fan disposed intermediate a pair of air inlets and an air exhaust outlet. A cylindrically shaped wick filter is supported by the water tray and extends upwardly into the housing. The wick filter includes a cylindrical side wall and opposing open upper and lower ends. The fan is driven by a motor mounted inside the housing for drawing air into the housing through the air inlets, through the cylindrical side walls of the wick filter, and then through the open upper end of the wick filter and out of the housing through the air exhaust outlet.

Abstract: A method of installing a structured packing in an exchange column, the structured packing having a surface area density in the range of about 500 m2/m3 to about 675 m2/m3 includes a plurality of corrugated plates disposed in vertically parallel relation. Each plate has at least one aperture and a plurality of regularly spaced and substantially parallel corrugations disposed in crisscrossing relation to the corrugations of an adjacent plate. The apertures have an equivalent diameter of less than about 4 millimeters but greater than about 2 millimeters. The corrugations have a corrugation angle (&agr;) relative to horizontal in the range of about 40° to about 60°. Each corrugation, when approximated to be substantially a triangular cross-section, has an included angle (&bgr;) defined by two sides of the corrugation in the range of about 90° to about 100°.

Abstract: An evaporative cooler and method of operation is provided in which the cooler includes a liquid distributor, a body having a surface for receiving liquid from the distributor, an air moving device for generating a flow of air over the surface of the body, a heat transfer working fluid conduit having a surface arranged to receive substantially all of the liquid from the body and a liquid recirculating mechanism to recirculate the liquid from the conduit surface to the body surface. In an embodiment the body occupies a plan area larger than the plan area occupied by the conduit. In an embodiment, the conduit is located outside of the flow of air. In an embodiment, the velocity of the liquid is increased after it leaves the body and before it engages the conduit.

Abstract: An evaporating unit whose cabinet incorporates an external hot air intake for its acclimatization is disclosed. The external air intake is located in the base of the cabinet and has grids arranged around the three sides of the base, that is to say a grid close to the front edge and two grids following the two side edges of the base of the cabinet.

Abstract: A vapor-liquid contact tray is provided with at least two tray panels that are releaseably together along their overlapped margins by a locking hinged joint. The joint is formed by fingers in one tray panel that extend through slots located in the other tray panel. Offset bends are formed in the tray panels so that the overlapped margins do not extend above the top surface of the tray. The hinged joint includes a locking mechanism that prevents lateral separation of the tray panels once they have been releaseably joined together. The locking mechanism is formed by a downturned locking flange positioned between the fingers in one of the tray panels and extending downwardly into and, preferably through, openings located in the overlapped margin of the other tray panel.

Abstract: A floating portable humidifier is configured to float partially submerged in an open tray of water. An internal cavity includes water entry apertures below the water line and air entry apertures above the water line. Water enters the cavity through the water entry apertures to establish a constant water level within the cavity. Humidifying apparatus installed within the cavity combines water and air to form humidified air that leaves the humidifier through air exit apertures. A motor-driven fan may assist circulation of humidified air. Sealed chambers or a porous closed cell body construction may provide the necessary buoyancy. Any humidifying apparatus may be used. The floating design eliminates the need for a water tank.

Abstract: This invention relates to a gas-liquid contact tray having a bubble area and a downcomer having a downcomer opening, in which a self-draining vent tube is present in the downcomer and fluidly connects the upper portion of the downcomer with a space above the tray.

Abstract: A gas/liquid contacting tray assembly is provided, including a perforated sheet and elongated cover strips arching over the perforations in the sheet. The cover strips have slots with liquid conveying strips in them for conveying liquid along the slots while mixing gas therewith. This reduces stagnant areas downstream of the cover strips, and sedimentation of solids in these areas, thus increasing the gas/liquid mixing and handling capacity while reducing the frequency of shut downs. A further slot, extending in the opposite direction to the one above, may be provided in the cover strip and have a conveying strip for conveying liquid mixed with gas to the other end of the cover strip and further reducing the formation of stagnant areas. The cover strips may taper inwardly width-wise in a downstream direction.

Abstract: The humidifier includes a cabinet having a rear wall, a front wall, a pair of side walls, a bottom wall and a sump defined in part by the walls at the bottom of the cabinet. The cabinet has in the interior thereof means providing communication with an air system. Retainer ears are provided on the outer surfaces of the side walls near the top thereof. An evaporator pad is mounted in the cabinet adjacent and parallel to the rear wall. A water distribution trough is disposed in the interior of the cabinet adjacent the rear wall and is located above the evaporator pad for providing a substantially uniformly distributed flow of water to the evaporator pad. A pair of mounting elements are provided on the inner surfaces of the side walls near the bottom thereof. A swingable cover is provided for opening and closing the cabinet and has a top end and a bottom end. The cover at the bottom end is provided with a pair of bearing portions which are engageable with and pivotally mounted on the mounting elements.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide an aerator capable of performing aerobic operation feeding air into water, and anaerobic operation not feeding air into water efficiently, by simply switching the direction of rotation of an electric motor, without installing any lifting mechanism for lifting a rotary shaft provided with agitating blade.

Abstract: A vapor-liquid tray is provided which achieves markedly higher vapor loading and tray efficiency at all liquid loadings, and with little or no increase in pressure drop. Vapor loading is increased via a multiplicity of locally co-current liquid recirculating compartments, preferably with diagonal structure producing diagonal co-currency. Tray efficiency is increased by highly effective horizontal staging via a convergent-divergent liquid flowpath, preferably with structurally integrated tray downcomers. The advantageous features are also applicable individually. Referring to FIG. 16, symmetric tray partitions 1602 separate the active area of tray 1601 into a central section and two peripheral sections. The peripheral sections have tray downcomers 1615 and tray weirs 1617. The central section tray weir is 1632. Compartment partitions 1613 divide the liquid flowpaths into multiple compartments, each having compartment weir 1613 with liquid recirculation passages 1633.

Abstract: A gas-fired humidifier includes a heat exchanger with a plurality of generally upwardly extending tubes. These are connected at their lower ends to a source of water and at their upper ends to a steam header. A gas-fired burner is arranged to direct heat to the exterior of the tubes so as to cause water therein to boil and form steam in the steam header.

Abstract: A packing section includes a plurality of vertically oriented, diagonally cross-corrugated packing sheets defining a section height. The section height has a base region, a bulk region, and a top region. The base region has a first particular geometry different from the geometry of the bulk region.

Abstract: A stepped downcomer with intermediate step platform and a step wall extending down. Extensions extend out from step wall ends toward the tower wall. A main panel extends from the interior edge of the platform up to the above positioned tray. The liquid-vapor mix flows into contact with the step platform and travels off the platform. The liquid also flows down along the extensions into contact with the inlet region of the lower tray, by-passing the platform. The lower edge of the step wall and lower edge of the extensions control fluid flow traveling under the lower edging from the inlet side of the downcomer apparatus to the active area of the tray. The relative level of the edges can be varied to suit use. The flow control region can additionally include baffles, slots, doors and other flow control devices.

Abstract: An evaporative cooler (10) includes a housing having aligned upper and base panels (40, 50), and one or more air pervious side panels (70) peripherally disposed therebetween. An air inlet (52) is formed in the upper panel and the base panel collects excess water. An air pervious evaporative pad (80) formed of a fibrous material is enclosed within the housing and has a recess (82) formed therein which opens toward the air inlet. A fan (30) secured to the top panel delivers air ambient the fan into the housing and through the evaporative pad where it is cooled by an evaporative process, and the cooled air is discharged through the air outlets. A conduit and flow control system (21, 26, 27, 28, 29) is provided to supply evaporation water (25) to the evaporative pad at a rate substantially equal to the rate at which the water evaporates from the pad.