Abstract: An anti-draft shutter assembly for an axial flow fan fitted to a duct. The assembly includes at least one counterbalanced flap supported downstream of airflow from the fan when in operation, and at least one of the flaps being pivotally supported outside the perimeter of the duct. The flap is biased by a counterbalance weight toward a duct closing position to close the duct when the fan is not operating. In the preferred embodiment, at least one flap is held in the closed position by a magnetic catch on the flap.

Abstract: A water entry system for entry of water to a water distribution system for an evaporative cooler includes a conduit for delivering water to at least one of the uppermost corners of the lid of the evaporative cooler. The corner having the conduit includes a capped water entry point that causes the water to form a substantially uniform curtain of water which is in turn feeds the water into a plurality of channels and thus to evaporative pads of the evaporative cooler.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to the field of jet technology and essentially relates to a multi-nozzle liquid-gas ejector having nozzles and mixing chambers placed in alignment to each of the nozzles. The distance between the outlet section of each nozzle and the inlet section of the appropriate corresponding mixing chamber is determined from the following formula: L = k ⁢ 2 ⁢ F c 3 ⁢ Pg F k 2 ⁢ γ 4 where L—distance between the outlet section of the nozzle and the inlet section of the corresponding mixing chambers; k—design factor ranging from 0.001 to 0.

Abstract: A cooling tower has cooling tubes fitted to a water tank with upper portions sticking out from a top side of the tank. The upper portions of the cooling tubes have radiating fins. A frame is disposed on the top of the tank with aerosols being fitted to an inner upper side, and with two opposing fans fitted to two lateral sides. Hot water is sent through the tank to contact the lower portions of the cooling tubes such that same is cooled down by cooling spray distributed onto the radiating fins, and cooling air sent into, and out of the frame by the fans.

Abstract: A forced air cooling tower includes an upright casing, and elevated water distribution system disposed in an upper portion of the casing and one or more fans for drawing air through the tower. The tower also includes a catch basin for collecting the cooled air and a pump for circulating the cooled water through a condenser and back to the top of the tower and to the water distribution system. The cooling tower also includes a controller and a variable frequency device for regulating the flow of air through the tower. A first temperature sensor senses the temperature T1 of the hot process water delivered to the water distribution system and a second sensor senses the dry bulb temperature of the air leaving the tower Tdbt2. A third sensor senses the temperature of the cooled water leaving the tower. The controller such as a computer and variable frequency drive controls the speed of the fan to minimize the difference in T1 and Tdbt2.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for vaporizing and delivering liquid precursors to a processing chamber is provided. In one aspect, the apparatus is a liquid delivery system including a liquid supply, a vaporization assembly fluidicly coupled to the liquid supply, the vaporization assembly consisting essentially of an ampoule and a mass flow controller connected to the ampoule, and a processing chamber fluidicly coupled to the vaporization assembly. The liquid precursor is vaporized in the ampoule. In a preferred embodiment, the ampoule is located adjacent the processing chamber to provide point of use vaporization of the liquid precursor. In another aspect, the method includes providing a liquid supply containing a liquid precursor, delivering the precursor to an ampoule, vaporizing a portion of the liquid precursor in the ampoule, and flowing vaporized precursor to a processing chamber.

Abstract: A pressure container for batch gasification of liquid includes a container filling opening (9) in its upper part and has mounted therein a float arrangement (8) for closing the container filling opening when a certain liquid level (7) is reached, a beverage dispensing opening (3), and a gas nozzle (20) which discharges into the container. The container (5) is indivisible and includes a side-wall opening (27). The gas nozzle (20) is fixed in a mounting base (31) that can be inserted into the container through the side-wall opening (27) and secured firmly in a position in which the edges of the base (31) lie sealingly against the inner container surface surrounding the opening. That part of the mounting base (31) located on the inside of the container (5) is provided with a mechanism for pivotal attachment of the float arrangement.

Abstract: An absorber having a shell, wet tubes and cooling fluid supply and collection portions. Partition walls divide the shell into at least three zones. The wet tubes are disposed parallelly in the shell, passing through the partition walls. The opposite open ends of the wet tube locate in the uppermost and lowermost zones of the shell, respectively. The cooling fluid supply portion communicates with the open end of the wet tube to supply a cooling fluid thereto. The cooling fluid collection portion communicates with the other open end of the wet tube and discharge it outside. A gap is formed between the wet tube and the partition walls facing the intermediate zone. The cooling fluid continuously flows in the wet tubes, while supplying the liquid working fluid to the uppermost zone so as to flow down from the gap. The liquid working fluid flows through the gap to the zone locating below the intermediate zone and is discharged outside.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to the field of jet technology and more essentially to a liquid-gas ejector having a nozzle and a mixing chamber. The area of the minimal cross-section of the mixing chamber of the liquid-gas ejector is determined from the following formula: F = kQ ⁢ Pc * g γ where F—area of the minimal cross-section of the mixing chamber; k—design factor; Q—volumetric flow rate of a liquid through the nozzle; g—acceleration of gravity; y—density of the liquid fed into the nozzle; Pc—liquid pressure at the nozzle inlet; and where the k factor has a value ranging from 1.6 to 60 when the ratio of the liquid pressure at the nozzle inlet to the pressure of a liquid-gas mixture at the mixing chamber outlet is from 1.

Abstract: Static mixers are arranged so that its longitudinal direction is substantially vertical. A liquid supply mechanism supplies the liquid containing impurities from the upper end of the static mixer into the static mixer. A gas supply mechanism supplies gas from the lower end of the static mixer into the static mixer. The static mixer is fabricated so that one or more mixing elements comprising a passage tube through which fluid can pass and one or more spiral blades arranged inside the passage tube are, continuously or through one or more spacers, arranged in the longitudinal direction thereof. The liquid drops down inside the static mixer and the gas rises up inside the static mixer, so that the two are subjected to gas-liquid contact inside the static mixer.

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 structured packing for heat exchange and mass transfer between a liquid and a gas in a column having at least one packing layer with a first, lower end and a second, upper end is described, the packing layer having an internal geometry which varies over its height so that by suitably setting the liquid and gas flow rates in a first, in particular lower, region of the packing layer a bubbling layer having a predominantly disperse gas phase forms in a targeted manner and simultaneously in a second, in particular upper, region of the packing layer a film flow of the liquid having a predominantly continuous gas phase forms in a targeted manner.

Abstract: A layer of mixed-resistance structured packing includes: a first structured packing having a first packing resistance; and a second structured packing generally horizontally adjacent the first structured packing, the second structured packing having a second packing resistance different than the first packing resistance. The layer of mixed-resistance structured packing is used in exchange columns for exchanging heat and/or mass between a first phase and a second phase in processes such as cryogenic air separation. Use of the layer of mixed-resistance structured packing reduces HETP (height equivalent to a theoretical plate) in the exchange columns and processes. A method also is provided for assembling the layer of mixed-resistance structured packing in an exchange column.

Abstract: An apparatus for connecting adjacent tray panel of a fractionation tray within a distillation column tower for the separation between a vapor and liquid is provided. A first interlocking panel has an alignment area with at least one alignment slot toward the center of the panel and at least one alignment aperture located distal from the center of the panel. A second interlocking panel has an alignment tab with a valve perforation on the alignment tab. The alignment tab of the second panel is inserted into the alignment slot of the first panel at an angle. The gravitational force on the panel opposite the alignment tab of the second panel aligns the second panel within the horizontal plane of the first panel such that no bolts are required during assembly. Dispersion valves are inserted into the valve perforation to disperse the vapor and prevent weeping to the tray below and flooding to the tray above.

Abstract: A liquid-gas ejector comprising a nozzle and a mixing chamber is disclosed, wherein the distance between the outlet section of the nozzle and the inlet section of the mixing chamber of a liquid-gas ejector is determined from the following formula: L = k · G ⁢   ⁢ α μ where L—distance between the outlet section of the nozzle and the inlet section of the mixing chamber (mm); k—design factor, ranging from 0.001 to 0.3; &agr;—ratio of the surface area of the minimal cross-section of the active nozzle to the surface area of the minimal cross-section of the mixing chamber; G—liquid flow rate through the nozzle (g/sec); &mgr;—coefficient of resistance of the nozzle (g/sec*mm2), amounting from 0.5 to 1.1.

Abstract: A reverse flow air filter arrangement is provided. The arrangement includes a filter element having first and second end caps, the second end cap having a central drainage aperture. A funnel shape on an interior surface of second end cap is used to direct moisture flow to the drainage aperture. The arrangement includes a housing in which the filter element is positioned, operatively, during use. Certain features in the housing facilitate moisture withdrawal from the filter element while also inhibiting interference with sealing between the a filter element and the housing.

Abstract: An air treatment unit for treatment of an air stream, including a pad having a multitude of narrow air-flow channels, the walls of which are formed by corrugated sheets of a stiff material, the sheets being positioned and fixed generally in parallel planes next to each other in such a way that, as seen from an inlet side of the pad to an outlet side thereof, the channels formed by the corrugations of any two sheets located next to each other extend in two different directions the vertical plane of the respective sheet. At least in a central region of the pad, all sheets are positioned obliquely sideways, whereby all channels extend obliquely sideways relative to inlet and outlet surfaces of the pad.

Abstract: Improved systems and methods for the hydration of environments such as display cases, walk-in storage rooms, greenhouses and large-scale storage facilities are provided. Consistent humidification is provided while effectively eliminating the problem of water streaming from atomization nozzles at the end of a pressurization and atomization cycle. The present invention eliminates the traditional regulators, pressure tanks and solenoid valve assemblies required to control water pressure, as well as bladder tanks and regulator valves for regulating air pressure, while more effectively controlling the problem of streaming by incorporating a drawback valve and, optionally, a miniature water regulator. Kits for retrofitting existing humidification systems to incorporate the improvements described herein are also provided.

Abstract: In a method of and apparatus for producing sub-micron bubbles in liquids and slurries, gas is maintained on the interior of the gas permeable partition at predetermined pressure. Relative movement between the gas permeable partition and a liquid forms sub-micron sized bubbles in the liquid.

Abstract: A water pressure-type aeration device including a water pump that generates powerful water pressure, with the water pumped through a water distribution head and a number of water distribution tubes which are placed throughout the water of a pond (or tank). The ends of the water distribution tubes are installed to cavitation housings, with the each of the cavitation housings connected at an angle of 90 degrees to the fresh air supply tubes which are directly conjoined to air filter and delivery devices floating on the surface of the water. When water is conveyed under pressure to the cavitation housings at the ends of the water distribution tubes, rear pressure constrictive openings in conjunction with a spray guide elements inside the housings generate powerful water pressure and the resulting friction across the tubular openings of fresh air supply tubes draw air in that is mixed with water in the cavitation housings and discharged from spray nozzles, thereby replenishing oxygen in the water.