Abstract: A method of vaporizing liquefied natural gas includes passing liquefied natural gas through a submerged combustion vaporizer having a water bath at a bath temperature and a burner to provide a vaporized gas output at a send-out temperature, drawing water from the bath of the submerged combustion vaporizer and supplying it to an atmospheric heating tower having an ambient air temperature, returning water from the atmospheric heating tower to the bath of the submerged combustion vaporizer, modulating the operating rate of the burner of the submerged combustion vaporizer, and modulating the operating rate of the atmospheric heating tower.

Abstract: A fill pack assembly and method for assembling a fill pack from individual sheets utilizes integrally bonded sheet pairs. Each sheet pair is a pair of two individual adjacent fill sheets which have been bonded together via any suitable bonding method. A plurality of the thus formed sheet pairs can then be attached together to form an entire fill pack or portion of a fill pack. Such fill packs are useful in heat exchange devices such as industrial cooling towers.

Abstract: A cooling tower system is provided that can exhibit increased energy efficiency that cools a process fluid or the like. The cooling tower system includes a cooling tower unit and a thermoelectric device along with a working fluid loop. The process fluid may be used to heat a working fluid for the thermoelectric device before being sent to the cooling tower for cooling. Power generated by the thermoelectric device may be utilized to operate a component of the cooling tower such as a fan or a pump. The cooling tower is also utilized to provide cooling to condense the working fluid from a vapor to a liquid form wherein the cooling tower is used to remove waste heat from a process fluid.

Abstract: An air cooled condensing tower system has a framework supporting a fan deck, a plurality of steam headers running longitudinally above the fan deck, a plurality of condensing coils extending downward and at an angle from the steam headers, and above the fan deck, a plurality of collector tubes disposed at the bottom of the condenser coils and above the fan deck. At least one substantially non-porous side wall is disposed on at least one side of the tower spanning from a height generally proximate the steam supply headers downward to a height generally proximate the fan deck. A downwardly and outwardly projecting substantially non-porous elongated upper air guide extends downwardly and outwardly from the side wall.

Abstract: A heat exchange tower has an external structure including opposed sidewalls, a front barrier wall, an inlet opening below the front wall, and a rear barrier wall having an outlet at a generally upper region. A fill material generally spans the inside within the four walls, and is generally disposed above the top of the inlet and below the bottom of the outlet. A baffle protrudes inwardly from the rear barrier wall inside the tower and is located at a height above the top of the fill and below the bottom of the air outlet. A primary drift eliminator structure spans generally across the tower, and is located at the height of the baffle, so they connect to each other. A supplemental drift eliminator is provided above the primary drift eliminator, adjacent an inward edge of the baffle. At least one air turning vane angled in a generally vertical direction is provided below the fill media. An air inlet guide projects outwardly from the front wall above the inlet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for an air bypass system for a natural draft cooling tower that employs a wet heat exchanger, a direct dry heat exchanger or an indirect dry heat exchanger to extract heat from a heated fluid, which is usually liquid or steam.

Abstract: A support grid having a longitudinal axis, having a frame. The frame includes a series of columns that extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis and a series of girts that intersect the series of columns to form a plurality of windows. The support grid also includes a first retainer integral with the frame. The first retainer extends from the frame into at least one of the plurality of windows at a first axial location. The support grid also includes slider portions that extend in opposed relation for the frame into the at least one plurality of windows.

Abstract: A fill pack assembly and method for assembling a fill pack from individual sheets utilizes integrally bonded sheet pairs. Each sheet pair is a pair of two individual adjacent fill sheets which have been bonded together via any suitable bonding method. A plurality of the thus formed sheet pairs can then be attached together to form an entire fill pack or portion of a fill pack. Such fill packs are useful in heat exchange devices such as industrial cooling towers.

Abstract: A cooling tower system is provided that can exhibit increased energy efficiency. The cooling tower system includes a cooling tower unit, an expansion engine and a power operated component such as a fan or pump. The process fluid is first used to heat a working fluid for an expansion engine before being sent to the cooling tower for cooling. Power generated by the expansion engine is utilized to operate a component of the cooling tower such as a fan or a pump. The cooling tower is also utilized to provide cooling to condense the working fluid from a vapor to a liquid form cooling tower is used to remove waste heat from a process fluid.

Abstract: A heat exchange tower has an external structure including opposed sidewalls, a front barrier wall, an inlet opening below the front wall, and a rear barrier wall having an outlet at a generally upper region. A fill material generally spans the inside within the four walls, and is generally disposed above the top of the inlet and below the bottom of the outlet. A baffle protrudes inwardly from the rear barrier wall inside the tower and is located at a height above the top of the fill and below the bottom of the air outlet. A primary drift eliminator structure spans generally across the tower, and is located at the height of the baffle, so they connect to each other. A supplemental drift eliminator is provided above the primary drift eliminator, adjacent an inward edge of the baffle. At least one air turning vane angled in a generally vertical direction is provided below the fill media. An air inlet guide projects outwardly from the front wall above the inlet.

Abstract: A heat exchange splash bar for evaporative cooling. The splash bar includes a first serrated base along with a second serrated base. The splash bar additionally includes a first side wall connected to the first serrated base that extends at an angle away from the first serrated base, that includes a plurality of apertures disposed thereon. A second side wall is connected to the second serrated base that also extends at an angle away from the second serrated base. The second side wall additionally includes a plurality of apertures disposed thereon. The heat exchange splash bar additionally includes a top wall that extends between the first side wall and the second side wall, wherein said top wall includes a plurality of openings having fingers extending therein.

Abstract: An air cooled condensing tower system has a framework supporting a fan deck, a plurality of steam headers running longitudinally above the fan deck, a plurality of condensing coils extending downward and at an angle from the steam headers, and above the fan deck, a plurality of collector tubes disposed at the bottom of the condenser coils and above the fan deck. At least one substantially non-porous side wall is disposed on at least one side of the tower spanning from a height generally proximate the steam supply headers downward to a height generally proximate the fan deck. A downwardly and outwardly projecting substantially non-porous elongated upper air guide extends downwardly and outwardly from the side wall.

Abstract: A system connects fluid heat exchange devices such as a submerged combustion LNG vaporizer and a heating tower. The fluid handling system has a first heat exchange device having a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet, and a second heat exchange device having a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet. A first conduit connects the first fluid outlet to the second fluid inlet, a first reservoir receives fluid from the first fluid outlet, a second reservoir receives fluid from the second fluid outlet, a second conduit connects the second reservoir to the first fluid inlet; and a third, fluid equalization, conduit connected to the first reservoir and the second reservoir equalizes the fluid levels in the first and second reservoirs with each other.

Abstract: A method of vaporizing liquefied natural gas includes passing liquefied natural gas through a submerged combustion vaporizer having a water bath at a bath temperature and a burner to provide a vaporized gas output at a send-out temperature, drawing water from the bath of the submerged combustion vaporizer and supplying it to an atmospheric heating tower having an ambient air temperature, returning water from the atmospheric heating tower to the bath of the submerged combustion vaporizer, modulating the operating rate of the burner of the submerged combustion vaporizer, and modulating the operating rate of the atmospheric heating tower.

Abstract: A heating tower apparatus for heating a liquid having an air flow inlet stream and a first air flow outlet and a second air flow outlet. The first air flow outlet provides a first outlet air flow stream and has a first outlet door that moves between an open position and a closed position. The second air flow outlet provides a second outlet air flow stream and has a second outlet door that moves between an open position and a closed position. The heating tower also includes a heat exchange portion having coils through which liquid to be heated flows. The heating tower is operable in a first configuration wherein the first outlet door is in the open position while the second outlet door is in the closed position. The heating is also operable in a second configuration wherein the second outlet door is in the open position while the first outlet door is in the closed position.

Abstract: A heating tower apparatus for heating a liquid. The heating tower includes a frame assembly, liquid distribution assembly and a fill medium. The heating tower additionally includes a hood that extends from the frame assembly. A shroud is disposed within the hood and the hood provides an air flow outlet. The heating tower further includes a track connected to the frame assembly along with a first door connected to the track and a second door connected to the track. The first door moves along the track between the hood and a first air flow inlet while the second door moves along the track between the hood and a second air flow outlet. The heating tower also includes first and second winches that operate to move the first and second doors along the track.

Abstract: A heat exchange splash bar for evaporative cooling. The splash bar includes a first serrated base along with a second serrated base. The splash bar additionally includes a first side wall connected to the first serrated base that extends at an angle away from the first serrated base, that includes a plurality of apertures disposed thereon. A second side wall is connected to the second serrated base that also extends at an angle away from the second serrated base. The second side wall additionally includes a plurality of apertures disposed thereon. The heat exchange splash bar additionally includes a top wall that extends between the first side wall and the second side wall, wherein said top wall includes a plurality of openings having fingers extending therein.

Abstract: A sheet for use in a heat exchange apparatus. The sheet includes a first vertical rib that extends in a first direction generally parallel to the vertical axis of the heat exchange apparatus, wherein said first vertical rib protrudes in a second direction out of the plane. The sheet also includes a second vertical rib that extends in the first direction along the sheet, substantially all the way between the first and second edges of the sheet generally parallel to the first vertical rib. The second vertical rib also protrudes in the second direction out of the plane. The sheet further includes a first horizontal rib that extends in a third direction along the sheet substantially all the way between the third and fourth edges of the sheet, wherein the first horizontal rib protrudes in a fourth direction opposite said second direction.

Abstract: A method for heating a fluid using a heating tower. The method includes the steps of drawing an air stream into the heating tower through an inlet and passing the air stream over a series of coils. The method for heating a fluid also includes discharging the air stream from the heating tower through an outlet and isolating the inlet air stream from the outlet air stream.