Abstract: Device for cooling gases deriving from ammonia synthesis. The device consists of pipes accommodated in an interior space. The space is subjected to a heat-absorption medium and surrounded by a cylindrical mantle. The pipes are secured in a pipe floor and communicate with a gas-intake chamber and a gas-outlet chamber. When an ammonia-production plant has several reactors, a single gas-cooling device has up to now been associated with each. The new device is intended to decrease the engineering expenses involved in cooling the gases in such plants. A gas-intake chamber and a gas-outlet chamber is positioned at each of the two opposite ends of the jacket. Straight pipes are associated with each chamber. The pipes are adjacent and the gas flows through them in opposite directions.

Abstract: In a heat exchange unit that recovers waste heat from carbon black smoke by preheating oxygen-containing gas such as air being passed to a carbon black producing reactor, a control loop is provided that automatically diverts the oxygen-containing gas being preheated through a by-pass line if the temperature of the effluent smoke being removed from the heat exchange is below a minimum temperature value in order to minimize the deposition of carbon on the heat exchange surfaces in said heat exchange zone.

Abstract: The heat exchanger system is provided with a second duct part in communication with and downstream of the mixing chamber as well as a helical tube heating surface in the second duct part for conveying a working medium in heat exchange with the hot gas. A pair of branch ducts extend upwardly from the first duct part for the hot gas with the centrally disposed branch duct serving as a bypass for the hot gas. A restrictor in the form of a valve is provided at the upper end of the central branch duct to control the flow of hot gas therefrom into a mixing chamber.

Abstract: A thermal storage furnace system having a mixing means in fluid communication with both a thermal storage means and a thermal storage means bypass conduit for mixing both heated fluid from the thermal storage means and unheated fluid from the thermal storage means bypass conduit to provide for storage of heat in the thermal storage means at a first predetermined higher temperature than desired for heating the interior of the structure, while providing a second predetermined temperature fluid for space heating the interior of the structure by mixing the heated fluid from the thermal storage means with the unheated fluid from the thermal storage means bypass conduit.

Abstract: An automotive air conditioning system which delivers air from upper and lower air outlets at independently controlled temperatures has a pressure responsive door interposed between an upper air mix chamber and a space near the outlet of a heater core or a lower air mix chamber. The pressure responsive door is adapted to allow or prevent air flow from the outlet of the heater core into the upper vent air mix chamber according to the pressure differential across the door. The pressure responsive door establishes one-way air flow from the heater core into the upper air mix chamber for temperature adjustment and prevents the air in the upper air mix chamber from affecting the temperature of air in the lower air mix chamber.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for exchanging heat between engine lubricating oil and engine coolant comprises a heat exchange element made up of a plurality of stacked and spaced plate type heat exchange units. The heat exchange units are provided with successive flow openings through which the oil introduced from an inlet opening flows. A bypass valve is provided to control the flow of the oil passing through a bypass opening which is in communication with the flow openings of the heat exchange units. The bypass valve is of the oil temperature responsive type and adapted to open the bypass opening at oil temperatures below a predetermined level, thereby bypassing much of the oil in the heat exchange units when oil temperature is so low that cooling of the oil is unnecessary.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for connecting a radiator to a single or double tube type hot water central heating system. The connecting apparatus includes a conventional thermostatic valve and a conventional valve controlled bypass between the inlet and outlet connectors of the connecting apparatus. A constructural feature which results in lower manufacturing costs and a lower stock inventory for thermostats involves a return passage from the radiator outlets which has a setting valve that is actuatable independently of the bypass valve.

Abstract: A compact unitary heat exchanger and debubbler for a liquid includes an elongated heat exchange element having an inverted V-shape and a vertically-extending debubbling chamber located between the legs of the inverted V. The heat exchange element is made up of an inner tube surrounded by an outer tube, so that a heat exchange fluid such as water flowing within the inner tube exchanges heat with a treated liquid flowing within a space defined between the inner and outer tubes. After passing through the heat exchange element the treated liquid passes through the debubbling chamber and then through the device outlet. A bypass passageway in the vicinity of the treated liquid inlet to the device connects the debubbling chamber with the space between the inner and outer tubes of the heat exchange element. A valve movable into open and closed positions is provided in this bypass passageway.

Abstract: A system for recovering waste heat from a stream of heated gas is disclosed. The system includes a convection heat transfer chamber, a boiler tank, and a plurality of heat pipes thermally interconnecting the convection heat transfer chamber with the boiler tank. Each of the heat pipes includes an evaporator section which is disposed in heat transfer relation with a stream of heated gas flowing through the convection heat transfer chamber, and a condenser section disposed in heat transfer relation with a volume of water disposed within the boiler tank. The evaporator sections and condenser sections are totally enclosed within the convection heat transfer chamber and boiler tank, respectively, and are connected in closed cycle fluid communication with each other.

Abstract: A secondary heating source is used to preheat the water supplied to a conventional hot water tank. Three two-position valves permit the water from the water supply line to be supplied directly to the hot water tank during part of the year (such as the winter), with the secondary heating source having its inlet and its outlet connected to a drain to drain all water from it so that it does not freeze in the winter. The second position of the three valves causes the water from the water supply line to be diverted through the secondary heat source prior to supplying it to the inlet of the hot water tank, so that supplemental preheating of the hot water is effected. Manually controlled valves are used to accomplish this purposes and each of them includes indicia on it to indicate the position of operation to simplify the change-over from the "summer" mode of operation to the "winter" mode of operation.

Abstract: In an air-conditioner or heater for a motor vehicle cabin, the casing (10) housing the heat exchanger (12) proper essentially comprises an air inlet duct (26) leading to the upstream face (22) of the heat exchanger and an air outlet duct (28) leading away from the downstream face (24) of the heat exchanger. A baffle wall (38) extends adjacent to the downstream face (24) to hinder the flow of air through portions of the heat exchanger where it would otherwise flow fastest. This increases the overall efficiency of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: The efficiency of heat exchangers for cooling exhaust gases from internal combustion engines of stationary plants for the operation of heat pumps or for the combined generation of current and heat, and for the cleaning of the heat exchangers is increased. The heat exchanger, after a liquid secondary heat transfer medium is emptied therefrom, or with the circulation of a gaseous secondary heat transfer medium cut off, is periodically heated by the hot exhaust gases to a temperature which is sufficient for the automatic cleaning of the heat exchanger surfaces.

Abstract: A heat exchanger with two bundles of tubes is employed to cool the hot gases deriving from the synthesis of ammonia. The two bundles communicate directly at the incoming-gas end and through a reversing chamber positioned between them at the outgoing-gas end. The first bundle is surrounded by several chambers with separate media flowing through them. The second bundle is provided with still another separate medium flowthrough.

Abstract: A valve assembly in which a longitudinally shiftable shuttle or spool valve is positioned by varying the fluid pressure in a pressure chamber at one end thereof. Solenoid valves open and close in a pulsed response to a changing fluid condition, the flow of which fluid is regulated by the spool valve. The solenoid valves control the admission of a pressure fluid to the pressure chamber and its exhaust therefrom.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for the cooling of hot gases from the synthesis of ammonia. The heat exchanger has tubes which are bent into U-shape and are arranged within a shell. The tubes are inserted into a tube plate. An exit chamber and an entry chamber are arranged therein for the gases to be cooled adjacent the tube plate. Separating walls are arranged within the shell for the formation of closed preheating chambers and enclose the exit limbs of all tubes. The entry limbs extend within a separated middle space. A preheating chamber and the middle space are provided with separate connections for their own water passage.

Abstract: A variable speed drive unit having a clutch disc stack including input and output shafts, a first series of drive plates located in a fluid reservoir and supported for rotation by a rotatable housing of the unit rotated by one of said shafts, a second series of driven discs interleaved with the drive plates and supported for rotation with the other of said shafts, a piston slideably movable in a piston chamber located at one end of the interleaved plates and discs and adapted to compressively engage the interleaved plates and discs, and a control for the piston providing a gradually increasing rated profile without the need for electronic back-up or extraneous controls. The control includes a two position input flow control and a fixed output flow control, comprising a series of plugs, which output control can be selectively varied between operations of the unit to provide alternate rate profiles for engagement and disengagement of the input and output shafts of the unit.

Abstract: Apparatus for the extraction of vapor from a brewing tub enables the vapor to be guided selectively under the control of a valve either via a tub vapor condenser or a vapor vent pipe arranged as a bypass to the tub vapor condenser. A particularly space-saving construction which enables retrofitting an existing plant comprises a helical tube condenser arranged around the vapor vent pipe having the control valve in the region of its lower end.

Abstract: An air conditioning system comprising a duct structure, an evaporator unit positioned downstream of an air inlet end of the duct structure, an air heater unit positioned downstream of the evaporator unit, an air entrance chamber formed between the evaporator unit and the air heater unit, an air distribution chamber formed between the air heater unit and an air outlet end of the duct structure, an air-flow proportioning door positioned between the air entrance chamber and the air heater unit and movable between a position fully shutting of a flow of air from the air entrance chamber to the air heater unit and a position allowing the air heater unit to be fully open to the air entrance chamber, a bypass passageway bypassing the air heater unit, an air-flow guide vane positioned aside the bypass passageway and movable between a position withdrawn from the bypass passageway and a position in the bypass passageway, and a vane drive mechanism intervening between the air-flow proportioning door and the air-flow guid

Abstract: An automobile air conditioner of a reheat air mix type, having an evaporator disposed in a duct and a heater core disposed in the duct at the downstream side of the evaporator. Chilled air passages are formed between both sides of the heater core and the surfaces of opposing walls of the duct. The chilled air passages are extended to form a first duct leading to an upper air outlet to the room of automobile and a second duct leading to a lower air outlet opening to the room. A part of the warmed air coming from the heater core is delivered to the first duct while the other part is delivered to the second duct.

Abstract: A method and means for extracting heat from an exhaust stack under highly corrosive and fluctuating conditions. An in-line exhaust gas heat exchanger having selective dual concentric exhaust paths and having a plurality of longitudinal structural stringers to insure against weakening of the exhaust stack. A plurality of heat exchanger coils are located in the outermost exhaust path and means is provided for fully draining the liquid contents thereof. Temperature control method means is provided for regulating the temperature of fluid within the coils due to exhaust stack temperature fluctuations for controlling critical dew point situations.

Abstract: An air conditioning system is disclosed for adjusting air temperature and humidity to a predetermined level for the air supply to a paint spray booth. The system includes a multi-section sprayed surface heat exchanger combined with a bypass passage such that a portion of the air flow to be conditioned passes through the multi-section heat exchanger and the remainder of the flow bypasses the same, and is recombined and mixed downstream with the conditioned air to produce a mixture which is at the proper dry bulb temperature and relative humidity. Each multi-section heat exchanger may be shut off to increase the proportion of bypass flow. Modulation of the cooling and heating effect of each of the heat exchangers is achieved by modulating valving controlling the flow of heating or cooling medium. Similarly, the humidification effect is controlled by valving controlling a number of water spray nozzles.

Abstract: A system for recovering waste heat from a stream of heated gas is disclosed. The system includes a convection heat transfer chamber, a boiler tank, and a plurality of heat pipes thermally interconnecting the convection heat transfer chamber with the boiler tank. Each of the heat pipes includes an evaporator section which is disposed in heat transfer relation with a stream of heated gas flowing through the convection heat transfer chamber, and a condenser section disposed in heat transfer relation with a volume of water disposed within the boiler tank. The evaporator sections and condenser sections are totally enclosed within the convection heat transfer chamber and boiler tank, respectively, and are connected in closed cycle fluid communication with each other.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of removing heat from the process gas in a sulfuric acid plant having interpass and final absorption towers by indirect heat exchange with a liquid without condensing acidic vapors from said process gas. The method comprises installing first and second economizers, the second economizer having first and second sections for liquid flow. The process gas flow through the first economizer before passing through the interpass absorption tower and through the second economizer before passing through the final absorption tower. A liquid flows through the first and second economizers for indirect heat exchange with the process gas, the liquid passing sequentially through the second section of the second economizer, the first economizer, and the first section of the second economizer.

Abstract: The invention relates to air heaters and provides a means by which the operation of heat exchangers therein can be sustained at an optimum efficiency. The invention proposes the incorporation of a preheater (16) for incoming unheated air which can be selectively thermally coupled to heated air in an outlet duct (12) from the heat exchanger (4). During normal operation the heated air bypasses the thermal coupling, but when the temperature of the incoming unheated air is particularly low, the coupling is made and the incoming air thereby preheated to ensure efficient operation of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A shell and tube type of economizer is divided into first, second and third sections. Gas flow through the economizer flows sequentially through the first, second and third sections. The liquid first flows through the second section and then through the third and first sections. The second section serves as a preheater to increase the heat recovered from the gas stream.

Abstract: A device for air control for an air ventilated room is provided with an outer pane on its weather side and at its room side with an inner pane. An air channel is formed between the panes for the exhausted room air and a fresh air channel with a weatherside fresh air suction opening and a room side fresh air discharge opening is provided in connection with the air channel. The air channel is connected to a weather side exhaust air opening on its downflow side and is also in connection with a heat exchanger disposed in front of the weather side exhaust air opening through which the exhaust air can transmit heat to the fresh air flowing through the fresh air channel. The air control device is a compact structural unit and is exclusively disposed on the inside of the room. The compact structural unit comprises a separate air control box and a ventilator box.

Abstract: An air heating apparatus comprises a auxillary PTC heating element in an air duct lying parallel to the length of the duct to define first and second air passages separated by the heating element. The PTC heating element has apertures through which passes air to be heated; the two air passages thereby communicating with each other by means of the apertures through the heating element. First and second valves are located at upstream and downstream ends of the first and second air passages for selectably closing and opening the upstream and downstream ends of the first and second air passages, respectively.

Abstract: An air conditioning and heating system is disclosed having a manually operated air temperature door that is movable in both an air conditioning mode and a heating mode to regulate the amount of air passing through a heat exchanger to thereby control the temperature of the air delivered by the system. Adapted thereto is an air temperature control arrangement comprising an air baffle that is movable with and adjustable relative to the air temperature control door so as to adjust the amount of air passing through the heat exchanger in the various regulating air temperature door positions.

Abstract: An air conditioner for an automotive vehicle having (1) a duct having at its one end an air inlet, at the upper part of its other end a ventilation outlet, and at the lower part of its other end a floor outlet linked to a defroster outlet; (2) a blower disposed at the air inlet for introducing air into the duct; (3) an evaporator disposed downstream of the duct for cooling the air introduced by the blower; (4) a heater core disposed downstream of the evaporator whose upper side is provided with a first bypass for bypassing the cooled air from the evaporator; (5) an air mixing door disposed upstream of the heater core for adjusting the amount of air passing through the heater core; (6) an air mixing chamber disposed downstream of the heater core and first bypass for mixing the air from the first bypass and heater core, the ratio of the air depending on the angle of the air mixing door; (7) a second bypass disposed between the heater core and the floor outlet for introducing part of the heated air from the heat

Abstract: A cock device for controlling the operation of a heat exchanger comprises a body interposed between liquid supply and return ducts and liquid inlet and outlet ducts of the exchanger, and a plug rotatably mounted in the body, said body and said plug being made of a thermally insulating material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to recover thermal energy from the exhaust air from a paint spray booth for painting of automobile chasses, whereby heat from the relatively warm exhaust air is transferred to the relatively cold supply air to the booth. The outgoing air is mixed with water or other heat-exchange liquid, and the liquid is then separated in a separation-chamber (7) adjacent the ventilation outlet (6) of the booth (5), and is circulated between the chamber and a heat exchanger (2'), through which the supply air flows.

Abstract: A method is described of operating heat-exchanger apparatus comprising a plurality of heat exchanger units which are connected together in series for countercurrent flow of respectively a first heat exchanging medium which contains fluidizable particulate material and a second heat-exchanging medium. Each said unit comprises at least one vertical tubular duct in which said first heat-exchanging medium flows upwardly with said particulate material in a fluidized state and a compartment through which said second heat exchanging medium passes and through which said duct extends. The particulate material acting to remove deposits formed on the tube inside walls by the first medium. In order to achieve cleaning of the tubes in cases where a high rate of deposit occurs, flow of said second medium through each of the compartments is intermittently interrupted for a period of time, while flow through at least one other of said compartments is maintained.

Abstract: A method of supplying tempered makeup air to a room in conjunction with a grease extraction ventilator disposed above cooking equipment in the room and having removal means for removing grease and smoke particles and the like from air mixed with products of cooking, which includes removing heated air and the remaining products of cooking, after passage through the removal means, through a discharge duct; tempering fresh air in a heat exchanger and discharging the tempered fresh air into the room; passing incoming air to the discharge duct in a manner which automatically regulates the amount of exhaust and makeup air required to remove and replace the minimal amount of outside air to eliminate heat, odors, smoke, gases, grease and dirt as the cooking load changes; and causing incoming air, which is not passed to the discharge duct, to become a portion of the tempered air for discharge into said room.

Abstract: A face-and-bypass heating coil has features which allow the device to be mounted either horizontally or vertically without loss of mechanical or thermal efficiency. The invention includes a frame comprising a pair of side panels which support the working mechanism, and upper and lower panels. A plurality of fixed partitions are attached between the upper and lower panels. A plurality of movable dampers are mounted on shafts and supported by linear ball bearings such that the movable dampers may selectively mate with the fixed partitions. A crank linkage is used to drive the movable dampers into and away from the fixed partitions. The elastic U-shaped structure of the movable dampers resiliently mates with the fixed partitions so as to form a substantially leak-proof seal around the heating tubes.

Abstract: In a space shuttle, payloads are individually temperature controlled by means of a liquid control loop in heat exchange relationship with both the payload and a radiator or shuttle cold plate. The liquid pump is driven at a variable speed to control the heat transferred between the load and the radiator or cold plate, and the motor may be reversed to by-pass the radiator through check valves. The radiator includes heat pipes seated in elongated, high thermal conductivity extrusions and retained therein by elongated springs. The motor is a brushless DC motor isolated from the pump by a magnetic clutch and thermal isolator. The motor is driven by a digital circuit which provides a single pulse to each set of windings during each energizing time frame. The width of that pulse is modulated to provide for speed control. Pulse width modulation is by means of a one-shot, the pulse duration of which is controlled by a speed control signal.

Abstract: A discharge air temperature control device which is provided in an air conditioning system for automotive vehicles, the device comprising a lever assembly for adjusting the angular position of an air-mix damper, a driving circuit for driving the compressor of the air conditioning system, and a switching device for opening or closing the driving circuit in response to an air flow temperature signal supplied from a temperature sensor, characterized in that means is provided which is responsive to a change in the angular position of the lever assembly to vary a reference temperature value with reference to which the switching device opens or closes the driving circuit. The frequency of actuation of the compressor can thus be reduced to thereby save energy to be consumed by the air conditioning system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method and apparatus for improving the preheating of pulverous materials, their introduction into melting furnaces, and their melting therein, with application to the recycling of some of the vitrifiable starting materials delivered to a tank furnace for glass making through a heat exchanger to raise its entry level temperature.

Abstract: A hair dryer for use in personal beauty care incorporates a blower for moving a stream of air through a dryer housing onto the hair. A self-regulating, disc-shaped, electrical resistance heater body formed of a ceramic material of positive temperature coefficient of resistivity (PTC) and having a multiplicity of air flow passages extending between the opposite faces thereof is arranged the housing for heating the air stream.

Abstract: A control device for a triple-plenum air conditioning apparatus having a by-pass air duct, a hot air duct and a cold air duct. A first shaft mounted through the by-pass and hot air ducts carries a first by-pass air damper blade and a hot air damper blade at right angles to each other. A second shaft mounted through the by-pass air duct and the cold air duct carries a second by-pass damper blade and a cold air damper blade at right angles to each other. The control device includes a first geneva link on the first shaft, a second geneva link on the second shaft and a third shaft carrying a drive plate with pins for independently actuating the geneva links and a geneva cam for holding one of the geneva links against rotation while the other is being independently actuated. Rotation of the third shaft through one hundred degrees results in rotation of each of the first and second shafts through ninety degrees.

Abstract: This invention relates in general to an industrial heat exchanger package unit for transferring heat energy between cool intake air flowing into an industrial process, and hot exhaust air flowing out of an industrial process. Each package units specifically includes, integral finned heat pipe heat exchangers, face and bypass damper assemblies, tilted base frames, bypass ducts, supply inlet filter assemblies, and supply inlet louver assemblies which are arranged in such a manner as to provide a percentage of total volume control over the amount of supply or exhaust air introduced into the heat exchange chambers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for initiating the preheating of pulverous materials in a tubular heat exchanger prior to their introduction into a melting furnace, with particular application to the recycling of all of the vitrifiable starting materials through the heat exchanger to eliminate moisture therefrom prior to delivery to a tank furnace for glass making to raise its entry-level temperature and improve furnace efficiency. The method involves rapidly recirculating all of the moisture-containing pulverous glass batch material through the open-ended tubes of a tubular sheet exchanger to heat the same and collect and remove moisture therefrom prior to initiation of delivery of any of the glass batch material in preheated condition to the glass melting furnace. The subject invention, as hereinafter described, is of particular utility to the glass industry, but it is to be understood that it is also applicable to other types of preheaters and furnaces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preheating of pulverous materials in a tube heat exchanger prior to their introduction into a melting furnace, with particular application to the delivery by gravity of the vitrifiable starting materials through the heat exchanger to eliminate moisture therefrom prior to introduction of the essentially moisture-free materials into a tank furnace for glass making. The preheating serves to raise the entry-level temperature of the glass batch material and improve furnace fuel efficiency. The preheating involves recirculating at least part of the pulverous glass batch material through the open-ended tubes of the tubular heat exchanger to heat the same and remove moisture therefrom prior to initiating delivery of the glass batch material in preheated condition to the glass melting furnace. The present method is specifically directed at maintaining continuous operation of the preheater upon interruption of material flow through the preheater tubes for any reason.

Abstract: Apparatus for conditioning air of the constant volume type in which air gates are provided at the outlet ends of heat exchange passages and bypass passages to regulate the proportion of air passing through each of the pair of passages and therefore the temperature of air downstream from the air gates.

Abstract: An air-cleaning, heat-exchange apparatus includes a main housing portion connected by means of an air inlet fan to the kitchen exhaust stack of a restaurant. The apparatus includes a plurality of heat exchangers through which a heat-absorptive fluid is circulated, simultaneously, by means of a suitable fluid pump. These heat exchangers absorb heat from the hot exhaust gas, out of the exhaust stack of the restaurant, which flows over and through these heat exchangers and transfers this heat to the circulating fluid which communicates with remote heat exchangers. These remote heat exchangers further transfer this heat to a stream of air, such as that from a cold-air return duct for supplementing the conventional heating system of the restaurant. Due to the fact that such hot exhaust gas is heavily grease laden, grease will be deposited on virtually all internal surfaces of the apparatus which this exhaust gas contacts.

Abstract: A radiator for low-pressure steam heating systems comprises at least two chambers, which constitute respective radiator elements. Consecutive elements are interconnected in an upper portion and in a lower portion. The upper portion of each element is connected to a low-pressure steam source. The lower portion of each element is connected to a condensate trap. At least individual ones of the elements are adapted to be shut off from the steam supply.

Abstract: A solar heating system for a swimming pool and the like is disclosed. The system includes a circulation circuit having a pump by which water is withdrawn from the pool, passed through a filter and returned to the pool. A solar collector assembly is provided and has flow and return lines connected in said circuit. The flow line is connected to a venturi unit in the main circuit and a control valve is provided immediately downstream of the venturi unit. When the control valve is closed, water is diverted through the venturi unit and into the solar collector assembly for heating. When the valve is open, the venturi unit induces a suction effect in the flow line which causes the solar collector assembly to be positively drained into the circuit. A vacuum breaker admits air to the collector assembly at this time.

Abstract: A vapor transfer griddle unit with a planar sheet metal heat conductive top member defining a horizontally extensive griddle, a bottom wall sealed to the top member and defining therewith a corresponding vapor chamber disposed below the griddle, a body of vaporizable heat transfer medium in liquid state partially filling the chamber with a vapor space between the surface of the liquid and the griddle at rest as well as over the range of griddling temperatures, a horizontally extensive electric heating array comprised of horizontally spaced electric heater tube portions extending directly beneath and spaced below the griddle and located above the bottom wall, and a set of griddle supports mutually arrayed with the heater tube portions and extending between and engaging the griddle and the bottom wall to provide a pattern of support across the underside of the griddle to maintain the griddle flat over its range of operation, the supports having openings permitting free self-leveling flow of liquid as well as fr

Abstract: A cooling tower in which the heat exchangers are arranged to form radially spaced concentric vertical cylinder walls, with air shields being positioned between the concentric cylinder walls to direct air flow through the exchangers. The air shields are upwardly inclined toward the tower center to approximate natural air flow.

Abstract: A novel heat transfer element which permits simple, low-cost conversion of energy inefficient electrically heated water heaters to energy efficient potable-water storage tanks for storing water heated by energy-efficient gas-fired water heating systems.

Abstract: An off-peak, electric, central air heating system for buildings incorporating a heat storage material that is used to store heat generated electrically during off-peak electrical power periods and to deliver heat on demand. The heat storage material is an alkaline metal or alkaline earth metal salt such as Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4, NaCl, CaCl.sub.2 and KCl individually or in combination with one another. Generation of heat during the off-peak electrical power periods is automatically controlled by an electronic time clock and time delay circuitry, and by selective variable temperature control. The heating unit is constructed with a casing having an inner jacket and an outer jacket with an air space between the two jackets. The storage material is surrounded by the inner jacket and the air space provides insulation as well as an air passage between the two jackets.