Cooling Towers Patents (Class 165/900)
  • Patent number: 10309734
    Abstract: A cooling tower having an evaporative media along with a liquid distribution system that distributes hot liquid over the evaporative media. The cooling tower includes a pair of heat exchanger modules that each have a first set of passageways in fluid communication with a first flow duct and a second set of passageways in fluid communication with a second flow duct. The heat exchanger module transfers heat from a first air stream into a second air stream. The cooling tower further includes a first bypass flow path that extends between the first heat exchanger module and the second heat exchanger module whereby a bypass door regulates airflow there through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: SPX Cooling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eldon F. Mockry, Kenneth P. Mortensen, Craig J. Hickman
  • Patent number: 10247492
    Abstract: A heat exchanger system for cooling liquid having a plurality of finned tube arrays and a plurality of fans for inducing air through the finned tube array comprising: at least one wind deflector installed along the long side of the finned tube arrays on at least one side of the arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Ormat Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Lucien Y. Bronicki, Uriyel Fisher
  • Patent number: 10145601
    Abstract: An outdoor unit according to the present invention includes an air-sending-device chamber including a heat exchanger disposed at least on the rear side within an outdoor unit body, a propeller fan having a plurality of blades and disposed on the front side of the heat exchanger, and a bell mouth disposed on the front side of the propeller fan to face an air outlet, a machine chamber in which a compressor is disposed, and a partition plate that separates the air-sending-device chamber and the machine chamber. The partition plate has a protruding shape protruding from the air-sending-device chamber toward the machine chamber. The partition plate has, on the side of the air-sending-device chamber, a recessed area corresponding to the protruding shape. The amount of recess of the recessed area is maximized at a position equal in height to the center of rotation of the propeller fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Kono, Takahide Tadokoro
  • Patent number: 9745898
    Abstract: A planetary gear system for a turbomachine includes a forward planetary gear assembly including a plurality of forward planet gears meshed to a forward sun gear disposed on a power shaft and a forward ring gear meshed to the forward planet gears and an aft planetary gear assembly aft of the forward planetary assembly including a plurality of aft planet gears meshed to an aft sun gear disposed on the power shaft and an aft ring gear meshed to the aft planet gears. The system also includes a gear housing disposed between the forward planetary gear assembly and the aft planetary gear assembly. The gear housing includes a stationary carrier, wherein the forward and aft planet gears are rotatably mounted to the stationary carrier, and a mount extending radially from the stationary carrier that is connectable to a stationary portion of the turbomachine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ken F. Blaney, Todd M. LaPierre, Richard K. Hayford
  • Patent number: 9709286
    Abstract: A desiccant air conditioning system for heating an air stream entering a building space includes a conditioner having multiple structures arranged in a substantially vertical orientation. The structures are spaced apart from each other with an air stream gap between each pair of adjacent structures. Each structure has at least one outer surface facing an air stream gap across which a liquid desiccant can flow. An air stream flows through the air stream gaps between the structures such that the liquid desiccant humidifies the air stream. Each structure further includes a separate desiccant collector at a lower end of the at least one outer surface for collecting liquid desiccant that has flowed across the at least one outer surface of the structure. The desiccant collectors are spaced apart from each other to permit airflow therebetween. The conditioner also includes a heat source for heating a heat transfer fluid used to heat the liquid desiccant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: 7AC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter F. Vandermeulen, Jack I. Hanoka
  • Patent number: 9651269
    Abstract: A method of minimizing the effect of wind on a heat exchanger system includes setting the pivot angle of a wind deflector to an initial angle; collecting and recording a current reading of one of an outlet temperature sensor, a wind speed sensor, an ambient temperature sensor, or a heat exchanger inlet air pressure sensor; comparing the current reading of the sensor to a previous reading; and changing the pivot angle of the wind deflector from an initial angle when the current sensor reading is changed from the previous reading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Ormat Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Lucien Y. Bronicki
  • Patent number: 9631823
    Abstract: A desiccant air conditioning system for treating an air stream entering a building space includes a conditioner having structures arranged in a substantially vertical orientation with an air stream gap between adjacent structures. An air stream flows through the air stream gaps and is exposed to the liquid desiccant and dehumidified when in some of the flow paths and exposed to water and humidified when in other flow paths. Each structure further includes a separate collector at a lower end of the at least one surface of that structure for collecting the liquid desiccant or water that has flowed across the at least one surface of the structure. The system also includes a diverter for diverting a portion of the air stream that has been dehumidified to a flow path where it is exposed to water where it absorbs a portion of the water and is thereby cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: 7AC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter F. Vandermeulen, Jack I. Hanoka
  • Patent number: 9291397
    Abstract: A cooling tower system and/or fluid cooler that provides desired cooling performance, without the use of pressurized or gravity based nozzle spray systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: SPX Cooling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Dalton, Jason Stratman
  • Patent number: 8795532
    Abstract: A process for operating a cooling tower (10), said process comprising: introducing a feed solution into a cooling tower, evaporating solvent from the feed solution to produce a concentrated solution, removing a portion of the concentrated solution as blow-down, passing at least a portion of the blow-down through a first membrane in a nanofiltration unit (14), such that at least some of the solute in the blow-down are retained as a concentrated blow-down solution on the retentate-side of the first membrane, contacting at least a portion of the concentrated blow-down solution (42) with one side of a second membrane (12) and contacting a solution having a lower solute concentration than the combined concentrated blow-down solution and the return from the cooling tower with the opposite side of the second membrane, such that solvent flows across the second membrane to dilute the concentrated blow down solution by direct osmosis, and re-introducing the diluted blow-down solution to the cooling tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Surrey Aquatechnology Ltd.
    Inventor: Peter Nicoll
  • Patent number: 8764957
    Abstract: A method of water treatment comprising: providing an electrolysis device comprising an electrolysis vessel; providing feed streams to the first salt water chamber of the vessel, second salt water chamber of the vessel, acidic chamber of the vessel, and alkalic chamber of the vessel, the acidic chamber producing an acidic solution and the alkalic chamber producing an alkalic solution; directing at least a portion of the contents of the first and second salt water chambers into a precipitation tank; directing at least a portion of the alkalic solution into the precipitation tank, thereby increasing the pH in the precipitation tank to produce precipitate; and removing the precipitate from the precipitation tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Caroline Chihyu Sui, Caibin Xiao, Hai Yang
  • Patent number: 8707699
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a natural draft cooling tower that employs an air cooled condenser. The aforementioned cooling tower operates by natural draft and achieves the exchange of heat between two fluids such as atmospheric air, ordinarily, and another fluid which is usually steam. The aforementioned cooling tower utilizes a central steam duct riser supplying steam to perimeter ducting via radial ducting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: SPX Cooling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis Badin, Benoit Thiry, Marc Cornelis, Michel Vouche
  • Patent number: 8517355
    Abstract: A cooling tower for evaporating water from a brine solution is provided and may include a housing having an air inlet and a brine inlet. The cooling tower may also include a heat-exchange assembly having a heat-exchange media that suspends the brine solution and at least one nozzle in fluid communication with the brine inlet. The at least one nozzle may receive the brine solution from the brine inlet and may transfer the brine solution from the brine inlet to the heat-exchange media to allow the heat-exchange media to transfer moisture from the brine solution to air received from the air inlet to reduce the moisture content of the brine solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: MiTek Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Kelly D. Rushmore, James H. Shoffner
  • Publication number: 20120001352
    Abstract: A cooling tower or, in alternate operation an evaporative condenser, is provided having a dry sensible or indirect heat exchange section and an evaporative heat exchange section. The dry sensible section includes a coil circuit through which a liquid to be cooled passes. The evaporative section is below the dry sensible section and may include a coil circuit or fill sheets. Modulating louvers are provided to allow the air flow and accordingly the evaporative loading to be varied between the dry sensible section and the evaporative section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas P. Carter, Kurt Geens
  • Patent number: 8043587
    Abstract: A reactor cools humidifies gases produced by combustion or the like. The reactor has a chamber with an inlet at a lower end to receive a flow of gas, and an outlet at a upper end. The gas flows in a generally upward direction through the reactor. The horizontal cross-section of the chamber increases with height and the flow velocity of the gas decreases as it flows upwardly. The reactor includes at least one device for injecting water droplets into the upper region of the chamber, counter to the gas flow. As the water droplets fall, they gradually evaporate and lose mass and encounter a counterflow of increasingly higher velocity and temperature until the force of the upwardly flowing gas is sufficient to reverse their flow and carry them in an upward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Indigo Technologies Group Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Rodney John Truce, Mieczyslaw Adam Gostomczyk
  • Patent number: 7942391
    Abstract: A cooling tower for evaporating water from a brine solution is provided and may include an air inlet, a brine inlet for receiving the brine solution, and a heat-exchange assembly receiving the brine solution from the brine inlet and receiving air from the air inlet. The heat-exchange assembly transfers moisture from the brine solution to the air received from the air inlet to reduce the moisture content of the brine solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Rush Air, Inc.
    Inventors: Kelly D. Rushmore, James H. Shoffner
  • Patent number: 7887030
    Abstract: An atmospheric cooling tower apparatus includes a housing structure having an air inlet and an air outlet, a first evaporative heat transfer media disposed in the housing, and a closed coil heat transfer media disposed in the housing. A water distribution assembly is disposed above the evaporative heat transfer media and configured to distribute water onto the evaporative fill heat transfer fill media. A collection basin is disposed beneath the evaporative heat transfer media configured to collect water that has passed through the evaporative heat transfer media. A first control valve controls an inflow of water to supply water to one or both of the evaporative heat transfer media and the closed coil heat transfer media. The closed coil heat transfer media and the evaporative heat transfer media are disposed laterally next to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: SPX Cooling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory P. Hentschel, Scott T. Maurer
  • Patent number: 7614613
    Abstract: In a gravity fed cooling tower liquid return system having a common header with a plurality of valved sub-headers, a distributive control system, risers on the sub-headers, and sensor/transmitters on the risers, some of the sensor/transmitters controlling the valves on their respective sub-headers, sensing the liquid level in each of the sub-headers, comparing the sensed liquid levels in the distributive control system, and controlling the liquid levels in the sub-headers in response to the sensed liquid levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventor: David B. Shield
  • Patent number: 7524434
    Abstract: Methods of treating aqueous coolants in open circulating water cooling tower systems are provided. The methods including placing a controlled release additive composition in contact with an open circulating aqueous coolant in an open circulating water cooling tower system. The controlled release additive composition includes a core having at least one additive selected from corrosion inhibitors and scale inhibitors; and a coating, for example, a polymeric coating, substantially surrounding the core. The coating is substantially insoluble in the aqueous coolant, and is effective to slow the release of the at least one additive into the aqueous coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Dober Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Blakemore, Yu-Sen Chen
  • Patent number: 7510174
    Abstract: A dew point cooling tower system utilizes cooled water produced by the system to reduces the wet bulb temperature of ambient air before the ambient air is directed through fill in the cooling tower. One preferred heat exchanger utilized in the cooling tower is an air-to-liquid heat exchanger including a plurality of spaced apart plate units each having a pair of adhesively bonded spaced apart plates having a liquid flow channel formed intermediate the adhesively bonded plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Inventor: Larry L. Kammerzell
  • Patent number: 7328886
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: SPX Cooling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eldon F. Mockry, Jason Stratman, Jidong Yang, Mark Anthony Johnson
  • Patent number: 7155318
    Abstract: In a method of operating an air conditioning unit to reduce moisture varying operations, psychrometric chart data is accessed. In addition, a constraint is set on the relationship between the temperature of air supplied by the air conditioning unit and the relative humidity of the air supplied based upon information contained in the psychrometric chart data. The air conditioning unit is controlled based upon the constraint to thereby reduce moisture varying operations of the air conditioning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, LP.
    Inventors: Ratnesh K. Sharma, Cullen E. Bash, Chandrakant D. Patel
  • Patent number: 7128310
    Abstract: A cooling tower having a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes at least one heat exchanger pack having a generally diamond shape. The heat exchanger pack includes a first set of passageways for receiving a stream of warm, water laden air and a second set of passageways for receiving ambient air. The first set of passageways and second set of passageways are separate. Cooling tower configurations including the heat exchanger pack are disclosed for achieving effluent plume abatement, and capture of a portion of the effluent for replacement back into the cooling tower reservoir or as a source of purified water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: SPX Cooling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eldon F. Mockry, Jason Stratman, Jidong Yang
  • Patent number: 6942200
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a fan cylinder for a cooling tower, which is configured to prevent the air discharged from the cooling tower from flowing back thereinto. The fan cylinder is fixed to the upper side of the cooling tower, and is configured to mount a cooling fan therein. The fan cylinder comprises a linear portion having a constant inner diameter, and mounted therein with the cooling fan; an inlet portion connected at an upper end thereof to a lower end of the linear portion, and having an inner diameter increasing downwardly; an extension portion connected at a lower end thereof to an upper end of the linear portion; and having an inner diameter increasing upwardly, and an outlet portion connected to an upper end of the extension portion, and having an inner diameter decreasing upwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Kyung in Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae Byeong Gu
  • Patent number: 6880622
    Abstract: An air guide for a cooling tower that prevents the air discharged from the cooling tower from flowing back into the cooling tower, and facilitates smooth circulation of outside air inside the cooling tower. The air guide is coupled to a side surface of the cooling tower, and has a length corresponding to a width of the side surface. The air guide includes an air-inflow prevention wall having a curved cross section extending downwardly and outwardly. The air guide further includes an air inlet portion defined at a lower end of the air-inflow prevention wall, and an extension portion extending from the lower end of the air-inflow prevention wall toward the cooling tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Kyung In Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae Byeong Gu
  • Patent number: 6852147
    Abstract: A gas reduction apparatus 12 is provided for reducing the amount of gas 15 emitted from a cooling tower 10 into the atmosphere. The apparatus 12 in accordance with the principles of this invention includes a first air conduit 13 which collects the gas 15 and chemical particles therein released from the cooling tower 10 before they are released into the atmosphere. The conduit 13 then provides a path for the gas 15 and chemical particles formed therein to flow to a liquefier 16. The liquefier 16 converts the gas 15 to a liquid 17. A filter 32 is coupled adjacent the liquefier 16 to separate the chemical particles released into the liquefier from the liquid 17 formed in the liquefier. The liquid 17 is then directed through an outlet conduit 34 to a cooling tower reservoir 36 where it finds itself back into the cooling tower 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Inventor: Larry B. Tinguee, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6766655
    Abstract: An evaporative type medium condenser without the using of conventional cooling fins comprises: characteristically a plurality of streamline cross sectional bare metal tubes disposed in parallel for medium coils to instead the conventional round sectional tubes thereof; a recycling water supply system having a plurality of water spray nozzles for spraying fine water particles onto the surface of coil tubes formed a water film continuously held thereon; a fan system to provide a wind flow blowing over the streamline tubes in a direction from a large head front portion of the streamline cross section to a gradual reduced rear portion thereof and to provide a low pressure area thereat so as to speedy the evaporation of the water film on the surface of the coils tubes for improving a high cooling efficiency to reach a high E.E.R. therefore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Inventor: Ho Hsin Wu
  • Patent number: 6663694
    Abstract: Heat exchanger packs having a first set of passageways for receiving a stream of ambient air and a second set of passageways for receiving a stream of warm water laden air is disclosed. The first set of passageways and second set of passageways being separate and permitting the warm water laden air stream to be cooled by the stream of ambient air so that water can condense out of the warm water laden air stream. Cooling tower configurations including the heat exchanger pack are disclosed for achieving effluent plume abatement, and capture of a portion of the effluent for replacement back into the cooling tower reservoir or as a source of purified water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Marley Cooling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan J. Hubbard, Eldon F. Mockry, O. L. Kinney, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6663087
    Abstract: Heat exchanger packs having a first set of passageways for receiving a stream of ambient air and a second set of passageways for receiving a stream of warm water laden air is disclosed. The first set of passageways and second set of passageways being separate and permitting the warm water laden air stream to be cooled by the stream of ambient air so that water can condense out of the warm water laden air stream. Cooling tower configurations including the heat exchanger pack are disclosed for achieving effluent plume abatement, and capture of a portion of the effluent for replacement back into the cooling tower reservoir or as a source of purified water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Marley Cooling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan J. Hubbard, Eldon F. Mockry, Ohler L. Kinney, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6564864
    Abstract: A method of exchanging heat is disclosed. Process fluid is passed through a dry indirect contact heat exchange section while a main air stream is also passed through that section. The process fluid is passed through a second indirect contact heat exchange section while a second air stream is passed through that section. A third air stream is passed through a direct contact heat exchange section and mixed with the second air stream to define the main air stream. Evaporative liquid is selectively distributed over the second indirect contact heat exchange section and over the direct heat exchange section. The distribution of evaporative liquid over one section is independent of the distribution of evaporative liquid over the other section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Carter, Branislav Korenic
  • Patent number: 6499728
    Abstract: A cooling tower is provided including a cooling chamber with a bottom-to-top cooling air flow and a water injection system having spray nozzles horizontally distributed within the cooling chamber. A first air intake and a second air intake lead into the cooling chamber from below and, respectively, laterally from above the water injection system. The second air intake is implemented by a pipe, protruding into the interior of the cooling chamber, the pipe having at least two stages, beginning with a first stage next to a wall of the cooling chamber, the stages having progressively reduced flow cross-sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Balcke-Durr Energietechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Knut Menzel, Michael Kaatz
  • Patent number: 6467539
    Abstract: Cooling equipment, which may be connected to the water discharge from a working or operating machine with a water (20/20′) cooling circuit (2) to make the water re-circulate once cooled (24), characterized in that the cooling equipment comprises: at least one cooling tower (21-21′) with an extended surface for wetting and evaporation; at least one air flow generator device (3-31) for easing the evaporation; at least one closed cycle frigorific circuit (1) whose condenser (12) is placed downstream (12′) of the cooling tower (21-21′) with respect to the air flow (3-31) and whose evaporator (14) is placed downstream of the water cooling circuit (2) for exchanging heat with the cooled water (22) in the cooling tower (2-21′) for then making the water re-circulate in the operating machine (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Enrico Medessi
  • Patent number: 6446941
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research
    Inventors: Gopal P. Maheshwari, Eitidal Al-Bassam
  • Patent number: 6394174
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a system and a method for reclaiming process water in a manufacturing plant and more particularly, relates to a system and a method for reclaiming process water from a cooling tower exhaust gas which contains at least 80% relative humidity by utilizing a heat exchanger equipped with cooling elements that are cooled by a flow of exhaust gas formed by a general exhaust and a scrubber exhaust from a semiconductor fabrication facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd
    Inventor: Yi-Jang Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20020047219
    Abstract: A cooling tower incorporates a cooling chamber (1) with a bottom-to-top cooling air flow and a water injection system (12) consisting of spray nozzles (13) horizontally distributed within the cooling chamber. A first air intake (11) and a second air intake (19) lead into the cooling chamber (1) from below and, respectively, laterally from above the water injection system (12). To arrive at a cooling tower with laterally added cooling air and combining a good coolant mixing pattern with low structural height, the second air intake (19) is implemented via a two-stage or multi-stage pipe (16), protruding into the interior of the cooling chamber (1), whose stages (17a, 17b, 17c), beginning with the first stage next to the wall (9) of the cooling chamber, feature progressively reduced flow cross-sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Inventors: Knut Menzel, Michael Kaatz
  • Patent number: 6357481
    Abstract: A lightweight flow control valve for use in cooling towers is provided. The valve includes a lightweight, thin-walled valve body having a flow bore, an inlet port, and an outlet port. The outlet port is disposed in a substantially perpendicular relationship relative to the inlet port. The valve body has a substantially frusto-conically shaped interior surface defining the flow bore. A lightweight, thin-walled barrel having an inlet, an outlet, and a fluid passageway extending between the inlet and the outlet is disposed within the flow bore of the valve body. The inlet of the barrel is concentrically positioned relative to the inlet port of the valve body and the outlet of the barrel is disposed in a substantially perpendicular relationship relative to the inlet of the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Oklahoma Gas And Electric Company
    Inventor: James O. Schagunn
  • Patent number: 6247682
    Abstract: The plume abated cooling tower having a heat exchanger in which an aqueous fluid is cooled by an air flow. The heat exchanger has first channels in which air and fluid counterflow, second channels in which air flows, and a means for avoiding the passage of fluid into said second channels, said second channels having a heat conductive surface contacting a plurality of first channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Hamon Thermal Europe S.A.
    Inventor: Michel Vouche
  • Publication number: 20010002620
    Abstract: A method of exchanging heat is disclosed. Process fluid is passed through a dry indirect contact heat exchange section while a main air stream is also passed through that section. The process fluid is passed through a second indirect contact heat exchange section while a second air stream is passed through that section. A third air stream is passed through a direct contact heat exchange section and mixed with the second air stream to define the main air stream. Evaporative liquid is selectively distributed over the second indirect contact heat exchange section and over the direct heat exchange section. The distribution of evaporative liquid over one section is independent of the distribution of evaporative liquid over the other section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Publication date: June 7, 2001
    Inventors: Thomas P. Carter, Branislav Korenic
  • Patent number: 6213200
    Abstract: A system and method of exchanging heat are disclosed. Three heat exchange sections are used: a dry indirect contact heat exchange section, a second indirect contact heat exchange section that is operable in either a wet or dry mode, and a direct contact heat exchange section. The three sections are next to each other in an apparatus to reduce the overall height of the apparatus. The dry and second indirect contact heat exchange sections receive a process fluid in series or in parallel. Separate ambient air streams pass through the second indirect and direct contact heat exchange sections before mixing and entering the dry indirect contact heat exchange section. Another ambient air stream is mixed in upstream of the dry indirect contact heat exchange section when the system is operated in the dry mode. Two independent evaporative liquid distribution systems are included. One selectively distributes evaporative liquid over the second indirect contact heat exchange section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Carter, Branislav Korenic
  • Patent number: 6142219
    Abstract: A system and methods of extracting heat are disclosed. The system may be arranged as a fluid cooler or as a fluid condenser. Three heat exchange sections are provided: a dry indirect contact heat exchange section; a second indirect contact heat exchange section that is operable in either a wet or dry mode; and a direct contact heat exchange section. As a fluid cooler, a connecting flow path connects the dry indirect contact heat exchange section to the second indirect contact heat exchange section. A bypass flow path extends from the dry indirect contact heat exchange section to the process fluid outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Amstead Industries Incorporated
    Inventors: Branislav Korenic, Thomas P. Carter
  • Patent number: 6138746
    Abstract: A cooling coil arrangement for a cylindrical tower provides coverage of a larger area of the cylindrical footprint of a cooling tower to enable more economical usage of the vertical tower storage capacity for ice thermal storage, which coil arrangement has a plurality of coils arranged in multiply arranged planes with serpentine layouts of each tubing length generally having a vee-shaped layout in each plane between the longitudinal axis of the tower and the tower housing, which tubing lengths are provided in each sector of each plane normal to the axis and having a tubing length therein, and the manifolds coupling the tubing lengths to inlet and outlet ports for circulating coolant fluid through the tubing lengths to cool the phase change fluid in the cooling tower, and a plurality of the serpentine tubing lengths vertically aligned and preferably arranged with the tubing section of one u-shaped segment of a first tubing length in vertical alignment with the gap of another of the tubing lengths which provide
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter P. Livolsi, John M. McCullough, Glenn W. Smith
  • Patent number: 6070655
    Abstract: A heat exchanger, for use in particular in connection with the process outlets at paper, pulp and board mills, including substantially parallel tubes or equivalent arranged in a duct. An air flow that delivers heat passes through the tubes and an air flow that receives heat passes through gaps between the tubes in accordance with the cross-flow principle. The heat faces of the tubes are made larger at the side of the flow that receives heat by means of ribs, lamellae or equivalent, and an air that is moist, saturated, or near its saturation curve is used as the air flow that delivers heat in the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Valmet Corporation
    Inventor: Pertti Heikkila
  • Patent number: 5970724
    Abstract: A cooling water tower has a water container, a fan motor, a controller, an air outlet, a first sensor, a second sensor, a pump, and an air conditioning device. The air conditioning device has an air cooling condenser, a freezing agent control device, a compressor, and an evaporator. The air outlet is disposed on a top portion of the water container. The first sensor is disposed on the air outlet. The second sensor is disposed on the bottom of the water container. The fan motor is disposed on the top portion of the water container. The controller is disposed on the fan motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Yiue Feng Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kuo-Liang Weng
  • Patent number: 5961784
    Abstract: A method for reducing the consumption of fresh water and energy in a paper mill in which fresh water is passed into the paper mill for various needs, and a cooling tower is utilized for cooling water heated in the papermaking process. All fresh waters or a substantial proportion of the fresh waters of the paper mill are introduced into the process through the water system of the cooling tower. The cooling tower includes at least one inlet for passing the water to be cooled into the cooling tower, nozzles for discharging the water that was passed in and that is to be cooled onto heat transfer faces, filler pieces and/or filler plates, which disperse the water to be cooled so as to increase the contact area between the water and the cooling air, at least one outlet for passing the cooled water out of the cooling tower, and blowers for blowing the cooling air through the cooling tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Valmet Corporation
    Inventors: Pertti Heikkila, Henrik Pettersson, Iikka Sipila, Markku Saarinen, Rainer Gartz
  • Patent number: 5958308
    Abstract: Hot water is sprayed to fillers arranged immediately under a hot water vessel through spray ports opened on a lower surface of the hot water vessel. The hot water flowing down along the fillers is cooled through direct contact with ambient air. The cooling tower includes fillers partitioned alternately into permanent wet and wet-dry changeover regions which are mutually isolated for flow passages of the ambient air and spray pipes provided on the lower surface of the hot water vessel exclusively for the wet-dry changeover regions such that the hot water can be sprayed to the wet-dry changeover regions separately from the permanent wet regions. The hot water vessel is supported by the spray pipes. The spray ports of the hot water vessel is communicated only with the permanent wet regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kesaaki Mochizuki, Osamu Goto, Katsutoshi Shibata
  • Patent number: 5944094
    Abstract: A dry-air-surface heat exchanger is provided for use in a liquid cooling tower, and includes a plurality of preformed, shape-retaining heat transfer members of relatively thin synthetic resin sheet material. Each member presents a pair of upright, side-by-side panels that are preferably folded together about a vertical axis to present inward-facing wet-transfer surfaces adapted to transfer heat between the fluid and the member, and an outward-facing dry-transfer surface adapted to transfer heat between the member and air. The folded member is configured to present a series of tortuous liquid flow paths between the panels extending between the upper and lower edges, and the side edges are secured together in substantially fluid tight sealing engagement. A plurality of the folded members are provided in a pack, and a diffuser is positioned adjacent to the upper edges of the folded members for receiving hot liquid and directing the hot liquid between the panels of each member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: The Marley Cooling Tower Company
    Inventors: Ohler L. Kinney, Jr., Glenn S. Brenneke, Thomas W. Bugler, III
  • Patent number: 5816318
    Abstract: A heat exchange apparatus is provided with an indirect evaporative heat exchange section and a direct evaporative heat exchange section. A uniform temperature evaporative liquid is downwardly sprayed into the indirect section to indirectly exchange sensible heat with a hot fluid stream flowing within a series of enclosed circuits which comprise the indirect evaporative heat exchange section. After the evaporative fluid descends through the entire indirect heat exchange section and absorbs heat, it is distributed across fill media within the direct evaporative heat exchange section for cooling. Separate streams of ambient cooling air are simultaneously drawn into each of the heat exchange sections crosscurrently to evaporatively cool the evaporative liquid flowing within each section. The water cooled in the direct heat exchange section is then collected in a sump where it is allowed to mix and resultantly become uniform in temperature before being redistributed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas P. Carter
  • Patent number: 5787970
    Abstract: There is disclosed a new and improved multi-row steam condensing bundle for use in air-cooled vacuum steam condensers employed in power plant applications and the like. Specific freeze protection design is directed to the first row of tubes in the bundle by employing blow-through steam. The excess steam that is not condensed in the first row is introduced into a second pass reflux row of tubes located in the protected warm air region of the bundle. All other tube rows in the bundle are of single pass design with divided rear headers except when the last two rows are configured in a similar two-pass arrangement that protects the exposed top tube row of the bundle from cold wind gusts. It is a mixed flow bundle design because some of the tube rows have counterflow steam and condensate while others have parallel flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Inventor: Michael W. Larinoff
  • Patent number: 5775409
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cross flow type cooling tower with which it is possible to prevent emission of white vapor in cold weather. In order to accomplish the above object, the cooling tower of the present invention is constructed of heat exchange units each of which having plates arranged vertically and parallel from each other so as to form passages therebetween, which are separated into wet air passages and switchable air passages capable of switching from dry air passages and wet air passages; a water bath divided into upper and lower baths by a partition plate with holes, the upper bath is provided with spray nozzles for spraying water into the switchable passages, the lower bath provided with spray nozzles for spraying water into the wet passages.When the weather is warm, hot water is supplied into the upper bath, and both the upper and lower baths are filled with water and cooling is performed in every passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Goto, Koji Kimura
  • Patent number: 5724828
    Abstract: A heat exchange apparatus which can be used as an evaporative condenser, fluid cooler or wet-air cooler, is provided with a direct evaporative heat exchange section overlying an indirect evaporative heat exchange section. An air entry zone common to both heat exchange sections receives an air stream blown into this zone by at least one fan, thereby pressurizing the plenum such that the air stream is forced to split and enter each section while inside the apparatus. This eliminates the need for separate air entries, thus condensing the size and cost of the apparatus, while increasing heat exchange capacity. A countercurrent air flow pattern through the direct section provides a uniformly cooled evaporative liquid for use in the indirect section. The evaporative liquid flow is parallel to the air stream provided in the indirect section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Branislav Korenic
  • Patent number: 5695005
    Abstract: A fluid dynamic crossflow cooling tower has a tower body. In the upper portion of the tower body, there is a horizontally disposed injection tubular element which has a plural number of spaced nozzles disposed on the lateral side. Heated fluid is pumped into the injection tubular element and is ejected out through the nozzles and forms a continuous screen of high velocity liquid flow into a horizontal diffuser. Outside cooling air is drawn into the tower through the air inlet located the lower portion of the tower body. The cooling air then mixes with heated liquid in the diffuser to perform heat exchange process. The liquid and air mixture then pass through a mist eliminator which separates liquid from the air. The air is then discharged out of the tower body, liquid is cooled and falls into a water dispersing trough and then passes through a heat radiator for the second pass heat exchanging process, and finally drops into a water tray at the bottom of the tower body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Inventors: Chia-Hsien Chen, Chiang Lai Chu