Abstract: An apparatus for uniformly distributing a liquid having dual gaseous and liquid phases for use with a heat exchanger is disclosed. A liquid spreading device of the apparatus includes a main pipe extending along the full length of a header of the apparatus, and a plurality of branch pipes connected to the main pipe and extending perpendicularly to the main pipe just above and along the full width of descending flow entrances of a core of the heat exchanger. Each branch pipe has a plurality of liquid spreading holes perforated in a predetermined spaced relationship at the bottom thereof. Thus, liquid can be distributed from the apparatus substantially uniformly within a deviation of, for example, .+-.10 percent.

Abstract: A baffle tray tower comprising a tubular tower body, a plurality stages of baffle tray members disposed within the tower body, and partition plates each disposed within the tower body so as to generally vertically divide a curtain zone defined between two adjacent stages of the baffle tray members into an upper curtain zone for mainly passing a gas therethrough and into a lower curtain zone for mainly passing a liquid therethrough can be operated as a gas-liquid contacting device with a high gas-liquid contact efficiency and a low pressure loss.

Abstract: A process for automatically providing for periodic surge flow or liquid slugs in the catalyst bed to insure that the catalyst is periodically fully wetted. Therefore, before dry spots develop in the bed and some catalyst particles are deprived of the liquid reactants, the aforesaid liquid pulse or slug will rewet the catalyst. This desired periodic introduction of a liquid slug through a catalyst bed is accomplished by the provision of a plurality of automatically actuating and operating siphon means disposed and distributed across the area of the distributor tray means within the reactor.

Abstract: An air cooling device including a first water spray device, an air cooling part including a filler wherein cooling water sprayed from the first water spray device is brought into direct contact with intake air so that the intake air is cooled by the sprayed water through heat exchange therebetween on the surface of the filler, a first water reservoir that receives and reserves the water dropped from the filler and a cooling tower for rapidly cooling water to be sprayed in the air cooling part to a steady state condition prior to starting of an electrical apparata coupled to the air cooling device and to be cooled thereby. In the cooling tower, water from the first reservoir is sprayed into a second filler and thereby evaporatively cooled. The cooled water is collected in a second water reservoir and circulated therefrom to the first water spray device by means of a pump.

Abstract: A control system and method of controlling the cycling of water in a cooling tower system having a source of make-up water of variable conductivity. The control system apparatus includes respective probes for sensing tower water conductivity and make-up water conductivity. The probes provide signals to a controller unit. Desired cooling system water conductivity parameters are input into the controller unit. The controller unit serves to proportionally adjust the trip point at which dumping of the cooling tower water occurs based upon the sensed water conductivities and the input parameters to maintain a predetermined Langelier's number(s). Means are provided to display system conditions and to effect calibration of the system. The method entails establishing an indexing factor based upon the cooling water parameters and the desired Langelier's number(s) and using that indexing factor for adjusting the trip point.

Abstract: Plant for cooling water circulating in a secondary cooling loop, including a plurality of parallel operating cooling cells each having a blower, a drive motor for the blower and a cooling water pump having a suction side, the cooling water pumps of the cooling cells being separately drivable, a cold water basin connected to the cooling cells, a secondary cooling water pump connected to the cold water basin, a heat exchanger connected to the secondary cooling water pump, a warm water basin being directly connected to the suction side of the cooling water pumps and being disposed upstream of the cold water basin, and means disposed between the warm water basin and the cold water basin for providing an overflow therebetween.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved mass transfer or gas-liquid contact device having a specially contoured grid member(s) interposed in the gas flow of the device. Ideally the grid member(s) has a cross-sectional profile which equals the sum of the theoretical velocity pressure profile of the gas flowing in an open vessel and the static and dynamic heads of the contacting liquid. An additional depth is added to the grid approximately 5 to 40% more, to create an energy imbalance in favor of the introduced liquid, thereby allowing it to drain. In existing vessels where it is desirable to replace prior art devices with an apparatus embodying the present invention, a plurality of grid modules may be employed, each module including a shaped grid or grid pair approximating the velocity profile of the gas stream in each.

Abstract: In an evaporative cooler having a casing, a multi-layer type contact body and means for supplying water to selected channels in the contact body, the top edges of the contact body are formed to define outwardly widened openings communicating with only selected channels in the body. The water supply means supplies water to only some of the openings so that alternating channels on the contact body are passed with both water and air and the remainder only with air. As a result the formation of mist at the discharge end of the cooler can be avoided.

Abstract: A tray device has a plurality of chimneys which extend above the level of liquid in the tray and have vapor outlets for the passage of the rising vapor. Tubes are also provided in the tray device with liquid inlets for the passage of liquid from the tray downwardly onto the lower exchange section. The tray device intercepts the liquid trickling down from an upper exchange section and distributes the liquid uniformly through the tubes over the top cross section of the exchange section immediately below. The vapor rising from the bottom section passes through the chimneys separately from the liquid.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for receiving a liquid which falls freely in the form of a shower or the like, of the type comprising a receiving wall which is inclined to the vertical and directs the received liquid into a trough which extends along the lower edge of the receiving wall. The devices comprise in the flow path of the liquid received on the inclined wall and before the liquid enters the trough, means for substantially reducing or eliminating the vertical velocity component of the liquid when it enters the trough.The disclosure is also directed to such a device employed in countercurrent installations for putting a liquid in contact with a gas.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for receiving a liquid which falls freely in the form of a shower or the like, of the type comprising a receiving wall which is inclined to the vertical and directs the received liquid into a trough which extends along the lower edge of the receiving wall. The devices comprise in the flow path of the liquid received on the inclined wall and before the liquid enters the trough, means for substantially reducing or eliminating the vertical velocity component of the liquid when it enters the trough.The disclosure is also directed to such a device employed in countercurrent installations for putting a liquid in contact with a gas.

Abstract: A counterflow cooling tower includes a casing having cooling air inlet openings formed at its lower end and cooling air outlet openings formed at its upper end, a contact body positioned in the casing and formed from a plurality of contact layers arranged in banks and defining a plurality of water and air flow channels therebetween providing communication between the air inlet and outlet openings, a water distribution installation positioned above the contact body for supplying warm water to be cooled to the channels, channel caps on top of only some of the channels fitted geometrically to adjacent contact layers and covering some of the channels against water from the water distribution installation, and an air supply installation for supplying cooling air from the air inlet openings through substantially all of the channels to the air outlet openings, whereby the temperature and moisture-content of air supplied to the channels to which warm water is supplied are increased while the temperature of air suppli

Abstract: Heat transfer and exchange apparatus having a plurality of double-sheeted wettable flow-through pockets suspended from an overhead liquid supplying support in spaced apart and essentially parallel relationship. A downwardly flowing liquid curtain exists within the innerspace of each of the pockets, the liquid curtain bonding the wettable side-forming sheets of each pocket together through cohesive, adhesive and pressure forces. Flow characteristics within the liquid curtain automatically adjust to create a condition of zero pressure differential across each of the wettable sheets which form a pocket pair so that pressure inside and outside the pocket are equal at all unconfined points over the surfaces of the sheets irrespective of flow rate, temperature viscosity, density or composition of the liquid curtain.

Abstract: A direct contact type multi-stage steam condenser system having a direct contact type high vacuum stage steam condenser disposed above a low vacuum stage steam condenser with a water supplying tank for the low vacuum stage condenser disposed therebetween. In the preferred embodiment, the high and low vacuum stage condensers and the water supplying tank are formed integrally as a single unit. The water supplying tank, which also serves as a gas-tight seal between the condenser stages, is formed above a water sprinkling board provided in the upper portion of the low vacuum stage condenser. Condensed water falls under its own weight thereby eliminating the need for an intermediate pressurizing pumps.

Abstract: In an apparatus, such as a liquid-gas condensation tower, in which a liquid phase is withdrawn rapidly through an exit port from a chamber, an improvement which assures complete agitation throughout the liquid phase comprises a regular array of liquid agitation devices positioned within the liquid and above a cone-shaped vortex breaker structure which is placed above the exit port.

Abstract: Improved apparatus for distributing a liquid in film form in the interior of vertical tubes in which a counterflow or cocurrent flow of liquid-vapor takes place. The apparatus includes a cylindrical body having an annular ledge and helical grooves on its peripheral surface, and wherein the cylindrical body is slightly tapered downwardly and inwardly to enable it to be easily introduced into the tube and to enable it to be freely rotated about its own vertical central axis. In the case of counterflow circulation, the cylindrical body has a blind laterally perforated vent tube on its top surface. In each instance the rotation of the body is effected by the liquid being distributed to inhibit the formation of deposits of solids from the liquid being distributed on the inner wall of the vertical tube.

Abstract: An improved device for the distribution of liquids in a vertical heat-exchange apparatus which has reeds mounted on the top ends of vertical tubes to spread a liquid in film form over the internal surface of each tube of the tube bundle. The reeds of the invention are closed at their tops instead of being open as was common in conventional practice, and the reeds have an array of circumferential perforations near their closed tops for venting off gases and vapors which evolve from said liquid, while tangential perforations extend through the peripheral surface of the reeds in intermediate sections thereof. The pressure drop of gases and vapors can be adjusted within a wide range and corrosion in the top portion of the tubes is very efficiently prevented.

Abstract: An apparatus for washing gases and/or recovering heat therefrom, which apparatus includes a cylindrical treatment vessel (1) having at the bottom thereof a gas inlet (3) connected to a gas supply line (2) and at the top thereof a gas outlet (4) for processed gas; a vertical rotatable center shaft (5) which carries at least one cup-shaped rotary body (6) having a plurality of openings (7), preferably vertical slots, in the side wall (8) thereof; respective means (9, 10) cooperating with each of said rotary bodies (6) for introducing liquid to at least one location within said at least one rotary body (6); and a liquid outlet (11) at the bottom of the vessel. The liquid introduced into the rotary body or bodies (6) is thrown as curtains of liquid through the openings (7) against the walls of the treatment vessel by rotating the rotary body or bodies (6).

Abstract: The packing of a tower or column for heat exchange, material exchange, contacting of two fluids with one another and chemical reaction consisting of a stack of elongated members having two walls inclined to one another and joined at a third wall, the first two walls being each formed with elongated vibratile elements interdigitated with vibratile elements of another packing member so that when the body of packing is traversed by one or more fluids, the vibratile elements are set into vibration.

Abstract: A gas-liquid contacting tray of the crossflow type with improved means for initiating bubbling activity at the tray inlet region comprising spaced-apart imperforate wall members extending substantially vertically upwardly and transverse to the liquid flow path, contiguously associated and coextensive at their upper edges with an intermediate perforated wall member horizontally extending therebetween.

Abstract: A liquid cooling apparatus having a multi-level terraced structure capped by a central cooling tower. The central cooling tower has one or more non-clogging liquid spray nozzles mounted therein for spraying the liquid in the tower while compressed air is fed into the bottom of the tower into the sprayed liquid. The liquid collects on the terraced structure which has a plurality of channels formed therein having baffles mounted to break up the flow of water as it passes over each level of the terraced structure. Flow paths on the terraced structure may also have rocks placed along the channels between the baffling members.

Abstract: A cooling tower comprising at its lower portion, beneath an exchange surface, a catch basin receiving the cooled water and having an aperture formed therein, a vertical-axis fan mounted in the aperture being adapted to draw air from beneath the basin and force it upwards through the tower, a conventional water streaming mechanism being provided at the upper portion of the tower.

Abstract: The packing of a tower or column for heat exchange, material exchange, contacting of two fluids with one another and chemical reaction consisting of a stack of elongated members having two walls inclined to one another and joined at a third wall, the first two walls are each formed with elongated vibratile elements interdigitated with vibratile elements of another packing member so that when the body of packing is traversed by one or more fluids, the vibratile elements are set into vibration.

Abstract: A distributor of liquid is disclosed, to be used in chemical apparatus having a bundle of tubes in the interior of which the liquid to be treated is distributed in the form of a thin film flowing on the internal surfaces of the tubes, the improvement consisting in the combination of a bell placed on the top surface of the tube plate and having liquid passageways formed along its bottom edge, a foraminous collar-like component placed at the bell top for feeding the liquid, and a plurality of distribution sleeves having the form of tubes through the sidewalls of which tangential bores are formed, there being one distribution sleeve for each tube of the bundle.

Abstract: The gases emerging from a high-pressure gas furnace are subject to coarse particle separation and then to washing and scrubbing with water before driving an expansion turbine which has a gas bypass so that the turbine can be cut off. The scrubbing water recycled to the scrubber when the turbine is cut off, is permitted to traverse a cooler of the washing-water recovery unit but, when the turbine is operative, the scrubbing water bypasses the cooler. The water introduced into the scrubber can thus have a temperature of about 25.degree. C. when the turbine is bypassed and about 50.degree. C. when it is effective.

Abstract: A distributor of liquid is disclosed, to be used in chemical apparatus having a bundle of tubes in the interior of which the liquid to be treated is distributed in the form of a thin film flowing on the internal surfaces of the tubes, the improvement consisting in the combination of a bell placed on the top surface of the tube plate and having liquid passageways formed along its bottom edge, a foraminous collar-like component placed at the bell top for feeding the liquid, and a plurality of distribution sleeves having the form of tubes through the sidewalls of which tangential bores are formed, there being one distribution sleeve for each tube of the bundle.

Abstract: Gas-liquid contacting system featuring, in an SO.sub.2 scrubbing embodiment, reduced liquid entrainment which, in various aspects, eliminates the need for liquid recirculation, and permits spray regime operation increasing the ratio of SO.sub.2 absorption to sulfite oxidation. In various embodiments the entrainment is reduced by closely spaced vertical baffles above the tray, or a perforated plate or porous mesh beneath the tray.

Abstract: Vapor-liquid contacting in apparatus of the cross-flow type featuring, in various aspects, baffles extending generally in the direction of liquid flow across the tray to reduce the amplitude of small wavelength vertical liquid oscillations, increased column throughput, reduced column stage height, reduced liquid flow rate, a flow resistance at the underside of the tray to reduce pressure coupling between the underside of the tray and the main volume of vapor beneath the tray, liquid de-entrainment with an impingement type separator mounted above the tray, vapor de-entrainment with a special porous separator, an improved froth initiator, and special baffle constructions.

Abstract: A slotted sieve-tray providing a liquid flow path including a divergent flow section adjacent the liquid inlet, with slots which are oriented away from the tray diametral streamline at high angles in the liquid inlet region, so as to overcome fluid maldistribution problems associated with divergent liquid flow on the tray.

Abstract: An add-on humidifier kit for use with a room air conditioner includes a cabinet frame extension for mounting on the room-side of the cabinet sleeve. The extension is composed of an upper water distribution header and a lower drain trough retaining a water pad located in an extension of the discharge duct of the air conditioner, while an electrical heating unit is mounted in the extension to heat the return room air to achieve a comfortable temperature, allowing the heated air to pick up moisture from the water pad. A portable water tank assembly is adapted to be positioned on the floor beneath the air conditioner and electrically coupled to the air conditioner through separable connectors providing tank mounted controls for the heating unit along with a humidistat, water flow regulator and water pump mounted in the water tank unit.

Abstract: In an apparatus for contacting a gas with a liquid, the gas is caused to flow upward through a vertical channel associated with a device for charging the channel with a foam containing the liquid. The channel contains upper and lower gas-permeable elements each arranged to support a layer of the foam covering the through-flow area of the channel, each element being formed to cause turbulence of the gas flowing therethrough. The two foam-supporting elements are located so close to each other that foam is entrained by the flowing gas from the space between the elements upwardly through the upper element to the upper side thereof, from which foam is returned through a passage to the space between the two elements. This return passage is shielded from upward flow of gas therethrough, so that a foam column in the passage can move downward.

Abstract: In the manufacture of alumina by the Bayer process, a method comprising the steps of bringing the overflow from a multistage red mud thickener into counterflow contact with the steam generated in consequence of the flashing of bauxite-dissolved slurry so as to effect exchange of heat therebetween, separating and removing sand from the slurry by regulating the rate at which the slurry is discharged from the bottom of the column, and circulating the heated overflow and using it as the wash water in the former stage of the said thickener, all the said operations performed in one and the same column; and a device provided with inlet and outlet pipes for the overflow, an overflow type condenser, inlet and outlet pipes for the slurry, and a pipe for the removal of sand so as to effect the operations of the said method wholly in one and the same column.

Abstract: An elongated cylindrical casing defines a contacting chamber of the type used in a gas effluent processing system. The casing is disposed with its longitudinal axis in a vertical orientation and has conduit means disposed to direct gas and liquid flows into the upper end of the chamber for generally downward concurrent intermixing progression whereby particulate matter is transferred from the gas flow to the liquid prior to discharge of the separate flows from the lower end of the contacting chamber. The lower discharge end of the casing has an improved structural configuration that overcomes certain problems inherent in prior art apparatus designed for accomplishing the same purpose. Flow control means is also disclosed for use within the chamber to further enhance the operational efficiency of the contacting chamber.