Cooling Towers Patents (Class 261/DIG11)
  • Patent number: 5143657
    Abstract: A fluid distributing apparatus provides a fountain-type distributor which effects substantially uniform radial distribution of fluid across a spray pattern. A fixed deflector is provided for deflecting the spray pattern into a non-circular pattern, and in a preferred case into a rectangular pattern. The distributor is particularly suited for use in industrial cooling towers to increase the efficiency of the cooling towers by increasing the uniformity of water distribution across the fill material of the cooling tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Inventor: Harold D. Curtis
  • Patent number: 5124086
    Abstract: A fill pack for heat and mass transfer in counter-flow, in particular for the cooling of water in cooling towers by air, is provided. The fill pack includes a plurality of vertically or obliquely positioned corrugated or folded sheets or plates which are superposed and joined to each other in such a manner that the corrugations or folds of adjoining sheets cross each other only in the upper part of the fill pack, while the corrugations or folds of adjoining sheets are generally parallel to each other in the lower part of the fill pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Munters Eurform GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Schultz
  • Patent number: 5112537
    Abstract: Improved synthetic resin splash-type fill bar (32) for water cooling tower fill assemblies (26, 28) are provided which give enhanced cooling results over virtually the entire range of duty conditions encountered in commerical practice. The bars (32) are preferably integrally formed of PVC and present a dome-like cross-sectional configuration, with an imperforate, fore and aft extending upper apex section (36) and downwardly and outwardly diverging, apertured sidewalls (38, 40) terminating in bifurcated feet (42, 44). The sidewall apertures (50) are nominally circular and are arranged in staggered rows to maximize dispersal of descending hot water in a tower fill. The bars (32) are advantageously used in crossflow cooling tower (10), and are preferably oriented transverse to incoming cooling air currents entering the fill assemblies (26, 28) of the tower (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1992
    Assignee: The Marley Cooling Tower Company
    Inventor: Ohler L. Kinney, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5112371
    Abstract: A radial flow cooling tower is disclosed employing a novel circular support structure for housing both a plurality of sections of fill media and sections of a means for entraining fluid droplets and which permit their easy removal for cleaning or replacement. A system is provided for delivering the fluid to be cooled over the fill media and a motor driven fan for drawing air through the fill media as well as through the droplet entraining sections is positioned in an open central area defined by the fluid entraining sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1992
    Inventors: Joseph R. Tippmann, Vincent P. Tippmann
  • Patent number: 5106543
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling the discharge or continuous bleed-off of cooling water of evaporative coolers and cooling towers includes a container for receiving water from the cooling water system via an adjustable float valve. An orifice at the bottom of the container, which may be adjustable in height, allows water to flow to a device for eliminating suction effects or depression caused by the hydrostatic head of water below the container and a cleaning device, which may oscilate, operated by movement of the float valve keeps the orifice clean.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Inventor: Diego E. F. Dodds
  • Patent number: 5104588
    Abstract: An improved splash-type fill bar (32) for water cooling towers (10) is provided which gives enhanced water cooling as compared with conventional bars. The bars (32) are of trapezoidal configuration and present a flat, apertured top wall (36), a pair of obliquely oriented, downwardly and outwardly extending apertured sidewalls (42, 44) and short, horizontal, imperforate flange walls (50, 52) extending from the lower margins (46, 48) of the sidewalls (42, 44). The width of top wall (36) is at least four times the vertical height of a sidewall (42, 44) so as to present an effective water dispersal surface; the oblique sidewalls (42, 44) and flange walls (50, 52) prevent formation of gravitating sheets or films of water which can inhibit tower performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: The Marley Cooling Tower Company
    Inventor: Ohler L. Kinney, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5084217
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling the discharge or continuous bleed-off of cooling water of evaporative coolers and cooling towers includes a container for receiving water from the cooling water system via a float valve operated float valve. An orifice at the bottom of the container allows water to flow to a device for eliminating suction effects or depression caused by the hydrostatic head of water below the container and a cleaning device, operated by movement of the float valve keeps the orifice clean.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Inventor: Diego E. F. Dodds
  • Patent number: 5078205
    Abstract: A cooling system for condensing the exhaust steam of steam turbine plants, particularly of power plants, comprises a mixing condenser connected to the outflow of the steam turbine, a dry cooling tower connected to the cooling water circuit of the mixing condenser, and a wet cooling apparatus provided inside the cooling tower.Although wet cooling apparatus seem to be suitable to additionally increase the cooling performance of the cooling tower and, thereby, its effective operation even in case of exceptionally high ambient temperatures, the air exiting from them is cooler than the air flowing in through the main heat exchangers of the cooling tower and, therefore, the draft of the latter suffers deterioration when the two air streams mix one with the other. It means that the effectiveness of complementary cooling is may be impaired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: Energiagazdalkodasi Intezet
    Inventors: Janos Bodas, Istvan Papp, Georgy S. Ageiev, Anatoly F. Diakov, Hermes R. Santurian, Sergei G. Trushin
  • Patent number: 5072553
    Abstract: A shell structure for constituting the airflow shaft of a water-cooling tower comprises an upright frame support by ground foundations. The frame consists of a grid having at least three intersecting sets of bars, one of the sets comprising horizontal bars connected as to constitute circumferential girdles vertically distributed along the frame while the other two sets comprises bars which are at opposed angles with said horizontal bars, for defining a grid whose elemental pattern is an equilateral triangle. The bars are connected by nodes each receiving bars of all said sets. A veil defining a substantially continuous airflow stack is located within said frame and maintained in tension by connectons to the nodes of the frame. The frame may have a constant cross-section while the veil has a cross-section which varies along the vertical axis of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Assignee: Electricite de France (Service National)
    Inventors: Pierre Bozetto, Jean-Marc Truchet, Marcel Barret, Guy Chauvier
  • Patent number: 5040377
    Abstract: There is disclosed a new and improved cooling system and method for cooling the air in an enclosed space. The cooling system includes a cooling tower having a plurality of fans arranged to cool a first fluid and a chiller including a condenser thermally coupled to the first fluid, a compressor, and an evaporator. The chiller further includes first conduit means for carrying a refrigerant. A chilled fluid loop including second conduit means circulates a second fluid through the evaporator for cooling the second fluid and is arranged to flow air over the second conduit means and into the enclosed space for cooling the air in the enclosed space. Fan control means controls the speed of the cooling tower fans to minimize the total power consumption of the fan motors and the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Assignee: Johnson Service Company
    Inventors: James E. Braun, George T. Diderrich
  • Patent number: 5028357
    Abstract: A structural column has a generally cruciform cross section. The column includes a generally rectangular core section formed by four orthogonally related walls and four flange portions. Each flange portion is provided by a pair of spaced-apart parallel flanges which are extensions of a pair of parallel walls. The column is particularly suited for a cooling tower which includes at least four vertically extending columns. A horizontal beam extends between each pair of adjacent columns, and the ends of each beam are inserted between the parallel flanges of the columns. A side panel is supported by each beam, and a cover is supported by the side panels and the columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: Ceramic Cooling Tower Company
    Inventor: Charles J. Bardo
  • Patent number: 5028356
    Abstract: A cooling tower assembly comprising at least first and second layers of fill within the tower chamber, each of the first and second layers of fill having a source of water introduced above the fill for moving through gravity downthrough the fill during the cooling process. There is further included an upper fan member circulating at the top portion of the tower for drawing air through inlet panels along the walls of the tower through the first and second layers of fill to cool the water as it is percolating through the fill contents. The first and second layers of fill would be separated by a horizontal baffle member so that air pulled through the lower layer of fill would be prevented from the first layer, but would flow through a centrally located air flow chamber within the upper layer of fill to be drawn out of the chamber by the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Inventor: Vincent Wiltz
  • Patent number: 5019300
    Abstract: A direct contact water-to-air heat exchanger includes a columnar air/water contact chamber which includes inclined sheet-like turning vanes for establishing three heat transfer zones therein and a partly countercurrent, partly crosscurrent heat exchange environment. The heat exchanger has applicability for supplying cold moisture laden air in the postharvest forced air precooling of agricultural produce.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignees: Carolina Power & Light Company, North Carolina Alternative Energy Corporation, North Carolina Department of Economic
    Inventors: Thomas L. Davis, John P. Shell, Robert N. Elliott, III, Carsie K. Denning
  • Patent number: 4976895
    Abstract: A lightweight water cooling tower is formed by a fiberglass reinforced basin and fiberglass reinforced side panels. A liquid distribution system in the cooling tower is supplied with liquid by a vertically extending liquid supply pipe, and a fan is supported by the liquid supply pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Assignee: Ceramic Cooling Tower Company
    Inventor: Charles J. Bardo
  • Patent number: 4964977
    Abstract: A cross-flow type cooling tower comprises a cooling tower main body, a water tank placed at the upper part of the main body, a plurality of closed type heat exchanging units arranged in the main body in substantially horizontal manner and in parallel to each other in multi-stage below the water tank, a supplying header placed near an air discharge opening of the main body, which is detachably connectable to supplying ports of the heat exchanging units, a discharge header placed near an air intake opening of the main body, which is detachably connectable to discharge ports of the heat exchanging units, wherein the water tank is divided into a first water receiving part near the air intake opening and a second water receiving part near the air discharge opening by way of a partition wall, and a switching valve is provided at at least a water feeding pipe to the second water receiving part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Assignee: Shinwa Sangyo Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jujiro Komiya, Tadanobu Muto
  • Patent number: 4957276
    Abstract: The vertical height requirement of a cooling tower is reduced by utilizing trapezoidal shaped fill sheets which are suspended generally in line with the entering air stream so as to form a wedge shaped plenum space beneath the lower sloped edges of the fill sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1990
    Assignee: Baltimore Aircoil Company
    Inventor: Bryan F. Garrish
  • Patent number: 4955585
    Abstract: An energy conserving highly efficient hydraulically energized cooling tower fan system is provided having a rotary fan and hydraulic motor for operation thereof located at elevation within the upper portion of a cooling tower. An axial piston, variable displacement, pressure compensation hydraulic pump and its electric motor, together with a hydraulic fluid reservoir, hydraulic fluid filters and coolers arranged in closed loop assembly are located remotely from the hydraulic motor and fan assembly such as at ground level, to facilitate ease of maintenance and to minimized fire hazard and electrical hazard within the cooling tower itself. The rotational speed of the cooling tower fan is within a predetermined infinitely variable range and is controlled responsive to the temperature sensed in the cool water basin of the cooling tower by a temperature sensor and controller which controls the velocity of fluid output from the hydraulic pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Inventor: John A. Dickerson
  • Patent number: 4936882
    Abstract: An injection cooling tower includes an injection tubular element having an elongated slit made thereon along axial direction through which a pressure forced hot liquid flow induced from outside is ejected to form into a continuous screen of high velocity liquid flow rapidly toward a diffuser wherein the kinetic energy of the continuous screen of high velocity liquid flow is converted into a pressure energy to result in a negative pressure to suck in cooled air current from outside so as to let the cooled air current mix with the continuous screen of high velocity hot liquid flow to start a heat exchanging process. The heat absorbed air current is further exhausted out of the tower through the top exhaust outlet where a mist eliminator is set, while the cooled liquid flow is guided by a turning vane to run into a bottom water storage tank from which the water is pumped by a water pump for further application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Inventors: Jia H. Chen, Chu Chiang-Lai
  • Patent number: 4936881
    Abstract: A cooling tower has a flue gas outlet extending upwardly above the heat exchanger baffles in which the water from a steam power plant is cooled in counterflow to a rising cooling air stream. The mouth of the duct is formed with a droplet trap supplied with rinse water and cooperates with a collector for the rinse water which is led out of the tower independently of the cooled water of the heat exchanger zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Assignee: Saarbergwerke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sigurd Jorzyk, Gerhard Scholl, Heinz Holter, Heinrich Igelbuscher, Heinrich Gresch, Heribert Dewert
  • Patent number: 4934663
    Abstract: A cooling tower with a high density sloping film fill section and low density upper and lower film fill sections on opposite sides of and in contact with it. All sections include vertical corrugated sheets in composite forming an integral unit with adjacent sheets contacting each other and defining passages for gas and liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Inventor: Peter M. Phelps
  • Patent number: 4913710
    Abstract: A modular cooling tower assembly is provided that comprises at least one cooling tower module having extendible legs capable of supporting the assembly when fully extended. When more than one cooling tower module is used in the assembly, adjacent modules are attached together at their respective frames. A single exit plenum chamber is placed over the joined modules and a single fan in the exit plenum chamber causes an air intake from an air entrance plenum chamber at the bottom of the modules upwardly past the fill sheets and out the exit plenum chamber and fan cowl. The cooled liquid falls into a common collection basin in which the extended legs of the modules are standing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Francois R. Reverdv
  • Patent number: 4885011
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooling tower for the cooling water that drains from the condensor of a steam generator or from the condensors of a plurality of steam generators; the tower is fitted with large-area inserts and these form a heat-exchange area into which the cooling water is passed; a rising flow of air passes through this zone in counterflow to the cooling water, the cooling tower being provided with a smoke-gas feed to introduce cleaned, preferably wet-cleaned, smoke gas into the flow of cooling air, which is connected to a plurality of gas outlet pipes, the outlet cross-sections of which open out into the cooling tower above the heat-exchange zone. In order to improve the introduction of the cleaned smoke gases into the flow of cooling air within a cooing tower, the present invention proposes that rotors be provided in the gas outlet pipes in the area of their outlet cross-sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1989
    Assignee: Saarbergwerke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sigurd Jorzyk, Gerhard Scholl, Heinz Holter, Heinrich Igelbuscher, Heinrich Gresch, Heribert Dewert
  • Patent number: 4873028
    Abstract: The vertical height requirement of a cooling tower is reduced by utilizing trapezoidal shaped fill sheets which are suspended generally in line with the entering air stream so as to form a wedge shaped plenum space beneath the lower sloped edges of the fill sheets. This enables a method of lengthening the vertical air paths through the media as distance from entry is increased thereby promoting vertical air flow near the entry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1989
    Assignee: Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryan F. Garrish
  • Patent number: 4834955
    Abstract: An inhibitor formulation for inhibiting corrosion and deposition of calcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, and silt in a cooling water system and calcium sulphate (gypsum) scaling in a flue gas desulfurization system. The inhibitor formulation comprises polyacrylate, polymaleic anhydride, and phosphonate in a active weight ratio range between about 1 to 40:1 to 40:0.1 to 15, respectively. The inhibitor formulation is employed to inhibit corrosion and scaling in a combined cooling water/flue gas desulfurization process wherein at least a portion of cooling water blowdown is supplied to make up at least a portion of reagent makeup and/or mist eliminator wash water in the flue gas desulfurization system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: Nalco Chemical Company
    Inventors: R. J. Mouche, M. L. Lin, E. W. Ekis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4830761
    Abstract: A portable, manned method and apparatus for cleaning cooling towers having a water collection basin at the base while permitting the tower to continue in operation comprises removing water and particulate contaminants from the bottom of the tower basin by venturi suction or aspiration through a tubular wand having an elongated wide opening to draw in water and particulate matter from a defined area of contact. The suction wand is moved around the bottom of the cooling tower basin to remove water and particulate matter therefrom. The removed water is filtered to separate coarse contaminant particles therefrom. The filtration is by a plurality of screens positioned one above another of successively finer mesh from top to bottom and having a motor for vibrating the screens to remove collected particulate matter therefrom. A collector is positioned adjacent to the ends of the screens to receive the particulate matter discharged by vibration of the screens by the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Inventors: Jack S. Leach, Thomas H. Baize
  • Patent number: 4826636
    Abstract: A crossflow cooling tower includes at least two separate packs of film fill which are both horizontally and vertically offset relative to each other. Each of the film packs has a height within a certain critical range of values, and presents a plurality of air passageways of lengths within a certain critical range. In addition, each pack is inclined from vertical to a degree within a certain range of values. Construction of a multilevel tower with film fill packs in accordance with the invention provides far greater cooling effectiveness than could be attained by, for instance, a single film fill pack or fill structure comprising a plurality of splash bars. A water distribution system directs separate streams of hot water to be cooled to a corresponding distribution basin laying atop each fill pack and nozzles within the floor of each basin are subjected to substantially equal heads so that the flow rates of the water dispersed to each pack are essentially equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: The Marley Cooling Tower Company
    Inventors: Ohler L. Kinney, Jr., Thomas W. Bugler, III
  • Patent number: 4804503
    Abstract: A counter-flow square type cooling tower is provided with a sprinkler. The sprinkler has four horizontally extending sprinkler pipes. A plurality of water spraying openings are formed along the axial direction of each of the sprinkler pipes to spray cooling water downwardly, and at least one spraying opening is formed at the free end of each of the sprinkler pipes to spray the cooling water outwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1989
    Assignee: Shinwa Sangyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jujiro Komiya
  • Patent number: 4802901
    Abstract: In a liquid separator for separating liquid components entrained in a two-phase flow, in which the flow is passed through a channel provided with trap pockets for trapping the liquid components and the trap pockets have guide plates upstream thereof the ends of which have separating edges for introducing the liquid into the trap pockets, provision is made for increasing the separating capacity and for reducing the pressure losses by having each separating edge of the respective guide plate disposed at a distance (b) upstream of the associated trap pocket and by making the end of the guide plate curve in the direction leading into the trap pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Assignee: Dieter Wurz
    Inventors: Dieter Wurz, Max Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 4788013
    Abstract: A crossflow cooling tower has a number of fill structure sections which are arranged at equally spaced intervals around the entire perimeter of a central plenum that receives generally horizontal currents of air simultaneously from all of the fill structure sections and causes the air to be discharged in an upwardly direction out of the tower. In one embodiment, the tower is provided with four upright fill structure sections disposed in a square arrangement in horizontal view, and a number of the towers may be located adjacent each other in a side-by-side diamond-like arrangement so that each air inlet face of each tower readily communicates with the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Assignee: The Marley Cooling Tower Company
    Inventors: Ohler L. Kinney, Jr., James R. Jones, Mark A. Kauffmann, Paul W. Hink
  • Patent number: 4784810
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooling tower for the cooling water that drains from the condensor of a steam generator or from the condensors of a plurality of steam generators; the tower is fitted with large-area inserts and these form a heat-exchange area into which the cooling water is passed; a rising flow of air passes through this zone in counterflow to the cooling water, the cooling tower being provided with a smoke-gas feed to introduce cleaned, preferably wet-cleaned, smoke gas into the flow of cooling air, which is connected to a plurality of gas outlet pipes, the outlet cross-sections of which open out into the cooling tower above the heat-exchange zone. In order to improve the introduction of the cleaned smoke gases into the flow of cooling air within a cooling tower, the present invention proposes that rotors be provided in the gas outlet pipes in the area of their outlet cross-sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: Saarbergwerke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sigurd Jorzyk, Gerhard Scholl, Heinz Holter, Heinrich Igelbuscher, Heinrich Gresch, Heribert Dewert
  • Patent number: 4781869
    Abstract: A cooling tower assembly comprising at least first and second layers of fill within the tower chamber, each of the first and second layers of fill having a source of water introduced above the fill for moving through gravity down through the fill during the cooling process. There is further included an upper fan member circulating at the top portion of the tower for drawing air through inlet panels along the walls of the tower through the first and second layers of fill to cool the water as it is percolating through the fill contents. The first and second layers of fill would be separated by a horizontal baffle member so that air pulled through the lower layer of fill would be prevented from contacting the first layer, but would flow through a centrally located air flow chamber within the upper layer of fill to be drawn out of the chamber by the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Inventor: Vincent Wiltz
  • Patent number: 4781737
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed which receives flue gases from a flue gas source, reduces the velocity of the gases, and maintains the gases at a reduced substantially uniform velocity for delivery to a cooling tower. The apparatus includes a conduit for receiving the gases at a first velocity from the flue gas source. The conduit has a longitudinal slot formed therein at the uppermost portion thereof. A tank having respective side surfaces is in communication with the tower and is positioned on the conduit; the tank overlies the conduit and receives gases from the longitudinal slot in the conduit. A plurality of arcuately-shaped, inclined, spaced-apart deflectors contact gases having the first velocity entering the tank, thereby reducing the velocity of the gases to a second reduced velocity, controlling the velocity of the gases received in the tank, and maintaining the gases on the side surface of the tank at a substantially uniform velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Inventors: Heinz J. Pflaumbaum, Pierre L. Lemmens
  • Patent number: 4774034
    Abstract: A clip for securing splash bars of a cooling tower fill structure to supporting grids is adapted to receive grid members having different cross-sectional configurations. Opposed, depending legs of the clip are connected to tabs that normally project into a channel receiving a section of the grid member, in order to reduce the cross-sectional area of the channel in instances where the grid member has a relatively small transverse configuration. The tabs are resilient and hence deflectable in a lateral direction to enlarge the available transverse area of the channel as may be necessary to receive sections of grid members having larger cross-sectional configurations. In preferred embodiments, the clip is integrally molded of a synthetic resinous material and the tabs are relatively thin to enable the tabs to self-deflect in a lateral direction as the clip is installed onto a larger grid member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1988
    Assignee: The Marley Cooling Tower Company
    Inventor: Gerald D. Fritz
  • Patent number: 4769187
    Abstract: Low cost sealing drainboard supports adapted for use between adjacent drift eliminator sections in water cooling towers are provided which can be readily installed in the field without the necessity of custom fabrication of structural components, and which give improved drainage characteristics in the form of relatively large, concentrated streams of eliminated water resistant to reentrainment. The preferred supports are unitary, preformed synthetic resin bodies presenting an elongated, eliminator section-receiving channel together with a depending inner sealing wall and a oblique, downwardly and outwardly extending drainage tray. The tray is preformed to present a series of generally V-shaped in plane, increasing depth drainage passageways serving to collect and concentrate eliminated water into relatively large streams resistant to reentrainment in the air currents passing through the tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: The Marley Cooling Tower Company
    Inventors: Ohler L. Kinney, Jr., Joyce D. Holmberg
  • Patent number: 4769186
    Abstract: A tower structure for gas-liquid interaction produces rolling turbulence in a gas flow path that has low pressure drop. The structure includes a spaced plurality of vertically disposed wall members in an upwardly directed flow path, a staggered array of horizontally extending deflectors protruding from facing wall members, forming a series of converging and diverging chamber portions in which the gas flows generally perpendicular to the deflectors. Rolling turbulence is produced between apexes of the deflectors and the facing wall portions, the gas flow being offset toward opposite wall members at succeeding apexes. In one configuration, a liquid is transported within the gas flow, in contact with the gas. In anothor configuration, the liquid is separate from the gas. In a further configuration, two liquid paths are provided, one in contact with the gas, one separate from the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: Energair Research and Development
    Inventor: Charles L. Raybon
  • Patent number: 4762650
    Abstract: A packing element 70, 94, 112 for an evaporative cooler, which comprises an apertured, corrosion resistant structure which includes a sheet of expanded metal. The metal is preferably of a ferritic corrosion resistant material such as 3Cr12. The invention also provides for a method of packing an evaporative cooler which includes using, in a single packing 68 for an evaporative cooler, packing elements 94 having a configuration suited to cross-flow conditons and, in addition, packing elements 70 having a configuration suited to counter-flow conditions. The invention provides further for a method of supporting a packing 68 having a trickle pack configuration, in a wet cooling tower 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1988
    Assignee: WLPU Holdings Proprietary Limited
    Inventor: Peter B. Bosman
  • Patent number: 4747980
    Abstract: In a cooling apparatus operated by ambient air and an agent to be cooled which can have solid state at atmospherical temperatures, a housing such as a cooling tower (100) with air inlets and air closure means at the air inlets and large surface heat exchangers (3) arranged within the cooling tower (100) at its air inlets and divided into groups or sectors being in parallel connection are provided, with which the agent is cooled by the air streaming through the large surface heat exchangers (3). At least one pre-heating heat exchanger (20) is arranged in the air space (29) of each sector of the large surface heat exchangers (3), and the pre-heating heat exchangers (20) are in parallel connection with the large surface heat exchangers (3) of each sector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1988
    Assignee: Transelektro Magyar Villamossagi Kulkereskedelmi Vallalat
    Inventors: Arpad Bakay, Gyorgy Bergmann, Janos Bodas, Istvan Papp, Zoltan Szabo
  • Patent number: 4737321
    Abstract: Airflow to the interior portions of large counterflow cooling towers is improved by the provision of passageways from about the perimeter of the tower which passageways are free of fill and descending water so as to not obstruct inward movement of air from the perimeter, and which passageways also segregate fill against the possible spread of combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Assignee: Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.
    Inventors: William D. McCloskey, John R. Huffaker, Nelson T. Smith
  • Patent number: 4720358
    Abstract: A distribution system for a water cooling tower directs incoming hot water to particular regions of a fill assembly which are determined by the magnitude of the hot water flow rate, and structure is provided for maintaining an equal head of water above all of the nozzles in current operation. During periods of relatively low flows, a weir member mounted within a distribution box of the system directs all of the incoming hot water to an outer distribution zone which is located over four outer regions of the fill assembly. Once the hot water flow rate is increased above as certain, predetermined value, a portion of the water spills over the weir and is conveyed to an inner distribution zone located over a central region of the fill structure while the remaining portion of the water is directed toward the outer zone so that water is directed to the entire horizontal area of the fill structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Assignee: The Marley Cooling Tower Company
    Inventor: Kenton A. Cropp
  • Patent number: 4706554
    Abstract: A system of vertical louvers for installation on a cooling tower having fixed horizontal slats. The louvers are mounted side by side for opening and closing movement about vertical axes. When closed, the louvers block the air spaces between the slats. When open or partially open, the air spaces are exposed to varying degrees in order to provide control of the pattern of air flow through the cooling tower. The louvers are mounted between concrete or wood beams of the cooling tower by a steam of angle brackets, pins or bolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Kelly Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Micheal Baldino, Robert L. Voss, Larry L. Hladik
  • Patent number: 4705653
    Abstract: A splash bar for use in crossflow cooling tower fill assemblies. The splash bar has (1) a substantially horizontal upper surface, (2) two downwardly extending side surfaces terminating at their lower edges in substantially horizontal inwardly directed flanges, and (3) at least one downwardly extending rib intermediate the side surfaces and terminating at its lower edge in a substantially horizontal flange. All of the flanges are in the same substantially horizontal plane, and all are spaced from one another to facilitate extrusion of the splash bar and to prevent accumulation of water and debris in the splash bar. The upper surface may be perforate or imperforate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1987
    Assignee: Research-Cottrell, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Stackhouse, Stephen C. Heidl
  • Patent number: 4678615
    Abstract: A cooling stack for a cooling tower comprises at least one volumetric polymer block of a flow-around type. Each block is built up of polyhedron shaped cells. The blocks are mounted in the cooling tower by means of connecting strips strung up on suspension devices suspended to a carrying construction disposed inside the cooling tower. Each block comprises at least two flow-around type layers. The layers are arranged in the block vertically at a distance one above the other. Each layer is made up of rows of cellular components, mounted detachably by means of connecting teeth to connecting seats in small carrying bars. The small carrying bars are mounted to the connecting strips strung up on the suspension devices which are divided by spacing sleeves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1987
    Assignee: DSPIE "D. Blagoev"
    Inventors: Lyuben K. Stambolov, Sotir Y. Chaushev, Dilyan L. Simitchiev
  • Patent number: 4662902
    Abstract: An evaporation cooling tower, includes an outer tower wall defining an interior of the cooling tower having upper and lower regions, the wall having ambient air intake holes formed in the periphery thereof at the lower region, a cooling water trickling system disposed in the interior of the cooling tower through which ambient intake air flows, electrostatic discharge shafts at the upper region for receiving relatively moist and warm exhaust air and precipitating fine water droplets therefrom, and a device for admixing relatively cool ambient air to the warm and moist exhaust air flowing to the discharge shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Assignee: Kraftwerk Union Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Roland Meyer-Pittroff
  • Patent number: 4655977
    Abstract: A heat exchanger comprises a plurality of coil units to form a substantially rectangular prism. Each of the coil units is supported by a pair of supporting frame members through a pair of electrically insulating spacers without direct contact with the supporting frame members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: Shinwa Sangyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jujiro Komiya, Yuji Kikuchi, Katsuaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 4637903
    Abstract: A cooling tower is formed from fiberglass reinforced polyester resin structural components including a basin, vertically extending columns, vertical side panels, and a cover. The fill material for heat/mass exchange is supported directly by the basin to eliminate the weight of a separate support system and to reduce the load on the columns and panels. A fan is mounted on the cover, and the weight of the fan is supported by the cover and the columns. The panels do not have to support the weight of the cover and the fan, and the panels can be formed of relatively thin, lightweight material. The columns do not have to support the weight of the fill material and can also be relatively lightweight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1987
    Assignee: Ceramic Cooling Tower Company
    Inventors: Charles J. Bardo, Jesse Q. Seawell, Anthony J. Dylewski, John L. Clark, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4632787
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is disclosed having a coil positioned between an outer casing member with a bottom having a sump formed therein and an inner casing member containing a rotatable shaft to which a fan is mounted. The fan has a first stage or set of blades which pushes air from the outside down over the coils and a second stage or set of blades having a pitch opposite the first set for pulling the air up through the inner casing member to exhaust. A distributor having a pump which operates on centrifugal force is also provided which draws a liquid heat transfer medium preferably water from the sump and rotates with the fan blades to effectively "sling" the medium over the coils as the fan rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Inventor: Robert T. Tippmann
  • Patent number: 4626387
    Abstract: A high efficiency evaporative condenser has spaced upper vapor supply and lower condensate collection headers coupled by a plurality of thin walled helical coils defining a plurality of helical flow paths. Maximum latent heat transfer is achieved by assuring rapid cleaning of liquid condensate from interior surfaces of the pipes cleaning the flow paths, continuous air-water wetting of the external surfaces and self-cleaning of the external surface of the coils defining the flow paths. Oil and condensate in the upper vapor supply header is provided with a flow path to the lower condensate collection header without lowering the heat transfer efficiency of the helical coils and vapor in the condensate header is vented to the vapor supply header to equalize pressure. A barometric leg is formed between the ends of the helical coil and condensate collection header to form a liquid column which exerts a negative pressure on the vapor in each helical path and prevent vapor lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Assignee: Leonard Oboler
    Inventor: Diego E. F. Dodds
  • Patent number: 4623494
    Abstract: A wet atmospheric cooling tower has a vertical chimney defining an air path from air inlet openings at the lower end thereof for admitting atmospheric air to an exhaust opening at the upper end thereof, a stationary packing extending circumferentially without any gap across the air path, and a distributor for spraying water to be cooled onto the packing from above. Water is cooled down by air while it flows down across the packing. For dry air-water heat exchange air ducts extend through the packing and open into the air path in a zone which is downstream of the packing. The heat exchanger includes a two dimensional network of passages arranged to receive atmospheric air only and distributed according to a two dimensional network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1986
    Assignee: Electricite de France
    Inventors: Daniel M. Gautier, Andre Lagoutte
  • Patent number: 4622183
    Abstract: In a wet type or wet/dry type cooling tower, water discharged from water distributing means after its passage cooling air heat exchanger is intercepted by an array of parallel water guiding plates. Each guiding plate has a sloping upper part which covers the gap between opposite plates and an upright lower part defining a substantially horizontal transition region with the upper part. A plurality of inclined channel like embossments is formed in the upright lower part. The embossments extend one above the other between a lateral edge of the upright lower part and the transition region. At least one water collecting channel extends in transverse direction along the lateral edges of the upright lower part to collect water discharged from the inclined embossments and transfer the collected water to a recirculation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Assignee: Gea Luftkuhlergesellschaft Happel GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Hans Sonnenschein, Paul Paikert
  • Patent number: 4592877
    Abstract: A cooling tower including counter flow film fill extending in a generally horizontal direction. Gravitating liquid is supplied to the film fill upper surface. Below the film fill is mounted splash fill disposed in the cooling tower inlet plenum. It includes an inner side sloping from an outboard portion of the film fill generally downward in an inboard direction and a conforming generally open central chamber. Air is optimally directed to the lower surface of the film fill means while simultaneously cooling the liquid on the splash fill means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1986
    Inventor: Peter M. Phelps