Abstract: There is provided a rotary flow control balancing valve and an integral predistribution box for use with gravity feed cross-flow cooling towers. The valve and predistribution box provide for the balancing of flows between halves of a cross-flow cooling tower or between or among separate cooling towers and also for maximizing the uniformity of the hot water flow in the predistribution pan and the distribution pan.

Abstract: An installation for contacting a fluid with a gas is disclosed and comprises an enclosure provided in the lower part of its periphery with at least one gas inlet opening and in its upper part with at least one gas discharge opening. The contact unit is composed of a combustible material, and the unit is disposed in the enclosure above the gas inlet opening and is suspended from a framework by cables and the cables are connected by temperature responsive means adapted to cause release of the cables in response to the detection of a predetermined temperature at the most equal to the flame temperature of the contact unit.

Abstract: A wet deck fill sheet is disclosed for use in making a wet deck fill for use in evaporative counterflow heat exchangers. One aspect of the sheet is that it includes transverse corrugations formed in at least one of the top and bottom edges of the sheet. Another aspect is the provision of a staggered array of substantially vertical spacers extending from one face of the sheet to space the sheet a predetermined distance from an adjacent sheet in the wet deck fill. The spacers are aligned to provide for substantially equalized air flow along the length of the sheet in a horizontal direction between the sheets as the air travels upward through the deck. Another aspect of the invention includes providing in the sloping walls of the major face corrugations formed in the fill sheets a plurality of substantially horizontal air turbulence increasing and water spreading means to increase the interaction of air and water to provide improved thermal performance.

Abstract: A mechanical draft crossflow cooling tower is provided with a novel hot water distribution structure which overlies a fill assembly. The distribution structure includes a basin which extends horizontally along the length of the fill assembly and the basin bottom is provided with a plurality of metering nozzles for directing the flow evenly across the top face of the fill assembly. Additionally, a flume is located within the confines of the basin and extends horizontally along the length of the latter in spaced disposition from the basin bottom. The flume has opposed sidewalls which are operable as weirs such that the water is evenly directed to all areas of the basin. As such, the static head on each of the nozzles is equivalent throughout the length of the basin so that the hot water is evenly directed toward all areas of the fill assembly regardless of the flow rate of the water.

Abstract: A plate for assembly with similar plates to form a cooling tower packing and comprising a series of parallel mutually spaced ridges which are generally triangular in transverse cross-section. The ridges form means for spacing apart adjacent plates and when the plates are assembled together define opposite sides of at least one duct through which liquid is passed in contact with the duct surfaces while gas is passed through the duct to cool the liquid. The reverse sides of the ridges preferably form depressions which are V-shaped in transverse cross-section, one of which is provided in each duct.

Abstract: An improved splash bar method and apparatus are described employing elongate splash bars each having a substantially flat, perforated upper central strip and a pair of substantially flat perforated lower strips connected to the central strip by elongate vertical strips holding the upper and lower strips in parallel, vertically spaced apart relation. Circular perforations are arranged in staggered rows with semicircular holes in alternate rows along the edges of the strips. The upper strip has imperforate strips along its lateral edges.

Abstract: The fill slat for use in water cooling towers comprises a perforated body portion, a central longitudinal rib, and downwardly inclined side flanges. The rib is inverted v-shape in cross-section and functions as a rigidifying beam for the fill slat. The rib is open at its bottom, thereby permitting a plurality of fill slats to be nested to reduce shipping costs. The side flanges are formed with slots, certain of which are angled, to receive the supporting wires. A holding clip can be additionally provided to reduce rolling or longitudinal movement of the fill slat.

Abstract: In an apparatus for cooling of cooling water trickler plates are arranged essentially in parallel. Along one side of each trickler plate water sprayed from the top trickles down, while the other side is kept dry. Thus a pair of adjacent trickler plates each forms a duct through which the cooling air flows. The trickler plates are provided with depressions in the wet side protruding from the dry side in order to increase the dry cooling effect with respect to the wet cooling effect.

Abstract: A gas/liquid fill assembly for use in an evaporative cooling tower, chemical scrubbing apparatus or other device includes a plurality of facially-opposed corrugated sheets of material disposed in a substantially vertical, parallel relationship. The corrugations of each sheet are disposed at an angle to the horizontal with each of the corrugations extending continuously in substantially straight lines from one edge of the sheets to another edge. The corrugations in alternate sheets cross the corrugations in the sheets disposed between the alternate sheets. Adjacent corrugated sheets form channels to allow a gas and gravitating liquid to pass through the fill assembly. The sheets are formed of a foraminous material comprising an open-mesh network of interconnected webs. The interconnected webs are arranged to define a plurality of polygonally shaped openings.

Abstract: A splash bar fill assembly for a splash-type cooling tower includes a plurality of splash bars, each of which includes a one piece elongated member having a pair of upwardly converging leg members joined together to form an apex, and a vertical supporting rib member extending downwardly from the apex. The fill assembly also includes a wire mesh support system for the splash bars. The wire mesh supports the splash bars within the cooling tower in an arrangement of successive rows. Each row of the arrangement has its splash bars arranged in parallel and in spaced apart relationship. The splash bars of one row are disposed angularly to those of an adjacent row and are arranged parallel to and vertically offset from those of an alternate row. The wire mesh is formed from a plurality of vertical and horizontal wires which are joined together at their points of intersection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stack, particularly an atmospheric cooling tower. The stack comprises a shell with double curvature and a bearing structure or seating for the shell; the shell is dissociated from the seating and presents in its lower part a rigid peripheral ring via which it rests on this seating. The invention is more particularly applicable to the production of atmospheric cooling towers.

Abstract: A cooling tower is provided with a crown inwardly tapered towards the upper discharge opening defined by the upper rim of the crown to create a pressure differential greater on the inside than on the outside of the crown to inhibit cold air break-ins in still air or winds of low velocity. The cooling tower shell is tapered inwardly in the crown region and the angle between the tangent to the internal contour and the vertical in said crown region of the shell is preferably chosen to be not smaller than results from the following equation: ##EQU1## in which .alpha. is the angle in question, g is the acceleration due to gravity, .rho..sub.a and .rho..sub.i are the gas densities inside (i) and outside (a) of the cooling tower, z is the vertical coordinate, d.sub.o and d(z) are the diameters of the internal shell contour at the level z=o and z, respectively, and w.sub.o is the gas velocity at the level z=o.

Abstract: A vacuum formable film fill sheet for crossflow water cooling towers is disclosed having a repeating chevron pattern defining a series of zig-zag, serpentine, spaced ridges on opposed faces of the sheet with the ridges on one face of the sheet defining the grooves on the opposite face thereof and vice versa. The formed sheets are located in upright, horizontally spaced relationship between the overlying hot water distribution basin of the tower and the cold water basin thereof for generally horizontal flow of air past films of water flowing downwardly over the fill sheets. The angularity of the straight ridge sections of the chevron pattern with respect to one another, the vertical height of each repeat pattern, the transverse angularity of the ridges and the spacing between adjacent sheets has been unexpectedly found to provide significantly improved results as compared with prior chevron pattern fill sheets.

Abstract: A liquid cooling tower includes precast concrete support legs and cross beams and fiberglass reinforced polyester resin side and top panels. A liquid distribution system is supplied with liquid by a vertically extending main pipe, and a fan and fan motor are supported by the main pipe.

Abstract: A cooling tower is provided with a crown inwardly tapered towards the upper discharge opening defined by the upper rim of the crown to create a pressure differential greater on the inside than on the outside of the crown to inhibit cold air break-ins in still air or winds of low velocity. To reduce the effect of side winds of high velocity, the crown may carry a wind-deflector ring with an upwardly-inclined deflecting surface to inhibit the creation of a vortex over the tower. The tower may be suspended by cables from a central mast, and the wind-deflector ring may be suspended by separate cables from the mast, these latter cables being tensioned between the masthead and the lower part of the crown by means of a support ring arranged at the base of the wind-deflector ring.

Abstract: A forced draft crossflow evaporative heat exchange has a turbulent air-liquid interchange zone downstream from the air propulsion means and intermediate the air propulsion means and the heat exchange media. The media is inclined so the upper portion is closer to the air propulsion means than the lower portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stack or a vertical pipe for the flow of gas, said stack or pipe comprising a suspension mast defining a vertical axis; at least one supple surface, open downwardly and upwardly, and symmetrical with respect to this axis; substantially horizontal, rigid hoops, viz. an upper hoop and a lower hoop respectively fast with the upper and lower periphery of the surface, each hoop being symmetrical with respect to said axis; supple bearing ties suspending the upper hoop from the mast; and stays connecting the lower hoop to a fixed lower point of the mast or the ground to stretch the supple surface in a vertical direction. The invention finds application in the entire production or extension of stacks or pipes such as atmospheric cooling towers.

Abstract: A contact body or evaporative heat and mass exchanger packing composed of a plurality of side-by-side thin sheets interlocked with one another. The sheets are grooved with a serpentine-like, continuously-variable, cross section form to produce a plurality of liquid and gas channels between the sheets. The sheets have integrally-formed knobs and sockets specifically located to provide up-spaced alternate sheet support without utilizing adhesives of any type. The sheets are preferably composed of a thermoplastic material of any desired length, being continuously pressure-vacuum formed from long sheet rolls. The groove crests abut adjacent sheets apices at continuously-variable spacings of both greater and lesser dimension than the basic edge spacing of the serpentine grooves. The flat crests or apices of grooves are also infinitely variable in width dimension while maintaining a constant sidewall groove angle.

Abstract: A cooling tower splash bar which includes an elongate generally flat splash plate section and a structural rib longitudinal to the splash plate section. The rib is integral with and projects along the axis of the splash plate section. In one embodiment the splash bar is generally T-shaped, and in another embodiment it is a generally squared U-shaped configuration. In still another embodiment it is a cross-shaped configuration. Multiple spaced slots are provided in the rib sections to permit firm engagement with the transverse horizontal string wire of a cooling tower. The slots are at a substantial angle off perpendicular from the splash plate section to provide stability against upward air drafts. Preferably, the slots include enlarged entrances to facilitate registry of the slots and string wire.

Abstract: Apparatus for the mixing of different streams of air and particularly dry and moist streams of air, in a cooling tower. In order to obtain an effective low-loss mixing over a short flow path by simple means, eddy fields are produced by at least one cylindrical flow body arranged transversely to the direction of flow of one of the streams of air (the main air stream) in the cooling tower as a result of the burbling or separation of the flow on the sides of the body. The transverse components of the eddy fields produce an intensive mixing of the different streams of air.

Abstract: An improved, three path, cellular drift eliminator is provided which effectively removes entrained water particles from high velocity moist air streams leaving a crossflow cooling tower fill structure by the use of spaced, cellular, diversion path-defining structures strategically located and arranged to facilitate maximum drift elimination. The eliminator preferably includes a plurality of discrete cells, each cell comprising three air diversion sections along the length thereof in order to divert fill derived air along a serpentine path for drift elimination purposes. The moist air is first diverted at an upward angle and laterally relative to the initial path thereof by the inlet diversion section, and thereafter is rediverted upwardly and laterally of the first diversion path by the intermediate diversion section.

Abstract: A packing sheet for a heat exchange packing has an undulating shape composed of a first substantially transversely extending sine wave superimposed with a second substantially longitudinally extending sine wave. A plurality of substantially longitudinally extending recesses and a plurality of substantially transversely extending recesses each having an undulating surface are thereby defined.A plurality of the packing sheets may be disposed in vertical parallel relationship with alternate sheets reversed to form a heat exchange packing in which the facing recesses define substantially vertically extending channels and the facing recesses define substantially transversely extending channels. The channels present a low pressure drop to liquid to be cooled and to a cooling gas and yet provide tortuous paths for the liquid and gas. Thus, the packing is able to provide efficient heat exchange and yet have a low power requirement.

Abstract: A cooling tower has hollow fill slats formed in a rectangular cross-sectional configuration from a suitable polymer. These slats are supported on polymer grids, each comprised of an upper section and a lower section which forms a downward extension of the upper section. The two sections for each grid have horizontal and vertical stringers which are arranged in rows and delineate rectangular grid openings through which the slats extend. The two sections overlap, and in the region of overlap the upper section on its horizontal stringers has knuckle-type connectors that interlock with horizontal stringers of the lower section such that the grid openings for the two grid sections are generally in registration in the region of overlap. The upper section also has alignment lips on some of the vertical stringers in the region of overlap, and these lips maintain the lower section properly aligned with the upper section.

Abstract: The repair pad comprises a generally flat flange having a central opening for receiving a spray nozzle and a generally cylindrical mounting element which is attached to the flange of the central opening and depends from the central opening for attachment to the body of the spray nozzle. The pad is used with a spray nozzle having a generally cylindrical body which is received in the cylindrical mounting element, a mounting flange connected to one end of the body and disposed in contact with the flat flange, and a dispersion plate connected to the opposite end of the cylindrical body for dispersing liquid contacting the dispersion plate.

Abstract: A cooling tower for cooling large quantities of effluent water from a production facility by utilizing natural wind forces includes the use of a series of helically directed air inlet passages extending outwardly from the base of the tower to introduce air from any direction in a swirling vortical pattern while the force of the draft created in the tower makes it possible to place conventional power generating windmills in the air passages to provide power as a by-product.

Abstract: A cooling tower includes a heat and mass transfer section which is formed by layers of interlocked open-celled tiles. Each tile includes a pair of corner projections and a pair of recessed portions, and the corner projections of each tile fit into and are interlocked with the recessed portions of adjacent tiles.

Abstract: Rectangular clay tiles for a liquid cooling tower are provided with openings to increase the heat and mass transfer which is provided by the tiles. Each rectangular tile includes four side walls and inner partitions or webs which provide a plurality of vertically extending open cells. Each side wall and each partition is provided with at least one horizontal opening for each cell formed by that side wall or partition, and liquid and air can flow into or out of the cells through the openings.

Abstract: A cooler employing air, as the cooling media, and a streaming liquid is of the type comprising a peripheral liquid receiving pan resting on piles which are independent and evenly spaced apart below the pan, a distribution system for a liquid to be cooled, a liquid-gas contacting unit extending under the distribution system and liquid receiving devices for the liquid including channels, disposed under the contacting unit, characterized in that the pan of the cooler rests on the piles through a wide peripheral lintel which supports an inner flange and an outer flange thereby defining a u-shaped member into which the cooled liquid collected in the channels is discharged by gravity.

Abstract: Extended surface, fluid contact panels which include a plurality of tubular members in generally parallel relationship and spaced in a matrix of thin fins connecting the tubular members to create liquid-gas contact areas on the inside and outside surfaces of the tubular members and the fins. The tubular members and fin matrix are vertically oriented in staggered array with respect to the tower or structure in which the panels are used and in a preferred embodiment, the fins and tubes are tapered and shaped from a plastic material and selected ones of the fins are provided with projecting tabs and matching socket members for connecting the panels in end-to-end relationship and spaced rivet apertures are provided in the fins for accepting rivets to pin the panels in stacked configuration.

Abstract: A wet surface air cooling system is disclosed and includes a primary cooling unit having a bundle of heat exchanger tubes. Water is directed over the bundle of heat exchanger tubes and is collected in a collection basin. A secondary cooling tower is provided and a closed circulatory loop draws a portion of the water from the collection basin and directs the water to the secondary cooling tower to increase the cooling capacity of the system. The secondary cooling tower is rendered operative automatically upon sensing a particular temperature of the water in the circulation system of the primary cooling unit.

Abstract: The invention presented herein provides an improved method for controlling the blowdown of recirculating water for an industrial cooling system or the like, in direct proportion to the heat load on refrigeration systems. A temperature probe is positioned in the recirculating water which is in communication with a blowdown valve. As the heat load on the system increases the temperature of the cooling water increases and the blowdown valve is then regulated to release more of the circulating water. Additional makeup water and chemicals may be also supplied to the cooling system to maintain a proper chemical balance.In the preferred embodiment of the invention the probe is positioned between the refrigerant condenser and the cooling tower in the circulating water system. Appropriate chemical feed systems and makeup water can be regulated to function in relation to the amount of blowdown to insure that the desired chemical balance is maintained.

Abstract: A system for optimizing the control of the water temperature within a cooling tower is disclosed. The temperature and the relative humidity of the air outside the cooling tower are measured and are selectively utilized as inputs to a plurality of modules containing function blocks in a logic arrangement. The function blocks produce an output signal indicative of the wet bulb temperature of the outside air which is compared to the cooling tower water temperature causing the speed of the cooling tower fans to be adjusted in response to the temperature difference therebetween.

Abstract: Disclosed is a structure of flexible tensile members which requires only two arrays of said members for obtaining lateral stiffness of said structure, the ends of each member being attached to contour elements and the members of each array having opposite curvatures for forming an axisymmetric geodesic network which is a section of a surface of revolution. The members of both arrays are prestressed and said network is geometrically arranged to be torque-balanced within said contour elements.

Abstract: A fill section arrangement for crossflow cooling towers which utilizes a mixture of high density fill strip regions and low density fill strip regions. The regions of the fill section which include the high density fill strips are those regions which have the highest enthalpy driving forces.

Abstract: Device for a contactor (10) for liquid and gas, e.g. for use in cooling towers and the like, such contactor being built up of mutually spaced membranes (12, 14) forming ducts for the passage of a fluid introduced at the top of the contactor and collected in a trough or channels below the membranes. In order to be able to collect the liquid passing through the contactor immediately beneath the lower surface of the latter, thereby reducing the pumping height without appreciably affecting the flow conditions of the air passing through the contactor, the contactor (10) is provided with surfaces to carry of the liquid which are inclined at an angle relative to the horizontal and are connected to at least one collecting channel or trough (16), these surfaces serving to carry the liquid passing out of the contactor into the collecting channel (FIG. 1).

Abstract: An improved filling for emergency cooling towers of nuclear power plants, of the type made of a grid of tubular rods in plastic material, such as PVC, has an anchoring system by which it can withstand atmospheric depressions or overpressures up to 700 Kg/m.sup.2, as required. The tubes of plastics, arranged in pairs of staggered, spaced parallel rows, are inserted to pass through two opposite walls of at least one elongated square section, perpendicular thereto and preferably of the same plastic material. The distance between the two rows is slightly less than the diameter of an auxiliary stiffering tube which is inserted between said two section walls and the two rows of tubes, transversely thereto. For each layer of filling, a particular system of fixing said square sections to the concrete structure of the tower is described to meet also the aseismatic requirements.

Abstract: The packing is constructed for an exchange column and is provided with corrugated lamellae which have steep portions disposed between the various corrugations in order to accelerate the descending liquid phase between the corrugations. The steep portions are vertically arranged between adjacent corrugations or between pairs of adjacent corrugations.

Abstract: A cooling tower has a circular cooling section, the top of which is a hot water distribution basin to which hot water is pumped while the bottom is a collecting basin. Within the cooling section is a fill comprised of a multitude of slats and wire grids through which the slats project so that the slats are carried by wire grids. The grids in turn are supported at several levels on a framework that rests on the collecting basin and extends upwardly to the distribution basin, but the framework is not suspended from that basin, so the distribution basin carries only its own weight and the weight of the pool of hot water within it. That water flows into the fill from nozzles in the distribution basin and cascades through the multitude of slats in the fill, thereby becoming quite finely divided. Air, on the other hand, passes transversely through the fill and absorbs heat from the water so as to lower the temperature of the water.

Abstract: Improved support means are disclosed for a plurality of vertically arranged transversely oriented fill sheets or grids for direct contact cooling towers.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to heat exchange apparatus in which a cooling tower having coils carrying heated water from a facility in a closed circuit system are mounted such that the coils, by means of multi-directional thermal expansion, crack scale and other film from the surface thereof. The improvement is directed to the internal flow path of heated fluid in the closed circuit which includes turbulator means to enhance agitation and vibration of the coils thereby increasing efficiency and avoiding the build-up of the scale on the smooth external surfaces of the cooling coils. The cooling tower may include a turbine driven fan which utilizes as a motive fluid water for cooling and washing the coils of scale.

Abstract: A cooling tower splash bar method and apparatus are disclosed wherein splash bar elements are positioned in a matrix assembly with each element having elongate perforated upper and lower surfaces with the perforations in the surfaces staggered with respect to one another and with laterally outwardly projecting edge supports for the surfaces. Splash bar elements can include one or more interior longitudinally extending support members and notched projections along at least one longitudinal edge of the splash bar for holding the bar in the matrix assembly. A configuration for the splash bar element is disclosed with certain flat surfaces and certain upwardly projecting surfaces in the form of a single element which can be folded along its centerline to form the splash bar.

Abstract: A cooling tower, a process for producing a cooling tower, and a reinforcing element suitable for use in the process and tower are disclosed. The cooling tower, formed from a shell of reinforced concrete, is produced with a plurality of plate-like reinforcing elements adjacent to a surface of the shell. The reinforcing elements are disposed in at least one horizontal plane within the shell adjacent to and suspended from the shell surface. The reinforcing elements in a plane abut and are joined one to another, and are also joined to the shell at spaced points thereon. Each plate-like element includes a central channel communicating with trough-like ends for receiving a suitable reinforcing material which extends into recesses in the shell of the cooling tower adjacent the trough-like ends.

Abstract: The invention relates to a low pressure heat exchanger for use in an environment where metal parts would be subject to corrosion or scaling comprising a plurality of vertically disposed mutually parallel membranes acting as heat transfer surfaces and including fluid distributors and dispensing nozzles disposed near the top edge of the membranes so as to distribute hot liquid as a falling film down the membrane surface. From a second distributor set, a second liquid may be passed down the opposite surface of each membrane to provide liquid-to-liquid heat transfer. A draft producing device is employed to either allow a gas to flow directly over the heat transfer membrane or over the second liquid as it falls down the membrane surface to obtain a liquid-to-gas heat transfer or evaporative cooling of the second liquid.

Abstract: Solids are removed from a cooling tower basin by using a perforated removal header in the basin in conjunction with a back flush flow.

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: An improved vapor-liquid contact grid apparatus which maximizes the generation of small drops and which is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to construct is disclosed. The grid apparatus consists of multiple layered grids, each grid being formed of upright grid members and connectors. The grid members carry vanes, formed from the member itself by a process of slitting and bending, which vanes extend out into the region between the upright grid members, thus restricting vapor passage, providing drip points and increasing the effective surface area for gas-liquid exchange. The grid members and connectors are arranged in an "egg carton"-like fashion to provide a simple, yet sturdy, grid.

Abstract: A liquid cooling tower is formed from fiberglass reinforced polyester resin panels, a fiberglass reinforced polyester resin liquid basin, and a fiberglass reinforced polyester resin top assembly which includes a fan and a water distribution pipe. One or more cross beams extend between two opposed side panels for supporting a porous heat and mass transfer section. The panels are formed so that the weight of the tower and the fill material is distributed to, and supported by, the corners and inlet columns of the tower.

Abstract: Cross-flow cooling tower with perforate member to catch wind borne spray from the packings.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding slowly soluble water-soluble chemicals into the basin of a cooling tower which contains water. The device comprises a rigid mesh cylindrical drum having a bottom, sides, and an open top. It has at least one vertically positioned, spaced-apart fastening member positioned along the inside of the drum. Inside the drum is a plastic mesh bag, adapted to receive solid, slowly soluble water-soluble chemicals. This bag is affixed to a fastening member. Also, there are means positioned at the top of the plastic mesh cylindrical drum for suspending it below the water level of the basin of a cooling tower.

Abstract: An air inlet control assembly for cooling towers including air control panel members pivotally secured to the louver blades. The panel members are pivotted between a down position wherein they preclude the entry of air between the louver blades and an up position wherein they permit the entry of air between the louver blades. The panel members are formed from a lightweight fiberglass material and include means to direct liquid away from the outer edge of the louver blade when the panel member is in its down position. Cover members extend across the louver blade support arms and are releasably secured to the adjacent panel members when the panel members are in their down positions.