Abstract: An induced draft cooling tower includes a unitary, seamless shell fabricated from a rust-free, plastics material. The cooling tower operates on the counterflow principle whereby a fluid to be cooled is directed downwardly through a block of cellular packing disposed within the tower, while cooling air is drawn upwardly through the cellular packing and is exhausted at the top of the tower. A fan is mounted atop the tower for purposes of drawing air through the tower. The shell includes a polygonal lower portion for easier formation of air inlets and for attachment of plumbing fixtures. The shell is fabricated from an inexpensive, relatively weak plastics material; however, due to the configuration of the shell, the tower possesses favorable strength characteristics and avoids the need for any supplementary structural supports made of very strong material such as steel or fiberglass reinforced polyester.

Abstract: A supply device for use in an evaporative contact body of the multi-layer type having gaps between the layers of the body to which water is supplied from above comprises water supply pipes having outlet openings formed therein. The pipes are in direct contact with the top of the contact body or may be embedded therein, and the pipe openings are located to direct water jets directly inside the gaps between the layers of the contact body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tubular reaction furnace for the indirect heating of crackable fluids, particularly for cracking hydrocarbons used for the extraction of gas rich in CO and H.sub.2. The furnace has a plurality of vertical reaction tubes arranged in a firing chamber which is heated by a plurality of internal burners mounted in the furnace ceiling, the flue gas being withdrawn via an appreciable number of flue gas ducts on the furnace floor. The invention primarily relates to furnaces in which cracking takes place at high pressures and temperatures and which are installed on floating carriers, i.e. floating plant platforms.

Abstract: Means for increasing the efficiency of effluent discharge from a cooling tower or other stack by means of introducing gaseous fluid streams through at least one or more vertical slots positioned about the periphery of a chimney of said tower or stack wherein said slots are capable of directing said fluid streams tangentially within the periphery of said chimney to create a vortex within said chimney. Each of said slots extend at least a portion of the height of said chimney, and preferably extends from above a fill at the base of said chimney to approximately the mouth of said chimney. Means are provided for introducing cooling gaseous fluid streams into and through said fill to a cavity within said fill which also contains heat transfer or other effluent constituent removal surfaces or passages or other means to provide heat or other effluent constituent dissipation. The upper limit of said cavity is bounded by a floor, which defines the demarcation between said chimney and said fill.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a spray nozzle having an orifice plate leading to a vertically oriented opening for directing liquid onto a dispersion plate which is disposed below. The dispersion plate is frusto-conically shaped and has a fluted outer periphery for breaking the liquid up into droplets. A central aperture is formed in the dispersion plate leading to a conical dispersion element which has raised projections on its surface for breaking liquid up into droplets. A filter screen can be removably mounted over the top of the orifice plate for filtering debris or the like prior to its entering the nozzle. The apparatus is especially adapted for use in cross flow water cooling towers.

Abstract: An apparatus for spraying trickler plates with cooling water, particularly in cooling towers, comprises spray channels 7,8 which are formed to be smoothly continuous and which touch or pass through the upper end sections of the trickler plates 1. The trickler plates are provided in the upper areas with a surface pattern 27 for uniform distribution of the cooling water. The spraying apparatus avoids a spacing between the spray channels and the trickler plates and provides for easy manufacture maintenance, particularly for an easy cleaning of the spray channels 7,8 (FIG. 5).

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: A water cooling tower is disclosed which comprises cooling means and a suction fan arranged in the air outlet passage. Water catching means is provided including at least one water catching channel formed in the wall of the air outlet passage at a location other than the narrowest cross section of the air outlet passage, which channel collects water separated at and flowing along the air outlet passage wall. A water discharging device connects the channel directly with a collecting basin for draining the water.

Abstract: An improved liquid gas contact tower of the type having film fill placed in the tower with its principal plane inclined at an angle to the vertical so as to intersect a gas path extending between gas inlet and outlet openings includes a plurality of dewatering sheets secured to the film fill adjacent its lower surface to intercept liquid collecting and flowing along the film fill sheets and deflect it away from the fill, thereby to decrease the air pressure drop through the film fill during use.

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: Packing sheets are disclosed each of which consists of a flat base and parallel tube sectors formed thereon, alternately on opposite sides of the base. The walls of the tube sectors are corrugated preferably transversely to their length. Such sheets may be assembled together, e.g. using integral joint members, to form packing units of high efficiency for use in phase contacting applications such as cooling and distillation towers.

Abstract: A water cooling tower includes a heat and mass transfer section which is formed from a plurality of layers of multi-cell tiles and spacers between the layers of tiles. Water flows over and downwardly through the cells of the tiles and between adjacent tiles, and air is drawn upwardly through the tower to cool the water.

Abstract: A plate column filled with downcomerless plates comprises receptacle means between each adjacent pair of upper and lower plates to delay liquid flowing downwards from the upper to lower plate, without interfering in the upward flow of vapor. A number of alternative receptacle means are provided, including laterally spaced staggered channels, perforate wells, and a helical channel.

Abstract: The process avoids, in a cold period, the formation of ice inside a cooler having lower air inlets and employing atmospheric air and a freezable liquid stream. The process comprises providing the air inlet apertures with vertical metal trellises which extend in a part of the apertures from the top of the latter downwardly. In cold periods, cold water is caused to stream along the trellises so as to form, under controlled conditions, curtains of ice on the trellises which partly close the apertures. When the temperature of the air, and consequently the temperature of the water cooled inside the cooler, resumes a sufficiently high temperature to avoid the formation of ice inside the cooler, the curtains of ice formed on the trellises are melted.

Abstract: A wet/dry steam condenser in accordance with the present invention includes two spaced-apart, vertically aligned groups of heat pipes with each group having the lower, evaporator sections of their respective heat pipes exposed to the interior of an associated, longitudinally extending steam-receiving plenum. The upper condensing section of each heat pipe is cooled by a fan-induced air flow and has a portion that is finned. The other portion of the condensing section of each pipe is cooled by deluge water from either a flood water trough and/or a spray-head assembly in addition to being cooled by a fan-induced air flow.

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: An improved recovery fan cylinder for mechanical draft water cooling towers is provided which is configured with an upper reflex angle recovery section above the fan blade which gives unexpected increases in velocity head recovery as compared with conventional frustoconoidal stacks. The reflex stack hereof includes first and second superposed portions above the blade which are respectively oriented so that the external surfaces thereof cooperatively define a reflex angle; in preferred forms, the lower portion lies at an angle of from about 15.degree. to 30.degree. relative to the central upright stack axis, whereas the upper portion is oriented at an angle of 0.degree.-10.degree. on the same basis. Test evidence demonstrates that the stack of the invention permits unexpected reductions in fan horsepower, as compared with typical prior art stacks.

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: Device for mixing dry and humid air streams of a combined atmospheric cooler employing parallel air streams. The device comprises a wet exchange unit and a dry heat exchange unit which are disposed in parallel in the air stream. The device for mixing the dry and humid air streams comprises surfaces for deflecting the air streams disposed upstream of the wet heat exchange unit and is characterized in that the deflecting surfaces are constituted by at least one channel which is open in the direction of the air outlet of the cooler and which extends in the space located upstream of the wet heat exchange unit. The at least one channel extends from the region in which the humid air stream arrives adjacent the part of the dry heat exchange unit which is the nearest of said region and toward the center of the cooler.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning sediment from basins comprises a suction system that withdraws particulate-laden liquid from the bottom of the basin. A pump providing the suction transports the particulate-laden liquid to a first vessel or catch tank where primary settling of the particulate can occur. A second pump withdraws particulate laden liquid from the catch tank and directs a high velocity flow of particulate laden coolant through separator apparatus for primary separation of particulate matter. The discharge of effluvia of the primary separator is conducted to a second vessel or tank. A third pump withdraws liquid from the lowermost portion of the second vessel and forces a high velocity flow through a secondary system for further separation of particulate matter from the liquid. The discharge of the second separator system is conducted to a third vessel or tank.

Abstract: This invention involves spaced, horizontally extending corrugations, spaced, vertically oriented film surface sheets. The surface of the fill is enhanced by molded-in angular grooves to define discrete water passageways and air turbulation ridges.

Abstract: Plume formation by exhaust air from wet cooling towers during periods when ambient air conditions are conducive to the formation of such plumes is prevented by preheating inlet air and/or precooling influent hot water to reduce the temperature difference between the air and water and consequently the water content of exhaust air to that which can be absorbed by the ambient atmosphere thus avoiding plume formation.

Abstract: Protection of reactors, installed in an enclosed space, in which reactions take place with gases or volatile substances that are toxic and/or that can form an explosive mixture with air. The enclosed space is in open connection with means for passing any gases that may have escaped from the reactor through a liquid bath. The height of the liquid layer and the contents of the liquid bath are sufficient for the maximum possible amount of gas or volatile substance issued from the reactor to be dissolved, condensed, cooled off, inertized or be allowed to react. The liquid in the bath is water, lye, a salt solution, a cooled salt solution or heavy oil.

Abstract: A furnishing device comprises liquid carrying fill sheets which are juxtaposed and vertically corrugated and define therebetween passages for a gas, said sheets comprising in succession, in a direction parallel to the crests of the corrugations at least two regions in which the corrugations have different amplitudes, namely a region having corrugations of large amplitude and a region having corrugations of small amplitude which are interconnected by a transition region. Each sheet has at intervals along the crests of its corrugations spacer devices by means of which one sheet may be fixed to an adjacent sheet and maintained out of contact with the latter except in the region of the spacer devices.

Abstract: In an evaporative cooler having a casing, a multilayer 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, three-path continuous cellular drift eliminator and method for counterflow cooling towers is provided which gives enhanced water removal without undue pressure drops, and a desirable water particle size distribution in the air leaving the tower, so that excessive water coating on adjacent equipment and structures is avoided. The eliminator preferably includes a plurality of generally upright, discrete, gap-free continuous cells which present three air diversion sections along the length thereof in order to divert fill-derived air along a serpentine path for drift elimination purposes. The third and final section of the eliminator serves to direct the exiting air generally vertically for proper discharge thereof to the atmosphere. The eliminator is preferably fabricated using spaced apart members having planar panels, with corrugated elements therebetween, so as to cooperatively define elongated, continuous eliminator cells.

Abstract: The distribution pipe which is horizontally mounted includes longitudinal reinforcement ribs formed of an increased wall thickness and extending substantially the length of the pipe preferably along the interior surface thereof. One such rib extends along the top of the pipe and preferably two ribs extend in parallel and spaced relationship along the bottom of the pipe. The pipe is formed of a polyester resin having fiberglass reinforcement extending longitudinally throughout the wall and ribs. External stiffener rings are positioned on the pipe at spaced intervals defined by support locations and the pipe is suspended from concrete beams by cable extending about the pipe and beams. The cable is connected above the beams and forms loops below the beam, which loops extend about the external ring stiffeners.

Abstract: An apparatus for damping the noise of water charged in a cooling tower onto the top of heat exchanger elements by a distributing device and dropping down from the bottom of the heat exchange elements into a collecting basin, by means of vertically inclined impact surfaces of rigid insert elements which are arranged above the collecting basin in the cooling tower. In order to avoid the direct impingement of drops of water onto the surface of the water without impairing access to the collecting basin even with a greatly varying level of water, the lower edge of the rigid impact surfaces is arranged above the maximum water level in the collecting basin and extended by a flexible guide tail which extends into the water of the collecting basin with a minimum water level. This guide tail can be pushed aside and held out of the way upon cleaning and continuously diverts the water film into the vertical direction so that a noisy separation of the water film is made impossible.

Abstract: Three-dimensional exchange element for heat exchange units for gas/liquid systems which consists of filaments with a diameter of 0.1 to 2.5 mm, such filaments, which are welded together at their interlacing points, being arranged in a level plane showing equidistantly spaced hump-like projections.

Abstract: An improved, self-positioning, synthetic resin, multiple-sheet fill structure for cooling towers is provided which preferably includes upright, thin fill sheets having elongated, outwardly extending, hollow, cooperable indexing units thereon; the respective indexing units are strategically located and arranged such that opposed units on adjacent sheets are transversely disposed relative to one another and telescopically interengage with two point contact. This construction minimizes sheet warpage while increasing the load and deflection resistance of the fill structure. Preferably, the indexing units are of outwardly tapered configuration and present arcuate, opposed end segments separated by recess-defining walls; inwardly extending bottom walls connected to the recess-defining walls serve as spaced abutment surfaces extending into the hollow regions defined by the units for engaging the associated units on adjacent fill sheets.

Abstract: A liquid cooling tower has liquid distribution nozzles that spray liquid to be cooled away from the sides of the fill chamber. The spray pattern is restricted to less than about 180.degree.. This prevents liquid from being sprayed out of or on to the tower or from being carried out of or on to the tower by the air flow. The nozzles have a single large liquid discharge opening so that solid objects that flow in with the liquid will not clog them.

Abstract: An improved, high efficiency, combination fill assembly for crossflow cooling towers is provided which employs a strategically located, multiple sheet film fill section in conjunction with splash-type fill to maximize tower performance with a minimum tower height, pumping head requirements, and pressure drop across the assembly. In preferred forms, the fill includes a film fill section presenting substantially separate air and water entrance and exit faces, along with structure above the upper water entrance face thereof for dispersing water and inhibiting exiting of cooling air out of the water entrance face; in this fashion "short circuiting" of cooling air is inhibited, and the inertia of airflow is thereby maintained in the desirable crossflowing direction for enhanced water cooling. Separate film packs cooperatively define the overall film fill section, and the packs are advantageously arranged in an inwardly staggered relationship, with the uppermost pack being outermost, i.e.

Abstract: There is disclosed cooling equipment wherein air is caused to pass through a wet cooling tower section and thus precooled prior to passage across the tube bundle of a dry cooling tower section through which a medium to be cooled is circulated, and then either selectively vented or recirculated successively through the wet section and across the tube bundle.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for indirect recooling of a heat transfer medium, such as water, by air. The heat transfer medium has a relatively high heat transfer coefficient compared to that of air. The heat exchanger has two substantially parallel end walls or plates which are provided with holes. Associated with these end walls are side walls which are provided with inlet and outlet means for the heat transfer medium. Nonfinned tubes with air flowing therethrough are disposed between the end walls and are sealed thereagainst.

Abstract: Lattice-type supporting structures with girders on which heat exchanger elements of rectangular or square cross section are supported. Typically air/tube dry cooling elements for cooling towers are disclosed. The heat exchanger elements are supported by stilts on the girders at a distance thereabove, with the stilts extending perpendicular to the supporting surface of girders. The stilts are mounted on girders in a manner making them immovable in a direction perpendicular to their longitudinal axis. The stilts have a high flexibility in bending permitting free expansion or contraction of each heat exchanger element or each heat exchanger element group with a plurality of elements combined into an integral unit under conditions of changing temperatures.

Abstract: An induced draft cooling tower having an annular outer support structure for the dispersion section and the inner support structure for the ventilation section. The inner support structure is essentially constructed of precast reinforced concrete elements and comprises a first plurality of columns supporting a circumferential beam, a second plurality of columns arranged around a hexagonal central tower in a hexagonal network with beams extending between and supported in slotted capitals of the second plurality of beams. The diffusers which are precast reinforced concrete shells include a toroidal base element which bears on three beams supported on a column of the second plurality coaxial to the diffuser. Stacks of annular elements rise from the upper edges of the base elements. The lower edges of the base elements are polygonal and substantially meet the lower edges of adjacent base elements. Slabs cover openings between lower edge segments of base elements and in the peripheral area beyond the diffusers.

Abstract: A portable cleaning apparatus for removing solids and particulate material from water in the basin of a cooling tower and having a trailer with a frame supporting a platform and a plurality of wheels for enabling said trailer to be towed from place to place, a power driven pump means mounted on said platform and having a suction side adapted to be placed into communication with water contaminated with solids in the basin of a cooling tower, a filter device arranged on said platform and including a filter medium therein, an inlet for liquid influent connected to the pump outlet and an effluent outlet downstream of the filter medium, the filter medium being so constructed and arranged as to retain solid particles thereon whose diameter is in excess of 0.

Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus for use in condensing steam from the turbine exhaust of a power plant or the like, comprising a steam condenser having means for circulating cooling medium therethrough in order to condense a portion of the steam from the turbine exhaust, a wet cooling tower in which the cooling medium is cooled by means of ambient air, and a dry cooling tower in which the other portion of the steam is condensed by means of ambient air.

Abstract: A portable auxiliary cooling tower which is transportable over-the-highway for temporary or permanent use at a desired site. The tower is typically constructed on a trailer frame and is designed to provide maximum air flow for maximum cooling to temporarily replace or supplement larger fixed cooling tower cells. Another use of the portable cooling tower is to aerate stock ponds, chemical holding ponds and the like.

Abstract: An improved annular support structure for the dispersion section including the hot water basin of a cooling tower. The annular outer structure comprises a plurality of sector-shaped independent, self-supporting and self-stabilized towers each comprising a pair of radial sides formed by a stack of superposed precast reinforced concrete portal frames and precast reinforced concrete right triangular bracing members extending between and supported on the uprights of spaced pairs of portal frames. Cantilevers extending from the outer uprights of the portal frames support precast concrete louvers. The hot water basin has part annular sections supported on beams aligned with the radial sides and spaced from one another by expansion joints.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved waste heat disposal process characterized primarily by splitting the total cooling load between two or more open-looped evaporative cooling circuits, staging the circuits in series such that each successive circuit has a greater dissolved solids carrying capacity than the preceding one, using the brine blown down from a preceding circuit as the coolant circulated within the next succeeding one, and treating only the blowdown from one circuit to the relatively greater extent necessary to accommodate the increased solids-carrying capacity of the next. The invention also includes the feature of essentially staging the heat load by dividing same into two or more parts and handling the different parts by separate and distinct evaporative cooling loops.

Abstract: There are disclosed four embodiments of apparatus for use in condensing steam from the turbine exhaust of a power plant or the like, each comprising a steam condenser having means for circulating cooling medium therethrough in heat exchange relation with steam from the turbine exhaust, and wet and dry cooling towers in which the cooling medium is cooled by means of ambient air.

Abstract: A support bracket for ends of concrete beams, particularly precast ones, more especially the bottoms of T-beam legs positioned on a support beam of similar material, including inverted U-shaped straps inserted over the support beam on either side of the T-beam, and a supportive angle member connected to the straps and in supportive engagement with the underside of the T-beam leg, with a gasket therebetween, and the method of repairing joints between crossing engaging ends of concrete beams.

Abstract: Structural elements such as X-type or V-type support posts for structures such as cooling towers are each prefabricated on the ground in the position which would be occupied on the theoretical assumption that, after erection, the post had been lowered to the ground in a movement of pivotal displacement about its foot. An articulated coupling is interposed between the foot of the post and the foundation footing of the structure. On completion of the prefabrication process, the post is lifted at one end by means of a hoisting machine and moved upwards in pivotal motion about the pivot-pin of the articulated coupling. After reaching its final position, the foot of the post is embedded in a concrete block cast on the foundation footing.

Abstract: Apparatus are provided for reducing detrimental wind influence on cooling towers by mounting at the air inlet to the towers a plurality of spaced baffles, each of which have continuous, smooth, curved, low wind resistance surfaces directed outwardly of the air inlet and high wind resistance surfaces directed toward the interior of the tower.

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: An air cooled heat exchanger provided with water distribution means for wetting the surfaces of air flow passages with a thin film of water, which by evaporation enhances the cooling of a fluid. The fluid flows through the heat exchanger in passages arranged in generally parallel, spaced apart layers. A series of metallic fin sheets, extending between the layers, maintain the separation between the layers and define a plurality of air passages. Water is distributed into the air passages as a liquid through slot means disposed on the edge of the layers, at the side where the air stream enters the heat exchanger. The air stream causes the water to spread in a thin film over the surfaces of the air passages, resulting in improved cooling of the fluid by evaporation of the water. Provision is made for collecting any excess water at the side of the heat exchanger where the air stream exits.

Abstract: The invention provides for a method of and means for supporting the packing in an evaporative cooling tower in which the packing includes packing elements, each of which is suspended at its central region by means of a wire hanger. The packing element includes spaced splash ribs and the elements are vertically arranged offset from each other so that in plan view the packing presents an uninterrupted surface.

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 unit is disposed in the enclosure above the gas inlet opening and is suspended from a framework by hooking means which comprise temperature responsive means adapted to cause release of said hooking means in response to the detection of a predetermined temperature at the most equal to the flame temperature of the contact unit.

Abstract: A wet/dry cooling tower wherein a liquid to-be-cooled is flowed along channels of a corrugated open surface or the like, which surface is swept by cooling air. The amount of the surface covered by the liquid is kept small compared to the dry part thereof so that said dry part acts as a fin for the wet part for heat dissipation.