Abstract: A cooling tower apparatus for cooling by dry and natural draft in which a battery of exchangers is shared among several independent networks fed separately by a cooling fluid, and the nominal thermal dissipation of the newtorks in operation is maintained by separation of the air flows inside the tower by means of an appropriate partition, especially by a double-shelled structure having application for the elimination of untransformed calories in electrical plants of all types, especially thermal and nuclear.

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 injector type cooling apparatus is disclosed wherein multiple flat liquid sprays are directed into a conduit of uniform cross-section to draw cooling air into and through the conduit for mixture with and heat transfer from the liquid. The discharge end of the conduit is fitted with mist eliminators, in addition, holes or slots fitted with mist eliminators are provided in the conduit roof or sides downstream of the liquid sprays. These holes or slots cause increased air flow which results in improved cooling apparatus performance.

Abstract: A cooling tower self-supporting vertical shell essentially circular in horizontal section and wider at the base than at the top,said shell comprising a series of courses set one above the other with each adjacent upper course supported by the course beneath it,most of the courses from at least near the bottom to the shell top portion constituting a frusto-conical shell with vertical flutes, andthe diameter of the bottom of each course being about equal to the diameter of the top of the course beneath it.

Abstract: A veil section of a hyperbolic natural draft cooling tower is constructed on a lintel beam in the form of a closed planar curve provided with anchors spaced about the perimeter of the lintel beam for facilitating connection to the lintel beam of upstanding peripherally spaced column sections between which preformed panels are attached to fill the spaces between the spaced columns. Once the panels are affixed to the columns, the latter, as well as the adjacent portions of the adjoining panels, are encased in a cementitious material such as concrete. Additional sections of columns and panels are erected above the initial veil section by the same process as the latter in order to complete the veil. Vertically adjacent veil sections are attached to one another by connection of the columns in end-to-end relationship.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling, diluting and adding a biocide chemical to a water cooling system which includes a venturi device powered by the motive water in the cooling system and connected to a biocide chemical supply and to a control network, including flow control means and valve means for obtaining controlled feed of the chemical into the system.

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: A fan control system for cooling apparatus such as cooling tower in which water and air are brought into contact together. According to this system, the running speed of the fan is continuously and proportionally changed responsive to the temperature of the cooling water or the external atmospheric conditions, to substantially control the cooling capacity of the cooling apparatus. The control system consists of a main fan motor, an electronic adjustment circuit and a power transmission means consisting of a variable pitch diameter belt speed changing means and a constant pitch belt reduction device, whereby the speed changing ratio of the belt speed chaning means is continuously and proportionally changed depending upon the control signals from the adjustment circuit. Further, the adjustment circuit may have a soft-start control circuit.

Abstract: Heat exchange units are disclosed for exchanging heat between at least one fluid, for example water, and a gas, for example air, comprising at least one battery of heat exchange tubes which are parallel to each other and extend generally vertically and in which circulates one of the fluids. The gas, such as air, passes between the tubes of the battery generally transversely of the heat exchange tubes, and means are provided for selectively spraying a liquid on the heat exchanger tubes. The heat exchange units may be employed in atmospheric natural draft, or forced draft coolers, or cooling towers, or combinations of such draft-producing means may be employed in a single cooling tower.

Abstract: Water vapor released by evaporation in a cooling tower, is conducted through an enclosure to the upper inlet end of a vertical conduit extending into the body of water stored in the cooling tower. The water vapor downflowing through the vertical conduit under vacuum conditions is condensed by cooling sprays of water drawn by pumps from the bottom of the cooling tower.

Abstract: A large, thin-shell cooling tower, a method for its erection, and novel precast units. Upon a foundation a series of angularly-extending columns is erected, and the columns are joined at their upper ends by a lower ring. Then a ribbed, waffle-like reinforced concrete wall is constructed to extend up from the lower ring and to provide a shell with a shape such as a hyperbolic paraboloid. The ribbed outer (or inner) surface strengthens the structure while enabling the thickness of the portions in between the ribs to be relatively thin. A series of vertically-spaced horizontal circumferential reinforcing bars or post-tensioning cables and a series of horizontally-spaced vertical or inclined bars or cables, are included in the wall. The wall is preferably made up from a series of precast units that are of novel structure in themselves. At the top of the wall is an upper ring joining the various elements together.

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

Abstract: The invention relates to packing for heat and material exchange, particularly for cooling towers, composed of several layers of a corrugated or folded foil, whereby the corrugations or folds of adjacent layers cross and support one another, and a process for producing said packing.

Abstract: A cooling tower has a plurality of cooling regions with each cooling region being constructed in a cross flow or counter flow configuration for allowing air to pass into the path of falling water within that region. Each region contains a fill bundle composed of twisted fill elements. Each fill element consists of an elongated substantially flat member which is twisted normally about its longitudinal axis. A plurality of the fill elements are connected in rows and placed in the path of the air circulation. Alternate rows will be offset from adjacent rows disposing the elements at apices of an isosceles triangle pattern to obtain equal spacing between adjacent elements and create a circuitous route through which the cooling air must pass. The spiral configuration of the elements provides centrifugal action which disperses the water and air from one element to adjacent elements, thus providing more intimate contact between the water and the cooling air.

Abstract: A cooling tower with corrugated ripple plate for a substantially vertical assembly in wet cooling towers or combined wet-dry cooling towers in counter-flow or cross-flow construction, of which the portion at the upper end, the corrugation and the spacing relative to the respective adjacent equally-formed ripple plates are formed such that cooling water which is distributed from a distribution device above the ripple plate ripples running down on both surfaces of the ripple plates as substantially uniform thickness water films, the latter being collected in water collector channels arranged at the lower ends of the ripple plates and being fed to a cooling water circuit. One water collector channel is attached on the lower edge of the ripple plates on each side thereof for collecting the water adjacent the lower ends of the ripple plates, from which the collected water is fed back to the cooling water circuit to the distributor device.

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

Abstract: A liquid collecting device comprises a liquid collecting trough, an inclined wall extending above the trough for directing generally vertically falling liquid into the trough and a panel composed of a plurality vertically directed intersecting walls positioned a small distance above a major portion of the inclined wall. The collecting device has particular utility liquid-gas contacting apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for contacting liquids and gases is disclosed. A contact body is comprised of a plurality of pleated porous media elements which are disposed one above another. Each element is formed in a generally zig-zag configuration with pleats and upper and lower tips. Air passages are formed between the pleats of the elements. The elements are supported one above another in a generally horizontal disposition with all of the air passages substantially parallel to one another. A mechanism is provided for supplying water to an uppermost element to saturate all of the elements with water. Substantially all of the water which moves downwardly from the uppermost element to a lowermost element flows through the elements without creating a film flow of water between the uppermost and the lowermost elements.

Abstract: A non-clogging liquid distribution assembly especially adapted for use in counterflow water cooling towers is provided which includes a hollow-cone, swirl-type nozzle and a series of circularly arranged, arcuate water-dispersing buttons disposed below the nozzle for breaking up water sprayed from the latter and uniformly dispersing the same over a relatively wide planar area in order to ensure adequate water cooling. The configuration and orientation of the buttons is carefully chosen so as to ensure that individual water particles from the nozzle angularly impinge against the dispersing buttons for maximum water breakup. The assembly is constructed for safely clearing foamed plastic or cellular synthetic rubber balls conventionally placed in cooling water systems to clear condenser tubes or the like. These balls are sized for a particular condenser tube system and vary from 1/2 in. to 11/2 in.

Abstract: A water cooling tower and method which provides for both wet and dry cooling within the same vertical space and significantly reduces the discharge of water particles out of the tower. Water is deposited on one side of each of a plurality of trickler plates and flows downwardly under the influence of gravity substantially undisturbed as a low speed film. Air flows at low speed by natural draught in a substantially undisturbed path on the other side of each of the plates. Important dimensional ratios and construction details are disclosed.

Abstract: A cooling tower including a jacket composed of a non-self-supporting shell, a spacer ring and a ground support between which the shell is stretched, a mast composed at least in part of a metallic material, a main lifting ring attached to the mast, and cables connected between the spacer ring and the main lifting ring for supporting the spacer via the main lifting ring, is further provided with an auxiliary lifting ring attached to the mast, and the mast, the main lifting ring and the auxiliary lifting ring are each provided with a row of spaced bores, with the bores of each lifting ring being located adjacent the respective bores of the mast, and the bores of the mast extending at regular intervals from the top of the mast and over a significant portion of its height.

Abstract: A counterflow evaporative heat exchanger comprises a vertical conduit in which a coil assembly is positioned. A fluid to be cooled or condensed passes through the coil assembly while water is sprayed downwardly over it and air is blown upwardly through it. The coil assembly comprises a plurality of tubes which at each level in the assembly are spaced apart from each other in the horizontal direction by an amount greater than the diameter of the tubes. This has been found to improve heat transfer in comparison to counterflow evaporative heat exchangers using closely packed coil assemblies.

Abstract: A cooling system for rejecting waste heat consists of a cooling tower incorporating a plurality of coolant tubes provided with cooling fins and each having a plurality of cooling channels therein, means for directing a heat exchange fluid from the power plant through less than the total number of cooling channels to cool the heat exchange fluid under normal ambient temperature conditions, means for directing water through the remaining cooling channels whenever the ambient temperature rises above the temperature at which dry cooling of the heat exchange fluid is sufficient and means for cooling the water.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved U-shaped splash bar fill configuration for use in crossflow cooling towers.

Abstract: Cooling tower splash fill batts are supported by grids made from vertical and horizontal wire strands. The grids are suspended from fill hanger beams that are adjustably connected to beams in the cooling tower subject to deflection or bowing. Splash deck members are also supported by the fill hanger beams.

Abstract: Cooling tower splash fill batts are supported by a plurality of vertically and horizontally aligned grids made from vertical and horizontal wire strands. The grids occupying the same vertical plane are connected to each other by elongated generally C-shaped fill hanger splice beams.

Abstract: A hanger assembly to support fill strips in a cooling tower wherein the assembly includes headers and wire mesh hangers mounted on the headers. Each wire mesh hanger assembly includes vertical wires which have clamp portions formed at each end which extend through openings formed in the headers to suspend the wire mesh hanger from the header. The clamp portions include a cam surface which is compressed in the header opening when the clamp is moved to its operative position.

Abstract: A liquid cooling tower has a series of vertically spaced rows of unitary louver panels for controlling air flow into the tower and for preventing escape of liquid falling through the tower. The panels are non-planar, and they are shaped so as to increase their stiffness for withstanding wind and ice loads.

Abstract: An apparatus for securing assembly plates in washing or spraying installations of heat exchangers, particularly cooling towers, with at least two layers of vertical assembly plates, with the layers being disposed one above the other and the assembly plates in each layer, respectively, being arranged parallel to one another, and from layer to layer at a predetermined spacing as well as at a predetermined angle with respect to each other. A spacer is arranged diagonally to the angularly crossing assembly plates, which spacer is provided with lower and upper guide slots under the circumstances oriented at half the crossing angle with respect to its longitudinal extent. The guide slots of each set run parallel to one another. The upper and lower guide slots respectively run in the crossing angle relative to each other and have contact surfaces respectively formed spaced apart corresponding to the predetermined spacing of the assembly plates of the layers which are disposed one above the other.

Abstract: Disclosed is a throttle valve opening control device for use in an internal combustion engine. When the throttle valve is rapidly closed after completion of the warm-up of the engine, the throttle valve is temporarily held at a first opening degree which is greater than an idling opening degree and, then, the throttle valve is gradually returned to its idling position. Contrary to this, when the throttle valve is rapidly closed before completion of the warm-up of the engine, the throttle valve is temporarily held at a second opening degree which is greater than said first opening degree and, then, the throttle valve is gradually returned to its idling position.

Abstract: Cooling tower having an outer peripheral wall provided with blowers spaced about the periphery thereof at a lower region thereof, the blowers being formed with annular inlet openings for cooling air, the cooling tower further including means defining closable openings disposed between the annular inlet openings.

Abstract: An air-cooled tower for cooling of fluid wherein a vortex is established within a vertically standing cylinder.Air entering through the upper portion of the cylinder is directed tangentially and downwardly, establishing a downwardly flowing vortex which is reversed at the bottom forming a smaller diameter intense upwardly flowing vortex. Additional air is induced through the center of the cylinder at the bottom. Heat exchange between the fluid to be cooled and the air is through indirect heat exchange surface or direct injection of the fluid. Evaporative cooling is accelerated due to the turbulent conditions, and the centrifugal action reduces the water carryover in the airstream exiting from the top of the cylinder. A turbine-fan combination centrally located at the bottom of the cylinder permits supplementing the airflow under low-wind conditions and extracting energy from the induced airflow under high wind conditions.

Abstract: Air moving mechanism is provided for equipment such as direct or indirect heat exchange cooling towers. Conventional cross-sectionally elliptical eased inlet structure leading to a fan opening or cylinder surrounding a rotary fan air mover is replaced by a much simpler, less costly, apertured airflow modifying baffle member which functions to define an invisible eased inlet for the fan. The specially shaped aperture in the baffle member is configured and arranged relative to the fan cylinder inlet to cause air removed from the tower casing and directed toward the fan to follow a transition path between the baffle member and fan opening or cylinder which generally conforms to and substantially fills the opening or cylinder inlet around the entire circumference thereof.

Abstract: A valve comprising two compartments separated by a flexible diaphragm, each compartment being defined by an arcuate wall having an optionally interchangeable inlet and outlet located therein to allow the flow of liquid into and through the compartment, the flexible diaphragm being mounted between the arcuate walls and being adapted to be distended into one of the compartments to reduce or restrict the flow of liquid therethrough by excess pressure exerted by liquid in the other compartment; and a cooling installation containing one or more of such valves incorporated in pipelines associated with fans.

Abstract: Supporting structure for a large natural draft cooling tower consisting of a central tower support in the form of a hollow column of reinforced concrete and hyperboloid-shaped cooling tower mantle supported by the central tower support with the aid of cables and tie rings at the top and bottom of the cooling tower mantle. The upper tie ring is suspended from the top of the central tower support by means of a series of inclined supporting cables and the lower tie ring is connected to the upper tie ring by means of two sets of oppositely diagonally inclined mantle supporting cables, under a downwardly directed preload, forming a hyperboloid-shaped cable grid. To this grid are attached the section panels of the cooling tower mantle. The cable preload is provided by means of holding cables extending between the lower tie ring and a series of ground anchors, or by means of the diagonally inclined cables themselves which may be attached to the ground anchors.

Abstract: In a device for causing contact between horizontally-flowing gas and vertically-flowing liquid, a stack of corrugated contact plates in face-to-face contact and having their corrugations inclined to the horizontal plane. Alternate plates of the stack are inclined upwardly in the direction of gas flow and the intermediate plates are inclined downwardly at the same angle of inclination. The upwardly-inclined corrugations have a smaller radius of curvature than the downwardly inclined corrugations. The heights of the respective corrugations are preferably equal and the radius of curvature in the upwardly-inclined corrugations is less than the height of said corrugations.

Abstract: An improved splash bar fill assembly is disclosed comprising a plurality of perforate splash bars, each bar having along its longitudinal axis a horizontally disposed section for intercepting falling liquid and a rib section disposed transverse of said horizontal member for furnishing structural strength. In a preferred embodiment, the rib section, and the horizontal section includes a bevel or a skirt extending from the lateral margins for directing accumulated liquid from the upper surface of the horizontal section to lower, laterally adjacent splash bars.

Abstract: When a crossflow water cooling tower is operated, noise made by an air circulating device and water falling down inside the tower is propagated outside. In the conventional cooling towers, however, the main source of the noise, namely the noise of the falling water was very incompletely insulated. The air entering space provided according to this invention and defined by at least a pair of inclined walls and a pair of parallel side walls is in an upward-widening structure whereby the noise produced inside the tower by the flowing and falling water is dissipated upward so as to significantly reduce the noise propagated to the surrounding area.

Abstract: A simplified, selectively actuatable deicing apparatus for evaporative water cooling towers is provided which permits selective delivery of hot water from the upper distribution basin to the outer margin of the tower for deicing of the fill structure and inlet louvers thereof in order to maintain adequate airflow through the tower during sub-freezing ambient conditions. The deicing apparatus includes a substantially continuous slot in the bottom of the distribution basin adjacent its outer margin, in combination with valving devices for directing the flow of hot water through any selected segment of the slot to the underlying outer margin of the tower. The hot water carrying flume which feeds the distribution basin has a normal water level spaced above the bottom of the basin and is in direct flow communication with the latter at an elevation corresponding to its bottom such that a substantial part of the tower water is available for delivery through the selected segment of the slot.

Abstract: A tornado protected cooling tower. The tower includes a plurality of enclosed cooling cells arranged about the periphery of an open cooling basin. Each of the cells includes a cool air inlet along the side thereof opposite the open cooling basin and a warm air outlet along the side thereof adjacent the open cooling basin. A plurality of fans are mounted within each of the cells along the side thereof adjacent the open cooling basin in direct communication with the warm air outlet. Each of the cells further includes an inner wall having an apron portion extending downwardly below the lowest component of the fans. Water distribution means is provided for carrying water upwardly from the open cooling basin into each of the cells for discharge in uniformly dispersed fashion within the cell. Each of the cells includes a perforate fill material supported by fill support means below the water distribution means and above the cool air inlet.

Abstract: A plant including a power station with power station buildings of a heavy construction and with a cooling tower surrounding the power station buildings, especially a steam power plant with natural draft-cooling tower for dry cooling. The cooling tower has a manner known per se designed as double mantle construction with an inner bowl and an outer bowl surrounding the inner bowl in spaced relationship thereto. The outer walls of the power plant buildings form a portion of the inner bowl or form the entire inner bowl. The remaining cooling tower portions and the outer bowl are designed as light structures. Any portion of the inner bowl which might possibly extend upwardly from the power plant buildings rest on the power plant buildings while the outer bowl on one hand rests on the ground by way of a support structure, and on the other hand by way of wind bracing members rests on the power plant buildings.

Abstract: A low cost, preformed, synthetic resin, indirect air cooled atmospheric heat exchanger especially adapted for use in water cooling towers is provided which exhibits enhanced water cooling properties notwithstanding fabrication thereof from relatively inexpensive, corrosion-free polyvinyl chloride or like materials heretofore thought to have insufficient heat conductivity for practical use in heat exchangers.

Abstract: For fluid interchange treatment, a flexible collapsible structure is provided which consists of stacked horizontal partition walls formed from pairs of sheets of non-woven fabric material such as felt heat-joined by plastic coatings on their inner surfaces and disposed in vertically-spaced parallel arrangement and sealed at their sides by accordion-folded sheets of flexible collapsible material. The paired sheets contain ports which are offset relatively to one another in successive sheets. The paired fabric sheets and their plastic-coated inner surfaces are provided with openings to form cells with which the ports communicate, these openings being so arranged that, a multi-columned collapsible structure of parallel cellular formation results, with independent zigzag paths between top and the bottom of each cellular column.

Abstract: Cooling tower splash fill strips rest in grids made from interconnected vertical and horizontal wire strands. Each grid is supported at its upper end by a fill hanger beam, which, in turn, is supported by a series of aligned beam hanger clips. The clips are connected to generally horizontal structural members of the cooling tower.

Abstract: A high efficiency, induced draft, combination counterflow-crossflow fluid cooling apparatus and method is provided which gives unexpectedly enhanced cooling of hot fluid by causing the fluid to pass upwardly through a series of serpentine heat exchange conduits in primarily countercurrent, indirect sensible heat exchange relationship with external cooling water gravitating from an overlying evaporative water cooling section. Crossflowing air currents are pulled through the apparatus to evaporatively cool the water not only in the upper cooling section but also in the sensible heat exchange area as well.

Abstract: An improved nozzle for use in a cooling tower comprises a connecting member defining an orifice and a spinner rotably mounted on the connecting member so that liquid passing out of the orifice impinges on and thereby rotates the spinner. The spinner defines a plurality of arms projecting from a central section, each arm being spaced from adjacent arms by grooves or slots. The trailing edges of at least some of the arms are inclined at an angle of 10.degree. to 25.degree. with respect to the travel direction of liquid passing out of the orifice. With this construction, liquid to be cooled can be sprayed into the cooling tower in the form of a substantially uniform pattern of very fine droplets.

Abstract: A cooling tower with a non-self-supporting envelope which is supported by a net of cables and by pulling elements extending from a portion of a supporting post which portion protrudes upwardly beyond the outlet opening of the cooling tower mantle, in which annular means surround the outlet opening of the mantle and are connected to the supporting post by elements extending in a spoke-like manner from the supporting post and at least partially subjected to pull only.

Abstract: Liquid used in a liquid-heating machine such as a turbine condenser is continuously circulated in an endless fluid flow path which passes through the machine and which is subdivided at a location spaced from the machine into a pair of parallel branches. A closed dry-type heat exchanger is provided in one branch and a wet-type evaporative cooler is provided in the other branch. A fan or the like is operated to form a pair of parallel streams of air one of which is passed over the closed heat exchanger for cooling the liquid purely by conduction, and the other stream is passed directly over the liquid in the evaporative cooler so as to cool it largely evaporatively. The heated air coming off the dry-type heat exchanger is mixed with the heated humid air coming off the wet-type evaporative cooler and liberated to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A cylindrical counterflow, multi-fan cooling tower is disclosed having a cylindrical cold water basin and a cylindrical shell spaced above the basin. A deck is supported above the shell and a plenum chamber is defined within the shell between the deck and fill system. Water from a distribution system in the plenum chamber above the fill distributes water which flows down over the fill in counterflow relation to the air drawn up through the fill. Fans on the deck draw air through the space between the cold water basin and the shell through the fill system and plenum chamber and discharge it in the form of a high rising column of hot, moist air.

Abstract: A large, thin-shell cooling tower, a method for its erection, and novel precast units. Upon a foundation a series of angularly-extending columns is erected, and the columns are joined at their upper ends by a lower ring. Then a ribbed, waffle-like reinforced concrete wall is constructed to extend up from the lower ring and to provide a shell with a shape such as a hyperbolic paraboloid. The ribbed outer (or inner) surface strengthens the structure while enabling the thickness of the portions in between the ribs to be relatively thin. A series of vertically-spaced horizontal circumferential reinforcing bars or post-tensioning cables and a series of horizontally-spaced vertical or inclined bars or cables, are included in the wall. The wall is preferably made up from a series of precast units that are of novel structure in themselves. At the top of the wall is an upper ring joining the various elements together.