Cooling tower wind wall system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10794643-B2
Application number	US-201715837933-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 11, 2017
Priority date	Dec 19, 2016
Publication date	Oct 6, 2020
Grant date	Oct 6, 2020

Abstract

A cooling tower is provided having a heat exchange section, and a fan for moving air through the heat exchange section. A water distribution assembly provides water onto and through the heat exchange section. An air inlet section is provided through which air is drawn into the cooling tower and the heat exchange section. The air inlet section has outside edges and corners. A wall assembly is provided in the air inlet section, with the wall assembly extending from the corners of the air inlet section inwardly. The water passing through the heat exchange section enters the air inlet section, and exits to a sump beneath the air inlet section. The air inlet section is comprised of a structure having outside edges and corners, and the wall assembly is comprised of a plurality of wall panel sections. Each wall panel section has an outer edge at a corner of the air inlet section, and each wall panel section extends inwardly from the corner of the air inlet section.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cooling tower comprising
a heat exchange section having a bottom edge,
a fan for moving air through the heat exchange section,
a water distribution assembly to provide water onto and through the heat exchange section,
an air inlet section through which air is drawn into the cooling tower and the heat exchange section,
the air inlet section having outside edges and corners,
and a wall assembly in the air inlet section,
the wall assembly having an upper edge and extending from the corners of the air inlet section inwardly,
wherein the wall assembly is arranged in the air inlet section to form a wind relief gap between the upper edge of the wall assembly and the bottom edge of the heat exchange section, the wind relief gap having a size configured to allow at least a portion of wind entering the air inlet section to pass over the upper edge of the wall assembly without entering into the heat exchange section.

2. The cooling tower of claim 1
wherein most of the water passing through the heat exchange section enters the air inlet section,
further comprising a sump beneath the air inlet section, wherein the sump collects the water passing through the air inlet section.

3. The cooling tower of claim 1
wherein the air inlet section is comprised of a structure having outside edges and corners,
and the wall assembly is comprised of a plurality of wall panel sections, each wall panel section having an outer edge at a corner of the air inlet section, each wall panel section extending inwardly from the corner of the air inlet section to a junction point wherein an inner edge of each wall panel section meets.

4. The cooling tower of claim 1
wherein the air inlet section is comprised of a rectangular structure having outside edges and four corners,
and the wall assembly is comprised of a plurality of wall panel sections, each wall panel section having an outer edge at a corner of the air inlet section, each wall panel section extending inwardly from the corner of the air inlet section to a junction point wherein an inner edge of each wall panel section meets.

5. The cooling tower of claim 1
wherein the wall assembly comprises a plurality of wall panel sections,
wherein each wall panel section is comprised of one of the following: steel, stainless steel, aluminum, canvas, or structural plastic.

6. The cooling tower of claim 1
wherein the wall assembly comprises a plurality of wall panel sections,
wherein each wall panel section is removable.

7. The cooling tower of claim 1
wherein the wall assembly acts to keep most of the water entering the air inlet section from exiting the cooling tower.

8. The cooling tower of claim 2
wherein the wall assembly acts to have most of the water exiting the air inlet section enter the sump.

9. The cooling tower of claim 1
further comprising a center wall section in the air inlet section,
wherein the air inlet section is comprised of a structure having outside edges and corners,
and the wall assembly is comprised of a plurality of wall panel sections, each wall panel section having an outer edge at a corner of the air inlet section, each wall panel section extending inwardly from the corner of the air inlet section to a junction point wherein an inner edge of each wall panel section meets with the center wall section.

10. The cooling tower of claim 9
wherein the center wall section has two ends, and two of the wall panel sections meet at one center wall section end.

11. The cooling tower of claim 1 , wherein the gap between the upper edge of the wall assembly and the bottom edge of the heat exchange section is greater than or equal to one inch.

12. The cooling tower of claim 1 , wherein the wind relief gap is of a size configured to facilitate the passage of wind gusts through the cooling tower without affecting the cooling operation of the cooling tower.

13. A cooling tower comprising
a heat exchange section,
a fan for moving air through the heat exchange section,
a water distribution assembly to provide water onto and through the heat exchange section,
an air inlet section through which air is drawn into the cooling tower and the heat exchange section,
the air inlet section having outside edges and corners,
and a wall assembly in the air inlet section,
the wall assembly extending from the corners of the air inlet section inwardly
wherein the air inlet section is comprised of a structure having outside edges and corners,
and the wall assembly is comprised of a plurality of wall panel sections, each wall panel section having an outer edge at a corner of the air inlet section, each wall panel section extending inwardly from the corner of the air inlet section to a junction point wherein an inner edge of each wall panel section meets, and
wherein at least one of the wall panel sections is configured to be at least one of folded inwardly, folded to an open position, and slid to an open position.

14. A cooling tower comprising
a heat exchange section having a bottom edge,
a fan for moving air through the heat exchange section,
a water distribution assembly to provide water onto and through the heat exchange section,
an air inlet section through which air is drawn into the cooling tower and the heat exchange section,
the air inlet section having outside edges and corners,
and a wall assembly in the air inlet section,
the wall assembly extending from the corners of the air inlet section inwardly,
further comprising a center wall section in the air inlet section,
wherein the air inlet section is comprised of a structure having outside edges and corners,
and the wall assembly is comprised of a plurality of wall panel sections, each wall panel section having an upper edge and an outer edge at a corner of the air inlet section, each wall panel section extending inwardly from the corner of the air inlet section to a junction point wherein an inner edge of each wall panel section meets with the center wall section, and
wherein the wall assembly is arranged in the air inlet section to form a wind relief gap between the upper edge of the wall assembly and the bottom edge of the heat exchange section, the wind relief gap having a size configured to allow at least a portion of wind entering the air inlet section to pass over the upper edge of the wall assembly without entering into the heat exchange section.

15. The cooling tower of claim 14
wherein most of the water passing through the heat exchange section enters the air inlet section,
further comprising a sump beneath the air inlet section, wherein the sump collects the water passing through the air inlet section.

16. The cooling tower of claim 14
wherein each wall panel section is comprised of one of the following: steel, stainless steel, aluminum, canvas, or structural plastic.

17. The cooling tower of claim 14
wherein the wall assembly comprises a plurality of wall panel sections,
wherein each wall panel section is removable.

18. The cooling tower of claim 14
wherein the wall assembly acts to keep most of the water entering the air inlet section from exiting the cooling tower.

19. The cooling tower of claim 14
wherein the wall assembly acts to have most of the water exiting the air inlet section enter the sump.

20. The cooling tower of claim 14
wherein the center wall section has two ends, and two of the wall panel sections meet at one center wall section end.

21. The cooling tower of claim 14 , wherein the

Assignees

• Baltimore Aircoil Co Inc

Inventors

• Shin Yoon K
• Russell Gregory Adam
• Most Ryan J
• Singh Ravindra
• Aaron David Andrew
• Morrison Frank T

Classifications

• F28C1/12

  Arrangements for preventing clogging by frost · CPC title

• Y02B30/70

  Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating · CPC title

• F28F25/087

  Vertical or inclined sheets; Supports or spacers · CPC title

• F28C1/16

  Arrangements for preventing condensation, precipitation or mist formation, outside the cooler (F28C1/14 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B01D5/003

  within column(s) · CPC title