Water collection arrangement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11248859-B2
Application number	US-202016858334-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 24, 2020
Priority date	Aug 31, 2017
Publication date	Feb 15, 2022
Grant date	Feb 15, 2022

Abstract

An improved water management system with improved airflow distribution for counterflow evaporative heat exchangers is provided. Such heat exchangers include open cooling towers, closed circuit cooling towers, and evaporative condensers. The improved water management system eliminates water splash out and the noise associated with water splashing. Further when the fan assemblies are located below the evaporative heat exchanger, the improved water management system keeps the fans dry and prevents freezing in subzero climates.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cooling tower comprising:
an outer structure;
an evaporative heat exchanger in the outer structure comprising an indirect heat exchanger, the indirect heat exchanger comprising an inlet to receive process fluid and an outlet for the process fluid;
a fan assembly;
an evaporative liquid distribution assembly in the outer structure, the evaporative liquid distribution assembly configured to distribute evaporative liquid onto the evaporative heat exchanger;
a gutter assembly in the outer structure, the gutter assembly configured to collect at least a portion of the distributed evaporative fluid from the evaporative heat exchanger;
a sump configured to receive the collected fluid from the gutter assembly;
a first portion of the sump in the outer structure;
a second portion of the sump external to the outer structure, the sump allowing collected evaporative fluid to flow from the first portion of the sump to the second portion of the sump;
the second portion of the sump permitting access to the collected evaporative fluid in the second portion of the sump during operation of the cooling tower;
a pump configured to pump the evaporative fluid from the second portion of the sump to the evaporative liquid distribution assembly;
wherein the cooling tower is a closed loop cooling tower having a first circuit for the process fluid and a second circuit for the evaporative liquid that is independent of the first circuit; and
wherein the first circuit includes the indirect heat exchanger and wherein the second circuit includes the evaporative liquid distribution assembly, the sump, and the pump.

2. The cooling tower of claim 1 wherein the sump includes a baffle configured to inhibit air in the outer structure from entering the second portion of the sump.

3. The cooling tower of claim 1 wherein the cooling tower has an upper end, a lower end, and a height extending therebetween; and
wherein the sump is intermediate the evaporative heat exchanger and the fan assembly along the height of the cooling tower.

4. The cooling tower of claim 1 wherein the pump is at least partially in the second portion of the sump.

5. The cooling tower of claim 1 wherein the gutter assembly is sloped toward the first portion of the sump and extends at an angle greater than one degree from the horizontal.

6. The cooling tower of claim 1 wherein the gutter assembly is comprised of a plurality of adjacent channel structures;
wherein each channel structure is comprised of a primary collection channel and a secondary collection channel;
wherein each primary collection channel includes a first end and each secondary collection channel includes a first end; and
wherein the first end of the primary collection channel of one channel structure extends above and laterally overlaps with the first end of the secondary collection channel of an adjacent channel structure.

7. The cooling tower of claim 1 wherein the evaporative heat exchanger includes:
fill sheets;
a serpentine tube coil; and/or
a plate heat exchanger.

8. The cooling tower of claim 1 wherein the outer structure has a footprint; and
wherein the first portion of the sump is smaller than the footprint of the outer structure.

9. The cooling tower of claim 1 wherein the indirect heat exchanger comprises:
a plate style heat exchanger; and/or
a serpentine tube coil.

10. A cooling tower comprising:
an outer structure;
an evaporative heat exchanger in the outer structure;
a fan assembly;
an evaporative liquid distribution assembly in the outer structure, the evaporative liquid distribution assembly configured to distribute evaporative liquid onto the evaporative heat exchanger;
a gutter assembly in the outer structure, the gutter assembly configured to collect at least a portion of the distributed evaporative fluid from the evaporative heat exchanger;
a sump configured to receive the collected fluid from the gutter assembly;
a first portion of the sump in the outer structure;
a second portion of the sump external to the outer structure, the sump allowing collected evaporative fluid to flow from the first portion of the sump to the second portion of the sump;
the second portion of the sump permitting access to the collected evaporative fluid in the second portion of the sump during operation of the cooling tower;
wherein the second portion of the sump includes an opening; and
an access door covers the opening of the sump second portion.

11. A cooling tower comprising:
an outer structure;
an evaporative heat exchanger in the outer structure;
a fan assembly;
an evaporative liquid distribution assembly in the outer structure, the evaporative liquid distribution assembly configured to distribute evaporative liquid onto the evaporative heat exchanger;
a gutter assembly in the outer structure, the gutter assembly configured to collect at least a portion of the distributed evaporative fluid from the evaporative heat exchanger;
a sump configured to receive the collected fluid from the gutter assembly;
a first portion of the sump in the outer structure;
a second portion of the sump external to the outer structure, the sump allowing collected evaporative fluid to flow from the first portion of the sump to the second portion of the sump; and
the second portion of the sump permitting access to the collected evaporative fluid in the second portion of the sump during operation of the cooling tower;
wherein the gutter assembly is comprised of a plurality of adjacent channel structures;
wherein each channel structure is comprised of a primary collection channel and a secondary collection channel;
wherein each primary collection channel includes a first end and each secondary collection channel includes a first end;
wherein the first end of the primary collection channel of one channel structure extends above and laterally overlaps with the first end of the secondary collection channel of an adjacent channel structure; and
wherein each channel structure includes a deflection section having a first end, wherein the first end of at least one deflection section of one channel structure extends above and laterally overlaps with the first end of a primary collection channel of an adjacent channel structure.

12. A cooling tower having an upper end, a lower end, and a height extending therebetween, the cooling tower comprising:
an evaporative heat exchanger;
at least one fan assembly below the heat exchanger;
a sump intermediate the evaporative heat exchanger and the at least one fan assembly along the height of the cooling tower;
an evaporative liquid distribution assembly above the evaporative heat exchanger, the evaporative liquid distribution assembly configured to distribute evaporative fluid onto the evaporative heat exchanger; and
a gutter assembly configured to collect at least a portion of the distributed evaporative liquid from the evaporative heat exchanger and direct the collected evaporative liquid into the sump;
wherein the gutter assembly comprises:
a plurality of elongate channel structures each having a first end portion, a second end portion opposite the first end portion, and a longitudinal length extending therebetween;
a first frame extending laterally relative to the elongate channel structures and supporting the first end portions of the elongate channel structures; and
a second frame extending laterally relative to the elongate channel structures and supporting the second end portions of the elongate channel structures.

13. The cooling tower of claim 12 wherein the gutter assembly is intermediate the evaporative heat exchanger and the a

Assignees

• Baltimore Aircoil Co Inc

Inventors

• Auth Christopher
• Rousselet Yohann
• Malamud Dina
• Egolf Kevin
• Sztobryn Lukasz

Classifications

• F28F25/04 Primary

  Distributing or accumulator troughs · CPC title

• F28C1/14 Primary

  comprising also a non-direct contact heat exchange · CPC title

• F28D1/0461

  Combination of different types of heat exchanger, e.g. radiator combined with tube-and-shell heat exchanger; Arrangement of conduits for heat exchange between at least two media and for heat exchange between at least one medium and the large body of fluid · CPC title

• F28D1/0477

  the conduits being bent in a serpentine or zig-zag · CPC title

• F28F25/12

  Ducts; Guide vanes, e.g. for carrying currents to distinct zones · CPC title