CA1064815A - Water distribution system for heat exchangers - Google Patents
Water distribution system for heat exchangersInfo
- Publication number
- CA1064815A CA1064815A CA210,155A CA210155A CA1064815A CA 1064815 A CA1064815 A CA 1064815A CA 210155 A CA210155 A CA 210155A CA 1064815 A CA1064815 A CA 1064815A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- water
- heat exchange
- apertures
- troughs
- trough
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D3/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium flows in a continuous film, or trickles freely, over the conduits
- F28D3/02—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium flows in a continuous film, or trickles freely, over the conduits with tubular conduits
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D3/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium flows in a continuous film, or trickles freely, over the conduits
- F28D3/04—Distributing arrangements
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE:
Heat exchange system with a water distribution system including horizontally extending open top troughs having apertures spaced apart along each side a short distance from the upper edges of the troughs and means for maintaining a pressure head above the apertures for control of water flow and uniform water distribution out through the apertures.
Heat exchange system with a water distribution system including horizontally extending open top troughs having apertures spaced apart along each side a short distance from the upper edges of the troughs and means for maintaining a pressure head above the apertures for control of water flow and uniform water distribution out through the apertures.
Description
8~LS
, This invention relates to water distribution systems and more particularly it concerns novel arrangements for feeding water to the heat exchange regions of evaporative heat exchange systems.
Heat exchange systems of the type to which the present invention is especially suited are shown and described in U.S. Patents No. 3,1~6,609: No. 3l290,025 and No. 3,659,623. In those systems, water is supplied continu~
ously to troughs which extend substantially horizontally along an upper level. The water spills over the upper edges of the troughs and drops down therefrom through a heat ~ -exchange region therebelow where it contacts and is cooled by upwardly moving air. In order to maximize heat transfer between the downwardly falling water and the upwardly moving 15 air, the water is distributed as widely and as evenly as ~ ~-possible; and to this end the upper edges of each trough are notched to define spaced apart spillways through which con-trolled water flows at defined locations are maintained.
Where the troughs extend over a considerable distance, i.e., more than twelve feet, the rate of water flow ~- to and out from the various notches along the length of the :'. , ' :
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1 troughs becomes c~uite uneven; and unless special precautions
, This invention relates to water distribution systems and more particularly it concerns novel arrangements for feeding water to the heat exchange regions of evaporative heat exchange systems.
Heat exchange systems of the type to which the present invention is especially suited are shown and described in U.S. Patents No. 3,1~6,609: No. 3l290,025 and No. 3,659,623. In those systems, water is supplied continu~
ously to troughs which extend substantially horizontally along an upper level. The water spills over the upper edges of the troughs and drops down therefrom through a heat ~ -exchange region therebelow where it contacts and is cooled by upwardly moving air. In order to maximize heat transfer between the downwardly falling water and the upwardly moving 15 air, the water is distributed as widely and as evenly as ~ ~-possible; and to this end the upper edges of each trough are notched to define spaced apart spillways through which con-trolled water flows at defined locations are maintained.
Where the troughs extend over a considerable distance, i.e., more than twelve feet, the rate of water flow ~- to and out from the various notches along the length of the :'. , ' :
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1 troughs becomes c~uite uneven; and unless special precautions
2 are taken, the notched troughs will nol- provide good water
3 distribution. In the past, these special precautions have ~Y
4 included means to assist in the distribution of spillover water flow along the length of water supply troughs. It has 6 been proposed, for example, to form water distribution 7 channels inside the troughs which separate the longitudinal 8 flows from the exit flows. These channels, which were form-9 ed of elongated structural elements extending along the length of the troughs, made the trough structure complicated 11 and expensive. In addition, they tended to clog whenever 12 foreign material was carried in the water passing through 13 them. One quite successful technique for improving flow 14 distribution along water troughs was the provision of a single horizontal baffle which extended along the length 16 of the trough below the notches. (See for example U. S.
17 Patent No. 3,146,609.) While this horizontal baffle arrange~
18 ment did perform its water distribution function quite well~
19 it did not achieve the structural simplicity and cleanability obtained with the present invention. '~`~
21 The present invention permits even water distribu-22 tion from very long troughs with structures which are 23 simpler and more easily cleaned and maintained than those of 24 the prior art.
According to the present invention there is pro-26 vided a water distribution system comprising a water dis-27 tribution trough and means for supplying water to the trough 28 from one end and for maintaining the water in the trough at 29 a predetermined level. A series of apertures are formed :-..t . , -- 2 ~
,~
~:.
BAf~ 35 1~)6~ 3l5 l along the trough a-t a lower leve]; and the head of water 2 above those apertures serves to control the outflow throuyh 3 them irrespective of the longitudinal flow of water alon~
4 the length of the trough. The size of the apertures is so controlled that the water flowing out from them does not 6 significantly affect the head of water above them. Thus all 7 the apertures are subject to substantially the same head of 8 water and accordingly they each expel water at substantially 9 the same flow rate.
According to one embodiment of the present ll invention there are provided novel arrangements whereby 12 notched water distribution troughs may be easily recon-13 structed to provide the improved results described above.
14 These novel arrangements, as described more fully herein-after/ include elongated strips of inverted U-shape con-16 figuration, which strips are fitted over each of the upper ~-17 ed~es of notched troughs to form the notches into apertures 18 located a predetermined distance below the upper edg0s o~
l9 the trough. The strips then serve to contain the head of water above the thus formed apertures to maintain even 21 distribution of water flow from them.
22 There has thus been outlined rather broadly the 23 more important features of the invention in order that the 24 detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, ar~d in order tha~ the present contribution 26 to the art may be better appreciated. There are~ of 27 course, additional features of the invention that will be 28 described hereinafter and which will form the subject of 29 the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will .
... .. .. . . . . .
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l appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure 2 is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the 3 designing of other arrangements for carrying out the 4 several purposes of the invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such 6 equivalent constructions and techniques as do not depart 7 from the spirit and scope of the invention.
8 Plural embodiments of the invention have been 9 chosen for purposes of illustration and description, and are shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part of 11 the specification, wherein:
12 Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through 13 a typical evaporative heat exchanger utilizing a water dis-14 tribution system according to the present invention;
.
Fig. 2 is a view of a water distribution system 16 similar to that shown in Fig. 1 with troughs shown in trans-. :
17 verse section but to an enlarged scale;
18 Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 -19 of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the 21 water distribution system shown in Fig. 3 with parts in 22 section;
23 Fig. 5 is an isometric view of a fragment of a ~
24 typical trough partially cut away; and ~;
Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing a 26 modified form of water trough according to the present 27 invention.
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1 Referring now -to the drawinys in greater detail, 2 it will be noted that iII the evapora-tive heat exchanger as 3 shown in Fig. 1, a chamber 10 is provided at its upper end :~
4 with a group o~ troughs 11, and at its lower end with a ~:
; 5 sump 12. Each trough, as shown :in Fig~ 5, has triangularly 6 shaped apertures lla formed in its side walls, those in one .
7 side wall being staggered in relation to those of the other :
8 side wall. Water flows out through the apextures lla .
9 in the trough 11 and passes over heat exchanger tubes 13 10 in the form o~ rain or droplets. A centrifugal fan 19, ;~
11 driven by a motor l9a, pumps air through ducting 20 in a 12 slanted wall 34 and this air flows upwardly through the ~: .
13 chamber 10 çountercurrent to the water issuing from the .:
14 troughs 11. The air, after passage through the heat 15 exchanger, passes in between the troughs 11 and throuyh .
-` 16 mist eliminators 21 to atmosphere. The mist eliminator~
17 21 are in the form of baffles covering the cross section~ ~
18 of the upper end of the chamber 10. If a fluid to be ; ~ .
19 cooled or condensed is circulated through the heat exchanger tubes 13, heat is extracted from it by vapori 21 zation of some of the water spilling from the apertures 22 in the troughs 11. The water thereafter is collected in ~ 23 the sump 12 from which it is re-circulated by a pump 14 24 and a conduit 15 back to the troughs 11. Make-up water ~ 25 enters through a conduit 16 when a valve 17 is opened by .~ 26 reason of lowering of the float 18, to replace any water ~ 27 evaporated.
; 28 The foregoing is a brief description of an 29 evaporative heat exchanger which is conventional in , .
- . , :. - . -~L~64~3~L5 1 structure and operation except for the water distribution 2 system comprised of the troughs 11 having the apertures lla.
3 The invention relatec; specifically to improved 4 arrangements for distributing t:he water over the heat ex-change surfaces utilizing the clistribution box and trough 6 shown best in Figs. 2-5. For the sake of clarity, only one 7 trough 11 is specifically referred to in Figs. 2 and 4, 8 although it is to be understood that the description 9 applies equally to all the troughs 11. In the improvement, water is fed through conduit 15 into a distribution box 22 11 at the desired flow rate. While the box 22 may be covered, 12 it is open to atmosphere. An orifice 23 (Figs. 3 and 4) is 13 provided in the wall of the box 22 registering with each 14 trough 11 in order to distribute evenly and to meter the proper flow to each trough. Each such orifice is of sub-16 stantially the same size and shape as the trough cross ~
17 section with which it communicates; and it is in alignment ~ -18 with the trough.
19 Water flow to the troughs is further controlled by maintaining tlie level of water in the distribution ~ox 21 22 somewhat higher than the upper edges of the troughs 11.
22 It will be noted in Figs. 3 and 5 that the 23 triangularly shaped apertures lla are provided in spaced 24 apart relationship along the length of each trough on each side thereof near its upper edge. The water flow inside 26 the troughs is maintained such that a finite head (h) of 27 water exists above each of the apertures lla in each trough.
28 This head of water serves to control the flow of water out 29 through the apertures; such flow being substantially ~ .
. .
, . . . . .. .. .. . . .
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1~6~5 1 inde,endent of the longitudinal flow velocity of water 2 through the trough. The size of the apertures lla is 3 established such that the outflow of water from them under 4 the influence of the pressure head above them does not ; -appreciably affect the amount oi- the pressure head. Thus 6 there is obtained a substantially uniform pressure head 7 and consequently uniform flow distribution among the various ;
8 apertures lla of the trough. Also, as can be seen, the size 9 and shape of the apertures lla and the pressure head height (h) are related such that water passing out through the 11 apertures lla does not project out in streams from the 12 trough but instead merely flows down in thin film config-13 uration 25 along the outer surfaces of the trough. It has 14 been found tllat a high flow rate without squirting can be 15 ohtained when the apertures have a large perimeter to cross ~
16 section ratio. On the other hand, in designing aperture `
17 configurations with large perimeter to cross section 18 ratios, care must be taken to avoid configurations which 19 t nd to clog. It has been found that an excellent flow pattern can be obtained with minimal clogging tendency 21 where the apertures lla are of triangular con~iguration 22 and where one of the corners of the triangle is lower than 23 the other two corners.
24 It will be further noted that the bottom of each trough is rojnded. This permits the water from the aper-26 tures on one side of the trou~h to run down the outside of 27 the trough and around its bottom so that i~ eventually falls ,, ,: .
28 off toward the opposite side in the form of rain as indi-29 cated at 26. This provides very good distribution of the .
' ~ 7 ~
: . . , 1(~64~31 5 1 water to the heat exchanger region 13. ~y having the 2 apertures lla staggered from one side of the trough to the 3 other, the water flowing out from the apertures on one side 4 does not interfere with the flow from the apertures on the other side.
6 By way of example, a trough having a length of 7 18 feet, a height of three inches and a width of one and 8 three eights of an inch can be made to distribute water 9 quite evenly out through apertures in the shape of inverted triangles where such apertures have a base dimension of 11 three eighths of an inch, a height of three sixteenths of 12 an inch and are spaced two inches apart, at a level seven 13 eighths of an inch below the upper edges of the trough.
14 In such case the water level in the distribution box 22 should be about two and one-half inches above the upper 16 edges of the trough. Under such conditions a flow rate 17 of approximately twenty gallons of water per minute from 18 each trough may be expected.
19 Turning now to Fig. 6, there is shown an arrange-ment wherein a previously notched water distribution trough 21 can be easily reconstructed in accordance with the present 22 invention. As shown in Fig. 6, a trough 30 is formed 23 with rather deep V-shaped notches 32 along its two upper 24 edges. This configuration is shown in the prior art, for example in Figs. 3 and 4 of U. S. Patent No. 3,290,025.
26 According ~o the present invention, however, there are 27 provided two elongated strips 34 of inverted U-shaped 28 cross section; and each strip is closely fitted over an 29 associated one of the upper edges o~ the trough. As ca~
.. . . . .. . . . . .
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1 be seen in Fig. 6, the heic3ht of each strip 34 is less 2 than the depth of the notches 32 so that when the strips 3 are in place they cooperate with the notches to foxm 4 triangularly shaped apertures 32a in the trough at a dis-tance below its upper edges corresponding to the height of 6 the strips 34r As shown, this permits the maintenance of ' 7 a predetermined head of water (h) in the trough above the 8 apertures.
9 As with the embodiment of Figs. 2-5, it will be noted that`in the embodiment of Fig. 6 the apertures along 11 the two sides of the trough are in staggered relationship.
12 This allows the water which exits from the apertures on one 13 side to flow down and spread out in films 36 along the 14 outer trough surface and around the bottom of the trough without interfering with or being interfered with by the 16 corresponding flows from the opposite side. It is important ~-~
17 for ~ood water distribution that these flows be allowed to : :
18 occur along the outer trough surfaces. Because of this the 19 size of the apertures and the height of the pressure head above them should be such as to prevent squirting or pro-21 jection of streams of water out from the trough.
22 It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the 23 above described water distribution systems are very simple 24 in construction. Moreover, they contain no internal baffles and therefore have less tendency to clog than do many of the 26 water distribution troughs of the prior art. Also, the 27 trough arrangements of the present invention are very easily 28 cleaned since all trough surfaces are fully exposed at all 29 times.
:, :, _ g _ - -, ~- - , . : .
s~c 35 1~t;48~S
1 Although particular embodiments of the invention 2 are herein disclosed for purposes of explanation, various 3 modifications thereof, after study of this specification, 4 will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.
, ...
'
17 Patent No. 3,146,609.) While this horizontal baffle arrange~
18 ment did perform its water distribution function quite well~
19 it did not achieve the structural simplicity and cleanability obtained with the present invention. '~`~
21 The present invention permits even water distribu-22 tion from very long troughs with structures which are 23 simpler and more easily cleaned and maintained than those of 24 the prior art.
According to the present invention there is pro-26 vided a water distribution system comprising a water dis-27 tribution trough and means for supplying water to the trough 28 from one end and for maintaining the water in the trough at 29 a predetermined level. A series of apertures are formed :-..t . , -- 2 ~
,~
~:.
BAf~ 35 1~)6~ 3l5 l along the trough a-t a lower leve]; and the head of water 2 above those apertures serves to control the outflow throuyh 3 them irrespective of the longitudinal flow of water alon~
4 the length of the trough. The size of the apertures is so controlled that the water flowing out from them does not 6 significantly affect the head of water above them. Thus all 7 the apertures are subject to substantially the same head of 8 water and accordingly they each expel water at substantially 9 the same flow rate.
According to one embodiment of the present ll invention there are provided novel arrangements whereby 12 notched water distribution troughs may be easily recon-13 structed to provide the improved results described above.
14 These novel arrangements, as described more fully herein-after/ include elongated strips of inverted U-shape con-16 figuration, which strips are fitted over each of the upper ~-17 ed~es of notched troughs to form the notches into apertures 18 located a predetermined distance below the upper edg0s o~
l9 the trough. The strips then serve to contain the head of water above the thus formed apertures to maintain even 21 distribution of water flow from them.
22 There has thus been outlined rather broadly the 23 more important features of the invention in order that the 24 detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, ar~d in order tha~ the present contribution 26 to the art may be better appreciated. There are~ of 27 course, additional features of the invention that will be 28 described hereinafter and which will form the subject of 29 the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will .
... .. .. . . . . .
B~C' 3S
:~6~
l appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure 2 is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the 3 designing of other arrangements for carrying out the 4 several purposes of the invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such 6 equivalent constructions and techniques as do not depart 7 from the spirit and scope of the invention.
8 Plural embodiments of the invention have been 9 chosen for purposes of illustration and description, and are shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part of 11 the specification, wherein:
12 Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through 13 a typical evaporative heat exchanger utilizing a water dis-14 tribution system according to the present invention;
.
Fig. 2 is a view of a water distribution system 16 similar to that shown in Fig. 1 with troughs shown in trans-. :
17 verse section but to an enlarged scale;
18 Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 -19 of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the 21 water distribution system shown in Fig. 3 with parts in 22 section;
23 Fig. 5 is an isometric view of a fragment of a ~
24 typical trough partially cut away; and ~;
Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing a 26 modified form of water trough according to the present 27 invention.
'' ''"
:
.~
~ 64~S
1 Referring now -to the drawinys in greater detail, 2 it will be noted that iII the evapora-tive heat exchanger as 3 shown in Fig. 1, a chamber 10 is provided at its upper end :~
4 with a group o~ troughs 11, and at its lower end with a ~:
; 5 sump 12. Each trough, as shown :in Fig~ 5, has triangularly 6 shaped apertures lla formed in its side walls, those in one .
7 side wall being staggered in relation to those of the other :
8 side wall. Water flows out through the apextures lla .
9 in the trough 11 and passes over heat exchanger tubes 13 10 in the form o~ rain or droplets. A centrifugal fan 19, ;~
11 driven by a motor l9a, pumps air through ducting 20 in a 12 slanted wall 34 and this air flows upwardly through the ~: .
13 chamber 10 çountercurrent to the water issuing from the .:
14 troughs 11. The air, after passage through the heat 15 exchanger, passes in between the troughs 11 and throuyh .
-` 16 mist eliminators 21 to atmosphere. The mist eliminator~
17 21 are in the form of baffles covering the cross section~ ~
18 of the upper end of the chamber 10. If a fluid to be ; ~ .
19 cooled or condensed is circulated through the heat exchanger tubes 13, heat is extracted from it by vapori 21 zation of some of the water spilling from the apertures 22 in the troughs 11. The water thereafter is collected in ~ 23 the sump 12 from which it is re-circulated by a pump 14 24 and a conduit 15 back to the troughs 11. Make-up water ~ 25 enters through a conduit 16 when a valve 17 is opened by .~ 26 reason of lowering of the float 18, to replace any water ~ 27 evaporated.
; 28 The foregoing is a brief description of an 29 evaporative heat exchanger which is conventional in , .
- . , :. - . -~L~64~3~L5 1 structure and operation except for the water distribution 2 system comprised of the troughs 11 having the apertures lla.
3 The invention relatec; specifically to improved 4 arrangements for distributing t:he water over the heat ex-change surfaces utilizing the clistribution box and trough 6 shown best in Figs. 2-5. For the sake of clarity, only one 7 trough 11 is specifically referred to in Figs. 2 and 4, 8 although it is to be understood that the description 9 applies equally to all the troughs 11. In the improvement, water is fed through conduit 15 into a distribution box 22 11 at the desired flow rate. While the box 22 may be covered, 12 it is open to atmosphere. An orifice 23 (Figs. 3 and 4) is 13 provided in the wall of the box 22 registering with each 14 trough 11 in order to distribute evenly and to meter the proper flow to each trough. Each such orifice is of sub-16 stantially the same size and shape as the trough cross ~
17 section with which it communicates; and it is in alignment ~ -18 with the trough.
19 Water flow to the troughs is further controlled by maintaining tlie level of water in the distribution ~ox 21 22 somewhat higher than the upper edges of the troughs 11.
22 It will be noted in Figs. 3 and 5 that the 23 triangularly shaped apertures lla are provided in spaced 24 apart relationship along the length of each trough on each side thereof near its upper edge. The water flow inside 26 the troughs is maintained such that a finite head (h) of 27 water exists above each of the apertures lla in each trough.
28 This head of water serves to control the flow of water out 29 through the apertures; such flow being substantially ~ .
. .
, . . . . .. .. .. . . .
.
~c 3S
1~6~5 1 inde,endent of the longitudinal flow velocity of water 2 through the trough. The size of the apertures lla is 3 established such that the outflow of water from them under 4 the influence of the pressure head above them does not ; -appreciably affect the amount oi- the pressure head. Thus 6 there is obtained a substantially uniform pressure head 7 and consequently uniform flow distribution among the various ;
8 apertures lla of the trough. Also, as can be seen, the size 9 and shape of the apertures lla and the pressure head height (h) are related such that water passing out through the 11 apertures lla does not project out in streams from the 12 trough but instead merely flows down in thin film config-13 uration 25 along the outer surfaces of the trough. It has 14 been found tllat a high flow rate without squirting can be 15 ohtained when the apertures have a large perimeter to cross ~
16 section ratio. On the other hand, in designing aperture `
17 configurations with large perimeter to cross section 18 ratios, care must be taken to avoid configurations which 19 t nd to clog. It has been found that an excellent flow pattern can be obtained with minimal clogging tendency 21 where the apertures lla are of triangular con~iguration 22 and where one of the corners of the triangle is lower than 23 the other two corners.
24 It will be further noted that the bottom of each trough is rojnded. This permits the water from the aper-26 tures on one side of the trou~h to run down the outside of 27 the trough and around its bottom so that i~ eventually falls ,, ,: .
28 off toward the opposite side in the form of rain as indi-29 cated at 26. This provides very good distribution of the .
' ~ 7 ~
: . . , 1(~64~31 5 1 water to the heat exchanger region 13. ~y having the 2 apertures lla staggered from one side of the trough to the 3 other, the water flowing out from the apertures on one side 4 does not interfere with the flow from the apertures on the other side.
6 By way of example, a trough having a length of 7 18 feet, a height of three inches and a width of one and 8 three eights of an inch can be made to distribute water 9 quite evenly out through apertures in the shape of inverted triangles where such apertures have a base dimension of 11 three eighths of an inch, a height of three sixteenths of 12 an inch and are spaced two inches apart, at a level seven 13 eighths of an inch below the upper edges of the trough.
14 In such case the water level in the distribution box 22 should be about two and one-half inches above the upper 16 edges of the trough. Under such conditions a flow rate 17 of approximately twenty gallons of water per minute from 18 each trough may be expected.
19 Turning now to Fig. 6, there is shown an arrange-ment wherein a previously notched water distribution trough 21 can be easily reconstructed in accordance with the present 22 invention. As shown in Fig. 6, a trough 30 is formed 23 with rather deep V-shaped notches 32 along its two upper 24 edges. This configuration is shown in the prior art, for example in Figs. 3 and 4 of U. S. Patent No. 3,290,025.
26 According ~o the present invention, however, there are 27 provided two elongated strips 34 of inverted U-shaped 28 cross section; and each strip is closely fitted over an 29 associated one of the upper edges o~ the trough. As ca~
.. . . . .. . . . . .
~"~
1 be seen in Fig. 6, the heic3ht of each strip 34 is less 2 than the depth of the notches 32 so that when the strips 3 are in place they cooperate with the notches to foxm 4 triangularly shaped apertures 32a in the trough at a dis-tance below its upper edges corresponding to the height of 6 the strips 34r As shown, this permits the maintenance of ' 7 a predetermined head of water (h) in the trough above the 8 apertures.
9 As with the embodiment of Figs. 2-5, it will be noted that`in the embodiment of Fig. 6 the apertures along 11 the two sides of the trough are in staggered relationship.
12 This allows the water which exits from the apertures on one 13 side to flow down and spread out in films 36 along the 14 outer trough surface and around the bottom of the trough without interfering with or being interfered with by the 16 corresponding flows from the opposite side. It is important ~-~
17 for ~ood water distribution that these flows be allowed to : :
18 occur along the outer trough surfaces. Because of this the 19 size of the apertures and the height of the pressure head above them should be such as to prevent squirting or pro-21 jection of streams of water out from the trough.
22 It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the 23 above described water distribution systems are very simple 24 in construction. Moreover, they contain no internal baffles and therefore have less tendency to clog than do many of the 26 water distribution troughs of the prior art. Also, the 27 trough arrangements of the present invention are very easily 28 cleaned since all trough surfaces are fully exposed at all 29 times.
:, :, _ g _ - -, ~- - , . : .
s~c 35 1~t;48~S
1 Although particular embodiments of the invention 2 are herein disclosed for purposes of explanation, various 3 modifications thereof, after study of this specification, 4 will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.
, ...
'
Claims (12)
1. In a heat exchange system the combination of a chamber enclosing a heat exchange region, means for maintaining an air flow through said heat exchange region, a water distribution system located above said heat exchange region, said water distribution system comprising a water distribution box, a plurality of troughs extending in generally horizontal directions, the interior of said box being in fluid communica-tion with each of said troughs and arranged to maintain flow to and through said troughs while sustaining a given level of water in said troughs, said troughs being formed with a plurality of apertures distributed along the lengths of the troughs at a predetermined distance below said given level of water whereby a finite head of water exists in each trough above each of said apertures to thereby control the flow of water out through said apertures, such flow being substantially independent of the longitudinal flow velocity of water through said trough.
2. A heat exchange system according to Claim 1, wherein the size of said apertures is related to said pre-determined distance such that water exiting from inside said trough out through said apertures forms films which flow down along the outer trough surface.
3. A heat exchange system according to Claim 1, wherein said apertures are in the form of inverted triangles.
4. A heat exchange system according to Claim 1, wherein the bottoms of said troughs are rounded and wherein said apertures extend along both sides of said trough and are in staggered relation from one side to the other.
5. In a heat exchange system the combination of a chamber enclosing a heat exchange region, means for maintaining an air flow through said heat exchange region, a water distribution system located above said heat exchange region, said water distribution system comprising a water distribution box, a plurality of troughs extending out from said box in generally horizontal directions, the interior of said box being in fluid communication via an opening with one end of each of said troughs and arranged to maintain flow to and through said troughs while sustaining a given level of water in said troughs, said troughs being formed with a plurality of apertures distributed along the length of the troughs at a predetermined distance below said given level of water whereby a finite head of water exists in each trough above each of said apertures to thereby control the flow of water out through said apertures, such flow being substantially independent of the longitudinal flow velocity of water through said trough.
6. A heat exchange system according to Claim 5, wherein each opening is of the same shape and size as its associated trough cross section and is aligned with its associated trough.
7. A heat exchange system according to Claim 5, wherein said water distribution box is open to the atmosphere.
8. A heat exchange system according to Claim 7, wherein said water distribution box is constructed to maintain therein a water level greater than said given level.
9. A heat exchange system according to Claim 5, wherein the size of said apertures is related to said pre-determined distance such that water exiting from inside said trough out through said apertures forms films which flow down along the outer trough surface.
10. A heat exchange system according to Claim 5, wherein said apertures are in the form of triangles.
11. A heat exchange system according to Claim 10, wherein one corner of each triangular aperture is lower than the other corners.
12. A heat exchange system according to Claim 5, wherein the bottoms of said troughs are rounded and wherein said apertures extend along both sides of said trough and are in staggered relation from one side to the other.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US40865273A | 1973-10-23 | 1973-10-23 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1064815A true CA1064815A (en) | 1979-10-23 |
Family
ID=23617157
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA210,155A Expired CA1064815A (en) | 1973-10-23 | 1974-09-26 | Water distribution system for heat exchangers |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS5073252A (en) |
| BE (1) | BE821332A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1064815A (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA746688B (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US10209013B2 (en) | 2010-09-03 | 2019-02-19 | Johnson Controls Technology Company | Vapor compression system |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS5253459U (en) * | 1975-10-16 | 1977-04-16 | ||
| KR101924344B1 (en) * | 2013-06-07 | 2018-12-03 | 존슨 컨트롤스 테크놀러지 컴퍼니 | Distributor for use in a vapor compression system |
-
1974
- 1974-09-26 CA CA210,155A patent/CA1064815A/en not_active Expired
- 1974-10-22 BE BE149756A patent/BE821332A/en unknown
- 1974-10-22 ZA ZA00746688A patent/ZA746688B/en unknown
- 1974-10-23 JP JP49121558A patent/JPS5073252A/ja active Pending
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US10209013B2 (en) | 2010-09-03 | 2019-02-19 | Johnson Controls Technology Company | Vapor compression system |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| ZA746688B (en) | 1976-05-26 |
| AU7369874A (en) | 1976-04-01 |
| BE821332A (en) | 1975-04-22 |
| JPS5073252A (en) | 1975-06-17 |
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