US2016086A - Apparatus for cooling liquids - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 1, 1935.

E. F. FISHER APPARATUS FOR COOLING LIQUIDS Filed June 11, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 fffwdm H o muy.

, Oct- Q 1935- E. F. FISHER 2,016,086

APPARATUS FOR COOLING LIQUIDS A v Filed June 11, 19:54 5 sheets-Sheet 2 E Wies? E' fiks/$612 I?? venoz.' fw; ga.

.Oct.'1 1935. E. F. FISHER 2,016,086

APPARATUS FOR .COOLING LIQUIDS -Filed June l1, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventar Oct. l, 1935. E. F. FISHER APPARATUS FOR COOLING LIQUIDS Filed June 11, 1954 5 sheets-sheet 4 v 011 0m. orney.

Oct. 1935, E. F. FISHER 2,016,086

APPARATUS FOR COOLING LIQUIDS Filed June l1, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Emmi/:wher

renfor- @mgm larzey;

Patented Oct. l, 1935 UNITED s'rii'riazs V.srrsiwrus ron comme manips' Ernest F. Fisher, St. Louis. Mo. Ammann June 11, 1934, serial No. '130,103

18 Claims.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for evaporating and cooling liquids and more particularly to apparatus for removing heat from water that has been used in condensing or cooling systems having application to refrigeration, the cooling of internal combustion engine cylinders and the like, the cooling of liquids and gases, cool-- ing systems for homes, oillces and public places and other applications where water is used over and over again for transferring heat in process work.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a cooling system employing air in intimate contact with water tobe cooled so as t evaporate a part of the water and in so doi lower the temperature of the water to near the wet bulb temperature of the atmosphere, it being obvious that the temperature of the water cannot be reduced below the wet bulb temperature. A

modiiied form of my invention contemplates an.

eflicient means for condensing gas to a liquid;

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved method of and means for circulating the cooling air in conjunction with the water and in a counterow manner.

Another object is to -provide a cooling tank comprising a series of sections" adapted to be grouped in a nested form to facilitate shipment.

Other objects will be apparentl from the speciiication which follows.

As the effectiveness of the apparatus as hereinafter .described is dependent upon its ability to evaporate large amounts of water, the apparatus can be used as a. humidifying machine It can also be used as a gas and air washer.

' In the accompanying drawings which show a diagrammatic representation` of a preferred embodiment of my invention and various modificationsthereof: j f

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a preferred formA of invention;

Fig. 2 is asectional view on line 2 -2 of Figure 1 in the direction ofthe arrows;`

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a modification;

' Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of anothe 'modcatiom i Fig. 5 is a partialview in side elevation of the device of Figure 4; i Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 8 6 of Figure `i;

Fig. 7 is a modification; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 8-8 of Figure '7.

. This application is a continuation in part of` my appplict'ttion, Serial No. 623,898, filed July 2l, 1932, and allowed July 7, 1933.

Referring to Figures l and 2 of the drawings, I

have shownan assembled cooling tank formed of vertical sectional view of a further' a plurality of sections. The lowermost section I forms a reservoir for collecting the cooled liquid. 'The intermediate section 2 provides `.an air-inlet and mixing chamber. A series of upper sections or auxiliary mixing chambers 8, 4, 5 andt are, 5g

arranged above section 2 and are formed tocommunicate with each other in a manner to permit air and liquid to flow therethrough axially. The uppermost chamber 'I functions primarily as an eliminator chamber.

It will be observed that the diaphragms 8, 9, I0, I I and I2 rest on a beading rolled in the walls of sections 2, 3,14; 5 and 6, to form joints between the sections and each joint is sealed against the exit of water and air by means of a packing of tar or cement I3 to provide a water tight diaphragm between adjacent sections except at a central orifice in each diaphragm. The liquid to be cooled is pumped into the cooler through a conduit I4- which terminates in a spray head l5.` A diaphragm I 8 forms the bottom of f section 2 and has a central passage I1 for cooled liquid. A conical member I8 is positiond centrally of section 2 being secured to the diaphragm I6. 'I'he conduit I4 vpreferably passes axially 5 through this member. Openings I9 'around the lower periphery of this member permitliquid to now from chamber 2 through passage I1 to reservoir I. An air inlet is arranged tangentially to the wall of section 2 in a manner to cause air forced thereto to swirl close to the wall of this section and towards its axis up to the member I8. A spiral vane-2| is arranged on conical member I8 in order to guide the air swirl more eifectively upwardly. The purpose of the member I8 is to 35 cause the formation of a. Cyclonic swirl inthe air supplied irom the inlet 20. Each diaphragm 8, 9, I8 and Illhas a central opening and the metal adjacent the periphery of each opening is, bent downwardly and formed with serrations22. The diaphragms 9, I0 and I I have suspended therefrom an auxiliary diaphragm or baffle plate 23, 24 and 25, each likewise having a central openingland serrations 22. The openings in these diaphragms increase in diameter upwardly. The section l is provided with an outlet 26 and a series of eliminator plates 2l which function to separate particles of liquid from the air leaving this outlet, which liquid is permitted to flow inwardly to remain within the cooling tank. A

air passing upwardly. This liquid spraycollects on the diaphragms and ows from each diaphragm onto the diaphragm just below. This liquid ilow is broken up into small streams by means of the serrations 22 to provide a more intimate mixing of liquid and air during counteriiow of these streams.

The orifice 22 in the lowermost diaphragm l is ilared outwardly so that the water falling oif its serrated edges will fall in the path of the high velocity air before the air is converged by cone il. In this manner, the water is not permitted to fall on cone Il at which point the air has a low velocity. The outer zone of the swirl constitutes an area of high peripheral velocity which velocity decreases as the air converges for entry to the lower orifice but the linear velocity increases. The highest velocity of swirl or the peripheral velocity is at the serrated edges where the water leaves the diaphragms in droplets. The air swirl keeps the water on the diaphragms and will not permit the water to fall down through the center of the orifices. These orifices of the diaphragms increase in diameter upwardly so as to increase the velocity of swirl of air upwardly and to cause the air to expand.

'The modified device of Figure 3 is in all respects similar to that of Figure 1 except that a plate 29 is suspended by hangers 30 from the diaphragm 8 and, in turn, supports the conical member I8. The plate 29 serves the same purpose asthe flared central oriilce in diaphragm l in Figure l. The cone i8 increases the velocity of swirl and converges the air for entrance into the orifice 3|. The water falls through this orifice nto the plate 29 which is comparatively large in diameter and the edge of this plate from which the water falls lies in the path of the high velocity air which breaks the water up into a line spray. l

In Figure 4, the cooling tower is formed from a reservoir section 32, aswirl or inlet chamber 33 A and a series of mixing chambers 2l, 35 and 36.

A cone 31 is suspended inverted from a diaphragm 38 which has a central orice 39 fringed with serrations Il.' The cone-31 ismade up of vanes Ii a cross section of which is shown in Figure 6. The edges of these vanes are Aset at a slight angle withvthe body portions thereof twisted or warped as shown in Fig. 4, so that they out the air swirl. Other diaphragms I2 and 43 formed 'similar to diaphragm 3l serve to vsupport conesA Il and 45 which are similar to cone ll.' A tangential air inlet 2l is provided in line with cone 31. Water to be cooled is sprayed in from a spray head. An air outlet 41 is providedwith liquid eliminator plates ll. The cones 31, Il, 4l are located in the vortex of the air swirl and serve to guide the water discharging from head' .into the vortex' where it is further brokenkup as it falls through each succeedingl orice. v The eliminator plates l4l prevent fine spray from4 from up -into spray. -V

'I'he modification of Figures 7 and 8 relates to an apparatusfor more efliciently condensing gas to a liquid as applied to. refrigeration machines 'or-to cool the water that is circulated through Diesel and other internal gine jackets. Y

According to the present practice in refrigeration, the water is cooledin a cooling tower and then pumped throughv the condenser. Thispro- 5 cedure involves two distinct steps and the cost of pumping is `sometimes high due to friction head through v the condenser. In this indirect process, there is a considerable loss in heat transfer. efiiciency.' Y i 10 InFigure"I,acoil`l"inwhichtheglstobe. T condensed is com. is locatedin tbe path of the cooling airan'd water. This coil is formed as two spaced spirals between which the air and water may pass to contact all coil surface. /This 15 coil is located within the cooling tower which comprises a series of sections 5I, Il, $2, I3 and 5l constructed similar to the sections shown in Figure 1, whereby the sections, when not bled, maybe nested. Sections 5i to eachterminate 20 atone end in a diaphragm il which is provided with a central orifice 56 yfringed with serrations 51. Lower section 5l serves as a reservoir to receive the spent cooling water. A cone 5l is secured to the bottom wallrof the reservoir and 25 extends axially within the tank well past the air inlet 5! which extends tangentiaily into the tank as shown in Figure 8. Cooling water is supplied from conduit Il which terminates in a spray head 6|, and the spent sprayed water may lcollect in 3o reservoir 5I. If desired, the conduit 6l may draw water from reservoir 5l and make up water to supply loss due to evaporation may be supplied from a conduit 62 to the reservoir and the water level controlled by a float valve common to this 35 art.v Gas to be condensed is supplied to coil I9' by an inlet pipe 63 and this gas, when condensed, will drain throughl a pipe. to a receiver 65. Eliminator plates Si in air outlet 61 serve to re- -move all water particles from the outgoing air. o In operation, the air entersthe inlet, and swirls around at high velocity in chamber 5| and threads its path upwardly to outlet il. The cone il 'serves to increase the velocity of'swirl of the air keeping the water from spray head Il in 45 contact with the coils Il. The diaphragms 55 iit close to the spiral coil and prevent any spray from passing-unless it contacts the coil and air swirl. This results in maximum evaporation on -the surface of the coil, thus cooling the coil and o 'extracting the heat from the compressed gas which is liquefied and passed out through conduit il. A blower, not shown. serves to force air into inlet IL When the device of Figure 7 is applied to Diesel u engine cooling, the coil Il forms a closed circuit with the engine jacket and pump, which circuit is iiiled with pure water that will not form scale.

Veryii't'tle evapiationoccurs in this closed circuit as the water does not contact the cooling air. .o The water used in the cooling tower as aspray maybeof lesser purity.

It will be noted in the'zvarious modifications shown that a conical member is `arranged adjacentanairinletandthisairiscausedtoswirl around in the chamber containing the cone and the cone 'acts with the air inlet to produce a cyclonic swirlwhich is directed upwardly to pass through theoriilces in the diaphragm. The liquid spray flows downwardly through each orifice and from the edge serrations in a manner to intimately mix with the cooling air. l,Other features are common to the various modifications.

The various modications shown are intended to illustrate preferred forms of my invention, but

it is to be understood that other modifications and variations are contemplated such as will be embraced within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is: y

1. In a cooling and evaporating apparatus comprising a vertical tank, said tank having a tangential air inlet, a cone disposed axially in said tank and opposite to said air inlet, a diaphragm disposed above the cone and having a hole in its center, said hole being in line with the apex of said cone, a second diaphragmdisp gsed above said first diaphragm and being provided with a hole in its center in line with the hole in the first diaphragm, said diaphragms forming compartments Within said tank and effectually preventing water and air from passing said diaphragms save through the relatively large holes in their centers through which air is adapted to pass in a cyclonic swirl upwardly from said cone, and means to spray liquid into the upper end of said tank.

2. In a cooling apparatus comprising a vertical tank, \a conical member positioned centrally of said tank, an air inlet to said tank positioned substantially in the plane of said member and tangentially thereto and to the Wall of said tank, means for forcing air into `said inlet and around said member-whereby said conical member will produce a cyclonic whirl within the tank, a series of transverse partitions within said tank secured in a water tight manner along their outer edges to the wall of said tank and spaced at different distances above the conical member, each partition having a relatively large central orifice through which swirling air may pass upwardly from said conical member the apex of the conical member being directed towards the central orices to direct air thereto.

3. In a cooling apparatus as set forth in claim 2, means for spraying liquid to be cooled to said tank to mingle with the swirling air.

4. In a cooling apparatus as set forth in claim 2,

the edge of each orifice being provided with ay series of downwardly projecting points, and means for spraying liquid to said tank to mingle with the swirling air.

5. In a cooling apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cone is hollow and is provided with openings through its wall for permitting fluid to flow therethrough into the cone, a diaphragm to support said cone, and a fluid orifice formed in` the cone supporting diaphragm below 'said cone.

6. In a cooling apparatus as set forth in claim 2, means for spraying liquid to be cooled to said tank to mingle with said air, a transverse wall for supporting. said cone, a liquid reservoir below the transverse wall, said conical member and wall being provided with openings for passing liquid therethrough to said reservoir.

7. In a cooling apparatus, a vertical tank, a series of transverse diaphragms secured in a water tight manner along theirlouter edge to the wall of said tank providing compartments, each diaphragm being provided with a central orifice, a baille plate secured directly to each diaphragm and spaced therefrom and from the wall ofl the tank, each baflie plate having a central orifice,

all of said orifices being coaxial and decreasing in diameter downwardly.

8. In a cooling apparatus as sct forth in claim 7, wherein certain of said orifices along the edges thereof are provided with a series of downwardly projecting points.

9. In a cooling and evaporating apparatus, a tank comprising a plurality ofsections adapted to be assembled in concentric axial alignment, the cross sectional area of the sections decreasing relatively in one direction when in assembled rela- 5 tion, said sections being formed similarly whereby to be assembled in a nested relation as a com-l pact unit prior to their assemblage as a tank certain of the sections having a transverse member, each member having a central opening therethrough, the edge of each opening being bent to form a flange.

10. In an apparatus as setforth in claim 9, the opposed adjacent ends of each pair of sections being vformed to permit telescopic engagement l5 thereof during assemblage to form a tank.

11. In an apparatus as set forth inclaim 9, the opposed adjacent ends of each pair of sections being formed to permit telescopic engagement thereof during assemblage to form a tank, and means on one adjacent section for limiting the amount of telescopic overlap wln'le in assembled relation.

12. In an` apparatus as set forth in claim,9, certain of said sections being provided withA a transverse member at one end, each said member'having a central opening, said openings being aligned axially when the sections are assembled.

13. In -an apparatus as set forth in claim 9, one of said sections being provided with a tangentially arranged air inlet, and a conical member positioned centrally of said member to be impacted with air from said inlet to form a cyclonic swirl and direct same along the axis of said section.

14. A cooling apparatus comprising a tank, a coil for receiving material to be cooled arranged spirally axially of said tank, an inlet for forcing cooling air into said tank adjacent an end thereof, a conical member positioned within said' coil,

said inlet being arranged tangentially to said 40" member whereby the member causes cooling air to flow axially up the coil, and means to spray a liquid into said tank to contact said coil and pass therealong in counterflow to said cooling air.

15. In a cooling apparatus comprising -a main chamber, a series of transverse members positioned to divide said main chamber into a plurality of chamber sections, said members each being formed to provide an opening centrally therein, a plurality of spaced elongated members each secured at one end in spaced relation to each transverse member adjacent the edge of the opening therein, said elongated members' being extended downwardly and inwardly substantially to form a conical shape.

16. Ina cooling apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein the edge of each transverse member that defines the opening is formed to provide a plurality of laterally offset serrations.

17. In a cooling apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein each elongated member is formed to provide a Warped surface.

18. In a cooling apparatus as set forth in claim 15, an inlet conduit opening into the chamber adjacent the bottom thereof and arranged tangentially thereto and in the plane of the lowermost group of elongated members whereby fluid admitted through the inlet is caused to impact said members during its passage upwardly through the openings.

ERNEST F. FISHER.

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