US3890412A - Liquid cooling assemblies - Google Patents

Abstract

A large scale liquid cooling assembly includes a plurality of individual liquid cooling spray units, each of which has a plurality of liquid spray members adapted for controlled projection of liquid drops in trajectories, substantially all of which have horizontal components extending in one common horizontal direction from the spray members of that particular spray unit, with drop sizes, velocities and volume rates of liquid spraying adapted to provide a directional wind effect across said unit along said one horizontal direction. These spray units are arranged in first and second row portions from which liquid is projected in respectively different first and second directions. The preferred assembly has such spray units located and arranged in first and second spaced generally parallel rows with a plurality of cooling units in each row, and with an inner reservoir portion between the rows, a first outer reservoir portion outside the first row, and a second outer reservoir portion outside the second row. In one embodiment, the spray units in the respective rows are aligned and oriented to project liquid drops inwardly from each row over and into the inner reservoir portion, and in another embodiment the spray units in each row are aligned and oriented to project liquid drops outwardly over and into their respective outer reservoir portions. Specific embodiments are shown in which the horizontal directions of the directional wind effects from the various rows are arranged to take advantage of various ambient conditions, and in which the individual spray units within one row portion can be controlled independently of the individual spray units in another row portion in accordance with the ambient wind conditions at any given time.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 Boler i 1 LIQUID COOLING ASSEMBLIES Leonard J. Boler, Minneapolis, Minn.

[73] Assignee: Cherne Industrial, 1nc., Edina,

Minn.

221 Filed: Oct. 10, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 296,779

[75] Inventor:

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,233,119 7/1917 Parker 62/305 1,586,083 5/1926 Greene 261/116 1,778,364 10/1930 Lewis 261/116 1,868,632 7/1932 Edge 239/521 2,591,100 4/1952 Rouse........ 239/23 2,934,325 4/1960 Haglund 261/92 3,719,353 3/1973 Cheme et al. 261/92 3,785,626 1/1974 Bradley, Jr. et a1 261/36 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 406,192 11/1924 Germany 261/92 149,276 3/1955 Sweden....... 261/92 383,680 1/1908 Francem. 261/90 8,798 4/1908 France 261/90 Primary ExaminerTim R. Miles Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Dorsey, Marquart, Windhorst, West & Halladay {57] ABSTRACT A large scale liquid cooling assembly includes a plural- 1 1 June 17, 1975 ity of individual liquid cooling spray units, each of which has a plurality of liquid spray members adapted for controlled projection of liquid drops in trajectories, substantially all of which have horizontal components extending in one common horizontal direction from the spray members of that particular spray unit, with drop sizes, velocities and volume rates of liquid spraying adapted to provide a directional wind effect across said unit along said one horizontal direction. These spray units are arranged in first and second row portions from which liquid is projected in respectively different first and second directions. The preferred assembly has such spray units located and arranged in first and second spaced generally parallel rows with a plurality of cooling units in each row, and with an inner reservoir portion between the rows, a first outer reservoir portion outside the first row, and a second outer reservoir portion outside the second row.

in one embodiment, the spray units in the respective rows are aligned and oriented to project liquid drops inwardly from each row over and into the inner reservoir portion, and in another embodiment the spray units in each row are aligned and oriented to project liquid drops outwardly over and into their respective outer reservoir portions. Specific embodiments are shown in which the horizontal directions of the directional wind effects from the various rows are arranged to take advantage of various ambient conditions, and in which the individual spray units within one row portion can be controlled independently of the individual spray units in another row portion in accordance with the ambient wind conditions at any given time.

9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTED JUN 1 7 I975 SHEET PATENTEDJUN 17 ms sum 2 1 LIQUID COOLING ASSEMBLIES CROSS-REFERENCES TO OTHER APPLICATIONS Certain features of the liquid cooling spray units described in the present application, as well as additional embodiments of such units suitable for use in the liquid assemblies of the present application are claimed in one or more of two copending applications filed on the same date as the present application, identified by US. Ser. Nos. 296,777 and 296778, and respectively entitled LIQUID COOLING APPARATUS" and MOD- ULAR LIQUID COOLING SPRAY UNITS". Each of those applications is assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In commercial applications where large quantities of water or other liquid are used for the cooling of apparatus in an operating plant, there is a continuing need for improved methods and apparatus by which the heated liquid which is delivered from heat exchangers in such a plant, after performing its cooling function, can again be cooled to a substantial degree for recirculation and further use within the plant, or for reintroduction of the liquid to a natural source, such as a lake or river, from which it may have been initially drawn. There have been a number of different devices, such as large cooling towers, cooling ponds extending over substantial areas of land, and different aerating devices, all of which have been either used or suggested for the cooling of desired quantities of liquid to avoid the problems generally referred to by the term thermal pollution or merely to provide a desired cooling of a given liquid for recirculation. Such earlier devices and installations, particularly those in which liquid is sprayed or aerated in some manner above a cooling pond or liquid reservoir, have sometimes been handicapped in operation by saturation of the air above such an installation with moisture and by the reduced cooling efficiency due to the gradual increase of temperature of air above such an installation which is not adequately removed by ambient wind conditions. Thus the efficiency of operation of such prior installations is often at the mercy of the ambient weather conditions, such as the absence of any effective ambient wind, or a prevailing wind in a direction adverse to the desired cooling effects above the installation.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention provides a large scale liquid cooling assembly or installation which can take maximum advantage of ambient wind conditions and which can even provide its own desired directional wind effects regardless of such ambient conditions. Such an assembly includes a plurality of liquid cooling spray units, each of which has a plurality of liquid spray members adapted for controlled projection of liquid drops in trajectories. substantially all of which have horizontal components extending in only one horizontal direction from the spray members of that particular spray unit, with drop sizes, velocities and volume rates of liquid spraying which are adapted to provide a directional wind effect across such unit along said one horizontal direction.

In its broadest aspects, the present invention involves the arrangement of a plurality of spray units in first and second row portions from which liquid is projected in different horizontal directions. Such row portions can be entirely separate from each other or can be angularly related portions along a common path. Such different row portions can also project liquid in any desired different horizontal directions. The preferred embodiment, however, projects such liquid from two row portions which are spaced apart and generally parallel to each other. In that case, the assembly has such spray units located and arranged in first and second spaced generally parallel rows with a plurality of cooling units in each row, and with an inner reservoir portion between said rows, a first outer reservoir portion outside the first row, and a second outer reservoir portion outside the second row. The spray units in the first row are aligned and oriented to project liquid drops in one horizontal direction across one of the reservoir portions, and the spray units in the second row are aligned and oriented to project liquid drops in the opposite horizontal direction. Such inner and outer reservoir portions may be parts ofa common cooling pond or liquid reservoir extending over a substantial area or may be formed, in some cases, as conduit sections extending along a common path between an inlet point for heated liquid and an outlet point for cooled liquid.

When the liquid cooling spray units are arranged in first and second spaced generally parallel rows, with an inner reservoir portion between said rows and first and second outer reservoir portions outside the respective rows, the liquid spray units are preferably oriented in each row so that liquid is sprayed over and into the inner reservoir portion between the rows. In such a case the units are spaced far enough apart to permit full projection of the liquid drops inwardly from each row to achieve the desired degree of cooling. At the same time, the outer reservoir portions can be of limited dimensions and can even be in the form of conduits having cross-sections just sufficient to supply the desired volume rates of heated liquid to the various individual spray units along each row. To take maximum advantage of variations in ambient conditions, the first and second rows are arragned in a plurality of pairs of row portions, each of which has a plurality of cooling units in each row of that portion, and in which the first and second rows of one pair of row portions extend generally along a first horizontal direction and the first and second rows of another pair of row portions extend along a second horizontal direction which is oriented at an angle to the direction of the first pair of row portions. In specific installations and embodiments, the respective row portions can be arranged at opposite sides completely surrounding an intermediate inner reservoir area into which heated liquid is projected and toward which directional wind effects are provided by the spray members from all directions, and from which the heated air resulting from evaporative cooling of the projected liquid is forced generally upwardly in a chimney effect. Other arrangements include the orientation of individual row portions as diverging spokes extending radially from a common central point in a plurality of directions, as well as arrangements of a plurality of pairs of row portions along successive longitudinal sections of a common path extending from an inlet point for heated liquid to an outlet point for cooled liquid, and with different portions of said path extending successively in different compass directions between said inlet and outlet.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, in which the preferred embodiments of the invention are shown and described in greater detail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings which form a part of this application, and in which like reference characters indicate like parts,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of liquid cooling assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial sectional view on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a preferred liquid cooling as sembly installation according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 44 of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial plan view of a portion shown at the lower left of the installation of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of another liquid cooling assembly installation according to the present invention, showing how desired wind effects can be directed inwardly from all sides into a common inner reservoir portion to force heated air upwardly in a sort of chimney effect; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of one of the straightline portions of the installation of FIG. 3, showing the manner in which the present invention achieves more effective cooling under ambient wind conditions in which the wind direction extends along and parallel to one or more rows of liquid cooling spray units.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. 1, a liquid cooling assembly or installation according to the invention is arragned adjacent an operating plant 12, from which heated liquid to be cooled is fed to an inlet point 13 and along a liquid reservoir portion or channel 14 to a central point 16. From this point the heated liquid extends outwardly in spoke-like channels, such as channel 17 oriented in longitudinal alignment with the incoming channel 14, aligned channels 18 and 19 extending at a substantial angle to the channels 14 and 17, and one or more additional pairs of channels such as 21 and 22, also angularly related to the other pairs of channels.

As shown in greater detail in FIG. 2, the liquid cooling assembly of FIG. 1 includes a plurality of individual liquid cooling spray units 23. 24 and 26 arranged in a first row portion 27 as shown in FIG. 1. Each spray unit includes a plurality of spray members, as will be further described in connection with FIG. 2, each of which is adapted to project liquid drops in trajectories, substantially all of which have horizontal components extending in one horizontal direction from the particular spray unit. Thus in FIG. 1, the units 23, 24 and 26 all project liquid drops as shown in a direction at right angles to the row 27 along which these spray units are aligned.

As further shown in FIG. 1 a plurality of additional spray units are aligned at 28 along a second row portion 29 at the other side of the heated liquid channel 22. Spray units 28 are located and oriented to project liquid drops in the opposite direction from the liquid cooling spray units of the first row 29. Thus the spray units in the first row 27 project liquid outwardly into a first outer reservoir portion 31 at the outside of said row from the channel or inner reservoir portion 22, while the spray units 28 in the second row portion 29 project liquid drops outwardly in the opposite direction to a second outer reservoir portion 32.

As further shown in FIG. 1, additional row portions can be arranged as shown at 33 and 34 on each side of the heated liquid inner reservoir or conduit 17 to project liquid drops in respectively opposite horizontal directions into outer reservoir portions 36 and 31. The spoke-like arrangement of FIG. 1, thus provides different row portions of spray units in which the directions of liquid projection are at an angle to each other. Similarly, additional row portions 37 and 38 of spray cooling units are arranged at opposite sides of another heated liquid channel and project liquid into the respective outer reservoir portions 36 and 39. Likewise, from the angularly disposed heated liquid inner reservoir portion 19, additional spaced row portions of aligned spray cooling units project such liquid in opposite directions into outer reservoir portions 39 and 41. Finally, additional outer reservoir portions 42, 43 and 44 are located outside of and between the remaining inner heated liquid conduits or reservoir portions, such as 14 and 18. All of these outer reservoir portions are in communication with each other around the outer ends of the spoke-like rows, as shown at the outer end of heated liquid conduit 21. From these outer reservoir portions, the cooled liquid can be returned at 46 to the operating plant 12 for recirculation through the usual heat exchangers of such a plant.

As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the first row portion 27 along which a plurality of liquid spray cooling units are aligned includes a longitudinally extending intermediate base or support area 47 which at least partially separates the respective inner and outer reservoir portions 22 and 31. This barrier section 47 desirably includes a reinforced flat surface portion 48 on which service personnel or vehicles may readily move along the row 27 to inspect or service the individual spray cooling units as needed. The reinforced portion of this barrier section 47 includes an upwardly projecting inner wall 49 which defines one edge of the inner reservoir 22 for heated liquid and maintains a level 51 of such liquid which is above the surface 48.

The bottom 52 of the outer reservoir portion 31 is located somewhat below the level of the heated liquid channel 22, so that the liquid level 53 in outer reservoir portion 31 may be somewhat below the level of the barrier surface 48.

The individual spray units 23 are aligned along the edge of the outer reservoir portion 31 and each individual unit includes a longitudinally extending body portion 54 which serves as a common supply conduit for heated liquid received through one or more transverse conduits 56 from the heated liquid reservoir portion 22.

The preferred form of liquid cooling spray units 23 includes for each unit a plurality of rotary disc-like spray members 57 all of which are mounted for rotation on a common longitudinal axis at 58 extending along the row or path 27. Each rotary spray member is supplied with liquid at an appropriate limited area of its surface, as shown in FIG. 2, by a further individual supply conduit 59 extending upwardly from the common conduit portion 54 and discharging liquid at 61 to the surface of the spray member.

As shown in FIG. 2, each spray member 57 is adapted to receive liquid at 61 at a limited area horizontally opposite the axis of rotation 58, and each spray member is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, to carry the liquid from point 61 and project it from the periphery of the spray member in a plurality of trajectories as shown, substantially all of which have horizontal components extending in one horizontal direction, i.e. horizontally to the right in FIG. 2. By projecting such liquid with drop sizes of at least I millimeter, and by rotating spray members 57 at peripheral speeds sufficient to project the drops at initial tangential velocities in the range from to 45 feet-per second, and by spacing the individual spray members along axis 58 at intervals sufficiently close so that the liquid drops are sprayed horizontally to the right at a collective volume rate corresponding to at least 2 pounds of water per second for each linear foot measured along the axis 58 between the endmost spray members of each individual spray unit, a definite directional wind effect can be achieved which produces a horizontal current of air from the area immediately above inner reservoir 22 outwardly across the row 27 and over reservoir portion 31. Spray cooling units of the type just described are claimed in the first of my above identified co-pending applications. although other units capable of developing a directional wind effect, such as the modular units claimed in the other above identified co-pending application may also be used as described in connection with FIGS. 3 through 7 of this application.

Thus as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of individual liquid cooling spray units are arranged in at least two different row portions, which may be angularly related to each other as shown by the rows 27 and 33, for example, or which may be arranged in parallel pairs as indicated by the rows 27 and 29. Where such row portions are parallel to each other as in the case of rows 27 and 29, the invention contemplates the arrangement of the individual spray units in such fashion that the spray units in one row project liquid in trajectories producing a directional wind effect in one horizontal direction across one of the reservoir portions, while the liquid cooling units in the other row project liquid in trajectories having horizontal components extending in the opposite horizontal direction. In this case, looking at rows 27 and 29, the spray units project liquid outwardly in opposite directions from the inner heated liquid reservoir portion 22 to the outer cooled liquid reservoir portions 31 and 32.

As shown in FIGS. 3 through 7, a preferred liquid cooling assembly and installation according to the present invention is designed to convey liquid in appropriate conduits, with spaced generally parallel rows of liquid cooling spray units, through a continuous path from the heated liquid outlet of a plant 62, over a sufficient distance to provide the desired cooling effect for such liquid and then to return the cooled liquid to an appropriate inlet of plant 62. Thus the heated liquid from the usual heat exchangers of a plant 62 is initially fed to a channel 63 which divides at point 64 into two spaced parallel outer channels or reservoir portions 66 and 67 for the heated liquid. Starting just downstream from point 64, an inner reservoir portion or conduit for cooled liquid is shown at 68 extending along the desired path between the outer portions 66 and 67. These respective conduit, i.e. reservoir, portions are separated from each other as shown more fully in FIGS. 4 through 7 by intermediate rows 69 and 71, each of which includes aligned individual liquid cooling spray units supported on a suitable intermediate barrier or path. Thus a barrier 72 separates reservoir portions 66 and 68, while another barrier portion 73 separates reservoir portions 67 and 68. These respective barrier sections include supporting areas 74 and 76, on each of which a plurality of modular individual spray units 77 of the type claimed in my above identified co-pending application entitled MODULAR LIQUID COOLING SPRAY UNITS. These units are aligned in end-to-end relationship with each other as shown in greater detail in FIG. 6, and the individual units include trough portions, one wall of which provides at least part of the boundary of one of the outer reservoirs 66 or 67 as particularly shown in FIGS. 4 and 7.

Each modular unit 77 has a longitudinally extending trough which is defined by a base portion 78, a rear wall portion 79 and a front wall portion 81. Wall 79 includes controllable openings (not shown) to establish a heated liquid level within the trough which corresponds to the heated liquid level in the outer reservoir portions 66 or 67, as the case may be. These upwardly projecting trough walls 79 and 81 help maintain a liquid level in outer reservoir portions 66 and 67 which is sufficiently above the liquid level in the inner cooled liquid reservoir portion 68 to insure proper operation of the spray units 77.

Each such spray unit 77 further includes a plurality of rotary disc-like spray members 83 mounted for rotation on a common longitudinal axis 84 spaced forwardly from the trough portion of unit 77 at a level such that portions of each spray member project downwardly below the expected liquid level in the trough itself. Thus liquid can be fed directly by gravity from the trough portion of unit 77 through an appropriate conduit 86 which discharges desired volume rates of liquid at only a selected limited area of each spray member surface. As shown in FIG. 7, this limited area is essentially at the same horizontal level as the axis of rotation 84 and is spaced rearwardly toward wall 81 from such axis. By rotation of the spray members 83, as previously described, liquid drops of the desired minimum particle size, initial velocity, and volume rates are projected inwardly over and into the inner reservoir portion or cooled liquid conduit 68 in such a manner as to provide directional wind effects inwardly in opposite directions from the outer heated liquid conduits 66 and 67, as shown by the heavy-line arrows in FIG. 7.

The manner in which a plurality of the modular units 77 can be aligned in each row with their adjacent ends in abutting contact with each other to provide a continuous part of the reservoir boundary for areas 66 and 67 is further illustrated in FIG. 6. Thus the arrangement of a plurality of such modular units in such a manner that individual units can be separately installed, removed or replaced, as needed, provides a flexible liquid assembly which can be arranged with parallel row portions 69 and 71, which can even follow a curved path between adjacent row sections extending in different directions. Such a curved path is shown in FIG. 6. Thus adjacent units are generally aligned with each other, but are disposed with their individual axes of rotation 84 at a slight angle to each other, as will be apparent from the angular relationship of adjacent rear wall portions 79 to form a continuous conduit wall portion as shown in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 3, this embodiment of the invention includes opposite first and second generally parallel row portions 69 and 71 which follow a continuous path along a plurality of different sections extending in different horizontal directions. Thus, from inlet portion 63, the parallel row portions 69 and 71 extend diagonally through a first portion, as shown at 87. The next section 88 of these parallel row portions is oriented vertically, as viewed in FIG. 3, i.e. at an obtuse angle to the section 87. These parallel row portions 69 and 71 then continue through a corner section 89 to a generally horizontal portion 91, as viewed in FIG. 3. The next downstream section of these conduits and rows is shown at 93 at such an angle that the portions 93 are essentially parallel to the portions. 87. The next portion of the rows at 94 is extending vertically, as seen in FIG. 3, along a direction parallel to the portions 88. Finally, the remaining portion 96 of the conduits and rows of aligned spray member units extends horizontally, as viewed in FIG. 3, back toward the plant 62. Portion 96 is thus essentially parallel to portion 91.

At the point where the liquid cooling assembly conduits reach plant 62, the outer conduit or reservoir portions 66 and 67 come to an end at points 97 and 98, while the inner cooled liquid reservoir or conduit portion 68 is connected at 99 to appropriate inlets for the usual heat exchangers within plant 62. As shown by comparison of FIGS. 4 and 5, the effective liquid containing cross-sections of the respective reservoir or conduit portions are preferably changed along the path. Thus the inner reservoir portion has a gradually increasing liquid containing cross-section from the inlet end (FIG. 4) to the outlet end (FIG. Conversely, the outer reservoir portions have gradually decreasing liquid containing cross-sections from the inlet point to the outlet point.

Thus the installation of FIGS. 3 through 7 provides a continuous path for recirculation of cooled liquid back to the plant 62 after it has passed along a sufficiently long path to insure adequate cooling as the heated liquid is sprayed from the outer reservoir portions into the inner cooled liquid conduit 68. It will be understood that, as viewed in FIG. 3, the different sections 87, 88, 91, 93, 94 and 96 are oriented along different compass directions, which are desirably selected in accordance with the expected ambient wind conditions in the area of plant 62. In all these portions, there will be a directional wind effect inwardly across the respective rows 69 and 71 from the outer conduit or reservoir sections 66 and 67 toward the inner reservoir or conduit 68. Depending on the ambient wind conditions, the spray units in one or more of these portions can be kept out of operation, while the spray units in other portions can be kept in operation, in order to provide the optimum cooling effects without interference from such ambient conditions.

According to the principles already described, other embodiments of the liquid cooling assemblies and installations according to the invention may be made. In FIG. 8, for example, an embodiment is shown in which two pairs of row portions are arranged at right angles to each other so as to essentially enclose a central area into which liquid is projected from all sides. Thus the installation 101 includes first and second rows 102 and 103 each of which has a plurality of aligned liquid cooling spray units of the type already described. These rows of spray units project liquid in opposite horizontal directions, i.e. toward each other into the inner reser- 5 voir area 104 between the rows. The liquid is supplied from outer heated liquid reservoir portions at 106 and 107.

Similarly, another pair of row portions 108 and 109 include liquid cooling spray units which are aligned in these rows at right angles to the rows 102 and 103. Thus the two pairs of row portions effectively provide a rectangular perimeter for the inner reservoir portion 104. The spray units in rows 108 and 109 are oriented and arranged to project liquid drops inwardly toward area 104 from outer reservoir portions 111 and 112. All of these outer reservoir portions can be parts of a common outer reservoir or can be supplied as separate outer conduits of heated liquid, depending on the particular needs of a given installation.

In the arrangement of FIG. 8, as shown by the arrows in the drawing, the individual spray cooling units will all provide directional wind effects directed inwardly toward the inner reservoir 104. Thus fresh air will be constantly drawn from all sides of the installation to pro vide the desired evaporative cooling effect for the projected liquid drops. As the liquid drops pass over and into the inner reservoir 104, the temperature of the air in that area is increased as heat is picked up from the liquid drops. Since additional air is being forced in by the directional wind effects from all sides, and since the heated air above inner reservoir 104 tends to rise in any event, the installation of FIG. 8 provides a sort of chimney effect in which heated air is constantly removed in a vertical upward direction to be carried away by what ever ambient air currents are present or to be recirculated outwardly and downwardly and back in from the perimeter of the installation.

The schematic diagram of FIG. 9 shows the manner in which these created directional wind effects can provide more effective cooling when the ambient wind conditions are directed along a row of spray units, i.e. perpendicularly across the trajectories in which liquid drops are projected by such units. In this case the modular liquid cooling spray units 77 are arranged in two aligned rows 114 and 115, similar to those shown at 69 and 71 in FIGS. 3 through 7. The spray units in each row are oriented to project liquid drops inwardly over and into the inner reservoir section 116, and the projected liquid is received by the spray unitsfrom outer reservoir portions or conduits 117 and 118. If the prevailing wind is directed along the rows 114 and 115, as shown by arrows 119, that portion of the ambient air currents which is passing along the outside of the respective rows 114 and 115 will be directed inwardly by the directional wind effect of the unit 77, as shown by the arrows 121 and 122 respectively. The inwardly directed air currents which are received above the inner reservoir 116 from opposite directions, then follow a pattern as shown by arrows 123 and 124 so that they are directed longitudinally along the rows in the same direction as the ambient wind direction at 119. Since the air temperature in area 116 is increased, however, by the evaporative cooling of the inwardly projected liquid drops, the heated air tends to rise and is forced upwardly as it moves in the general direction of arrows 119. Thus heated air is constantly removed upwardly and longitudinally from the area of the inner conduit or reservoir 116 as fresh cool air of lower moisture content is constantly fed in from the outer sides of rows 114 and 115.

Thus, the liquid cooling assemblies described in the present specification provide for more effective cooling of liquid on a large scale basis, as needed for the requirments of many plant installations.

According to the foregoing specification, the nature and background of this invention have been set forth, and some of the ways of practicing the invention have been described, including the preferred embodiments presently contemplated as the best mode of carrying out the invention.

1 claim:

1. A large scale liquid cooling assembly comprising a plurality of liquid cooling spray units, each of which has a plurality of liquid spray members adapted for controlled projection of liquid drops in trajectories, substantially all of which have horizontal components extending in one common horizontal direction from the spray members of that particular spray unit, with drop sizes, velocities and volume rates of liquid spraying adapted to provide a directional wind effect across said unit along said one horizontal direction, said assembly having said spray units located and arranged in at least first and second row portions with a plurality of spray units in each row portion, the spray units in the first row portion being aligned and oriented to project liquid drops in a first horizontal direction across a reservoir portion adjacent said first row portion, and the spray units in the second row portion being aligned and oriented to project liquid drops in a second horizontal direction across a reservoir portion adjacent the second row portion, said first and second horizontal directions being angularly oriented with respect to each other, said assembly of spray units and row and reservoir portions having said spray units located and arranged in first and second spaced generally parallel rows with a plurality of cooling units in each row, and having an inner reservoir portion between said rows, a first outer reservoir portion outside the first row, and a second outer reservoir portion outside the second row, the spray units in the first row being aligned and oriented to project liquid drops in one horizontal direction across one of the reservoir portions, and the spray units in the second row being aligned and oriented to project liquid drops in the opposite horizontal direction.

2. A liquid cooling assembly according to claim 1 in which the inner reservoir portion includes heated liquid to be cooled and the first and second outer reservoir portions are adapted to receive cooled liquid from said spray units, the spray units in said first row being aligned and oriented to project liquid drops outwardly over and into the first outer reservoir portion and the spray units in said second row being aligned and oriented to project liquid drops outwardly over the second outer reservoir portion, said assembly further including conduit means feeding heated liquid from said inner reservoir portion to the individual spray members of the spray units in each row.

3. A liquid cooling assembly according to claim 1 in which said first and second outer reservoir portions are adapted to contain heated liquid to be cooled and said inner reservoir portion is adapted to receive cooled liquid from said spray units, the spray units in each row being aligned and oriented to project liquid drops inwardly over and into the inner reservoir portion.

4. A liquid cooling assembly according to claim 3 in which the liquid spray units are arranged in a plurality of pairs of row portions with a plurality of cooling units in each row portion, and in which the first and second rows of one pair of row portions extend generally along a first horizontal direction and the first and second rows of another pair of row portions extend along a second horizontal direction at an angle to the horizontal direction of the first pair of row portions.

5. A liquid cooling assembly according to claim 4 in which the individual liquid cooling spray units in one row portion pair are controlled independently of the liquid cooling spray units of another row portion pair, thereby providing for optimal selection of directional wind effects for the respective pairs of row portions in accordance with ambient wind conditions.

6. A liquid "cooling assembly according to claim 4 having its liquid cooling spray units aligned and oriented in two pairs of such row portions at substantially right angles to each other, thereby enclosing a common rectangular inner reservoir portion toward which the individual spray units provide an incoming directional wind effect from each row portion around the rectangular inner reservoir portion and from which heated air resulting from evaporative cooling of the projected liquid drops is forced vertically upwardly in a chimney effeet.

7. A liquid cooling assembly according to claim I in which a plurality of pairs of said first and second row portions are arranged as diverging spokes extending radially in a plurality of different directions from a common central point.

8. A liquid cooling assembly according to claim 4 in which the plurality of pairs of row portions extend along a common continuous longitudinal path, between an inlet point at which heated liquid to be cooled is received by the first and second outer reservoir portions and a cooled water outlet point at which cooled liquid is discharged from the inner reservoir portion, said inner and outer reservoir portions constituting essentially continuous conduits from said inlet to said outlet, and having a plurality of relatively straight sections extending successively in different compass directions along the path between said inlet and outlet.

9. A liquid cooling assembly according to claim 8 in which said inner reservoir portion has a gradually increasing liquid containing cross-section from said inlet point to said cooled water outlet point, and in which said outer reservoir portions have gradually decreasing liquid containing cross-sections from said inlet point to said outlet.

Claims (9)

1. A LARGE SCALE LIQUID COOLING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF LIQUID COOLING SPRAY UNITS, EACH OF WHICH HAS A PLURALITY OF LIQUID SPRAY MEMBERS ADAPTED FOR CONTROLLED PROJECTION OF LIQUID DROPS IN TRAJECTORIES, SUBSTNTIALLY ALL OF WHICH HAVE HORIZONTAL COMPONENTS EXTENDING IN ONE COMMON HORIZONTAL DIRECTION FROM THE SPRAY MEMBERS OF THAT PARTICULAR SPRAY UNIT, WITH DROP SIZE, VELOCITIES AND VOLUME RATES OF LIQUID SPRAYING ADAPTED TO PROVIDE A DIRECTIONAL WIND EFFECT ACROSS SAID UNIT ALONG SAID ONE HORIZONTAL DIRECTION, SAID ASSEMBLY HAVING SAID SPRAY UNIT LOCATED AND ARRANGED IN AT LEAST FIRST AND SECOND ROW PORTIONS WITH A PLURALITY OF SPRAY UNITS IN EACH ROW PORTION, THE SPRAY UNITS IN THE FIRST ROW PORTION BEING ALIGNED AND ORIENTED TO PROJECT LIQUID DROPS IN A FIRST HORIZONTAL DIRECTION ACROSS A RESERVOIR PORTION ADJACENT SAID FIRST ROW PORTION, AND THE SPRAY UNITS IN THE SECOND ROW PORTION BEING ALIGNED AND ORIENTED TO PROJECT LIQUID DROPS IN A SECOND HORIZONTAL DIRECTION ACROSS A RESERVOIR PORTION ADJACENT THE SECOND ROW PORTION, SAID FIRST AND SECOND HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONS BEING ANGULARLY ORIENTED WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER, SAID ASSEMBLY OF SPRAY UNITS AND ROW AND RESERVOIR PORTIONS HAVING SAID SPRAY UNITS LOCATED AND ARRANGED IN FIRST AND SECOND SPACED GENERALLY PARALLEL ROWS WITH A PLURALITY OF COOLING UNITS IN EACH ROW, AND HAVING AN INNER RESERVOIR PORTION BETWEEN SAID ROWS, A FIRST OUTER RESERVOIR PORTION OUTSIDE THE FIRST ROW, AND A SECOND OUTER RESERVOIR PORTION OUTSIDE THE SECOND ROW, THE SPRAY UNITS IN THE FIRST ROW BEING ALIGNED AND ORIENTED TO PROJECT LIQUID DROPS IN ONE HORIZONTAL DIRECTION ACROSS ONE IF THE RESERVOIR PORTIONS, AND TBE SPRAY UNITS IN THE SECOND ROW BEING ALIGNED AND ORIENTED TO PROJECT LIQUID DROPS IN THE OPPOSITE HORIZONTAL DIRECTION.

2. A liquid cooling assembly according to claim 1 in which the inner reservoir portion includes heated liquid to be cooled and the first and second outer reservoir portions are adapted to receive cooled liquid from said spray units, the spray units in said first row being aligned and oriented to project liquid drops outwardly over and into the first outer reservoir portion and the spray units in said second row being aligned and oriented to project liquid drops outwardly over the second outer reservoir portion, said assembly further including conduit means feeding heated liquid from said inner reservoir portion to the individual spray members of the spray units in each row.

3. A liquid cooling assembly according to claim 1 in which said first and second outer reservoir portions are adapted to contain heated liquid to be cooled and said inner reservoir portion is adapted to receive cooled liquid from said spray units, the spray units in each row being aligned and oriented to project liquid drops inwardly over and into the inner reservoir portion.

4. A liquid cooling assembly according to claim 3 in which the liquid spray units are arranged in a plurality of pairs of row portions with a plurality of cooling units in each row portion, and in which the first and second rows of one pair of row portions extend generally along a first horizontal direction and the first and second rows of another pair of row portions extend along a second horizontal direction at an angle to the horizontal direction of the first pair of row portions.

5. A liquid cooling assembly according to claim 4 in which the individual liquid cooling spray units in one row portion pair are controlled independently of the liquid cooling spray units of another row portion pair, thereby providing for optimal selection of directional wind effects for the respective pairs of row portions in accordance with ambient wind conditions.

6. A liquid cooling assembly according to claim 4 having its liquid cooling spray units aligned and oriented in two pairs of such row portions at substantially right angles to each other, thereby enclosing a common rectangular inner reservoir portion toward which the individual spray units provide an incoming directional wind effect from each row portion around the rectangular inner reservoir portion and from which heated air resulting from evaporative cooling of the projected liquid drops is forced vertically upwardly in a chimney effect.

7. A liquid cooling assembly according to claim 1 in which a plurality of pairs of said first and second row portions are arranged as diverging spokes extending radially in a plurality of different directions from a common central point.

8. A liquid cooling assembly according to claim 4 in which the plurality of pairs of row portions extend along a common continuous longitudinal path, between an inlet point at which heated liquid to be cooled is received by the first and second outer reservoir portions and a cooled water outlet point at which cooled liquid is discharged from the inner reservoir portion, said inner and outer reservoir portions constituting essentially continuous conduits from said inlet to said oUtlet, and having a plurality of relatively straight sections extending successively in different compass directions along the path between said inlet and outlet.

9. A liquid cooling assembly according to claim 8 in which said inner reservoir portion has a gradually increasing liquid containing cross-section from said inlet point to said cooled water outlet point, and in which said outer reservoir portions have gradually decreasing liquid containing cross-sections from said inlet point to said outlet.

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