US3719353A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Liquid cooling system, apparatus and method
Assignee: Cherne Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1970-06-17
•
Granted: 1973-03-06
•
Expires: 1990-06-17
Abstract
Abstract A method id disclosed for cooling liquid at high volume rate by projecting fine drops of liquid throughout the area above the surface of a reservoir of limited size, so that the unevaporated portions of such drops fall back into the reservoir and the drops normally remain close enough to the surface to minimize drift losses. Apparatus for projecting such liquid includes a rotatable member having a surface generally perpendicular to its axis of rotation. The axis is oriented so that the surface is at an angle to the horizontal, and liquid is fed to specific limited areas of the surface from which fine drops will be projected upwardly in response of the member. Such apparatus is shown in connection with a cooling system for practicing the above method, and in which liquid effluent from an operating plant is fed to such liquid projecting and spraying apparatus at one area of a reservoir, is transferred by such spraying to another area of the reservoir and is cooled during such transfer by evaporation exposure to the atmosphere above the reservoir. The system includes means defining and separating the two reservoir areas to facilitate high volume rates of spray transfer and to prevent normal liquid flow from one area to the other except by means of such spray transfer.
Inventors
- 👤 L Cherne
- 👤 L Boler
- 👤 E Matthews
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:14
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28C; F28C3/00; F28C3/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S261/00; Y10S261/79
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A system for treating hot liquid effluent at a predetermined high volume rate of flow, said treating system comprising a liquid reservoir having its upper surface exposed to the atmosphere, means for feeding said hot effluent to a first area of the reservoir outlet means for removing cooled effluent from a second area of the reservoir barrier means separating said first and second reservoir areas, and spraying means in said one area for spraying fine drops of the liquid effluent freely into the atmosphere above said reservoir in a direction, velocity and drop size providing evaporative cooling of the liquid by exposure of the drops to said atmosphere and also providing for projection of falling drops into the second area of the reservoir, said spraying means including a plurality of rotatable spray members having vertical spray surfaces and supported at the surface of said reservoir in said first area for rotation on a horizontal axis, and means for rotating said spray members and centrifugally projecting said drops upwardly from the surface of the reservoir.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
174 words
A system for treating hot liquid effluent at a predetermined high volume rate of flow, said treating system comprising a liquid reservoir having its upper surface exposed to the atmosphere, means for feeding said hot effluent to a first area of the reservoir outlet means for removing cooled effluent from a second area of the reservoir barrier means separating said first and second reservoir areas, and spraying means in said one area for spraying fine drops of the liquid effluent freely into the atmosphere above said reservoir in a direction, velocity and drop size providing evaporative cooling of the liquid by exposure of the drops to said atmosphere and also providing for projection of falling drops into the second area of the reservoir, said spraying means including a plurality of rotatable spray members having vertical spray surfaces and supported at the surface of said reservoir in said first area for rotation on a horizontal axis, and means for rotating said spray members and centrifugally projecting said drops upwardly from the surface of the reservoir.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
174 words
A system for treating hot liquid effluent at a predetermined high volume rate of flow, said treating system comprising a liquid reservoir having its upper surface exposed to the atmosphere, means for feeding said hot effluent to a first area of the reservoir outlet means for removing cooled effluent from a second area of the reservoir barrier means separating said first and second reservoir areas, and spraying means in said one area for spraying fine drops of the liquid effluent freely into the atmosphere above said reservoir in a direction, velocity and drop size providing evaporative cooling of the liquid by exposure of the drops to said atmosphere and also providing for projection of falling drops into the second area of the reservoir, said spraying means including a plurality of rotatable spray members having vertical spray surfaces and supported at the surface of said reservoir in said first area for rotation on a horizontal axis, and means for rotating said spray members and centrifugally projecting said drops upwardly from the surface of the reservoir.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
174 words
A system for treating hot liquid effluent at a predetermined high volume rate of flow, said treating system comprising a liquid reservoir having its upper surface exposed to the atmosphere, means for feeding said hot effluent to a first area of the reservoir outlet means for removing cooled effluent from a second area of the reservoir barrier means separating said first and second reservoir areas, and spraying means in said one area for spraying fine drops of the liquid effluent freely into the atmosphere above said reservoir in a direction, velocity and drop size providing evaporative cooling of the liquid by exposure of the drops to said atmosphere and also providing for projection of falling drops into the second area of the reservoir, said spraying means including a plurality of rotatable spray members having vertical spray surfaces and supported at the surface of said reservoir in said first area for rotation on a horizontal axis, and means for rotating said spray members and centrifugally projecting said drops upwardly from the surface of the reservoir.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
133 words
A system according to claim 1 in which said spraying means comprises a plurality of spray apparatus units, means supporting said spray apparatus units at the surface of the liquid in said one area of the reservoir, and each spray apparatus unit having a plurality of said rotatable spray members each provided with at least one liquid distributing spray surface, means supporting the spray members of each unit for rotation on an individual unit axis intersecting and perpendicular to the spray surfaces of that unit, with said spray surfaces, extending partly beneath the surface of the liquid in said one area, and means for feeding liquid from said one area of the reservoir to a limited area of each spray surface below the point of intersection of its axis and said spray surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
88 words
A system according to claim 2 in which said means supporting said spray apparatus units comprises float means, and said system having barrier wall members preventing the free flow of effluent from said one area to said second area except for projection by said spraying means, said barrier wall member having upper edges supported by said spray apparatus units, lower edges engaging the bottom of said reservoir, and intermediate flexible portions providing a variable vertical height for said barrier wall members for different liquid levels in the reservoir.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
A system according to claim 2 in which at least one spray unit has an upper spray catching surface for receiving drops projected by said spray members which fall back above said one area of the reservoir, said spray catching surface Including means discharging into the second area of the reservoir the drops which fall back onto the spray catching surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
133 words
A system according to claim 2 having barrier wall members which extend rigidly above the maximum water level in the second reservoir area and provide at least a portion of the means supporting the spray apparatus units, said spray units being supported at a level in said one area of the reservoir such that all portions of the spray members are higher than the maximum water level in the second reservoir area, said feeding means and barrier wall members normally maintaining a higher water level in said one reservoir area than in the second area, and said system having means for selectively lowering the water level in said one area to a level at which each spray member is entirely above and out of contact with the liquid level in said one area.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 5 in which the means for selectively lowering the water level in said one area comprises adjustable valve means in at least one barrier wall member.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
122 words
A system for treating hot liquid effluent at a predetermined high volume rate of flow, said treating system comprising a liquid reservoir, spraying means in one area of said reservoir for projecting fine drops of the liquid effluent freely into the atmosphere above said reservoir in a direction velocity and drop size providing evaporative cooling by exposure of the drops to said atmosphere while the drops are above the reservoir and free to fall into it, feeding means for feeding said hot effluent to the spraying means at said volume rate, outlet means for removing effluent from the reservoir, and barrier means normally preventing the free flow of hot effluent to said outlet means except through said feeding means and spraying means.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
122 words
A system for treating hot liquid effluent at a predetermined high volume rate of flow, said treating system comprising a liquid reservoir, spraying means in one area of said reservoir for projecting fine drops of the liquid effluent freely into the atmosphere above said reservoir in a direction velocity and drop size providing evaporative cooling by exposure of the drops to said atmosphere while the drops are above the reservoir and free to fall into it, feeding means for feeding said hot effluent to the spraying means at said volume rate, outlet means for removing effluent from the reservoir, and barrier means normally preventing the free flow of hot effluent to said outlet means except through said feeding means and spraying means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
84 words
A system according to claim 7 in which said feeding means feeds said hot effluent directly to said one area of the reservoir, said outlet means removes cold effluent from a second area of the reservoir, said spraying means provides for projection of falling drops into the second area of the reservoir, and said preventing means includes barrier wall members in said reservoir preventing the free flow of effluent from said one area to said second area except for projection by said spraying means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 8 in which said barrier wall members permit the liquid effluent to assume different levels in said respective reservoir areas.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system according to claim 5 in combination with an operating plant, in which said feeding means is connected to receive the hot liquid effluent from said plant, and said outlet means is connected to recirculate the cooled effluent to said plant.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
78 words
A system according to claim 9 in which said barrier wall members define a plurality of elongated, spaced, parallel, channels for said one area of the reservoir and a plurality of intermediate, elongated, spaced, parallel, channels for the second area of said reservoir, said wall members providing a barrier extending vertically throughout the reservoir and thereby preventing movement of liquid from the one area to the second area except by spraying of said liquid over said wall members.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
213 words
Liquid cooling apparatus for upward projection of fine drops of liquid comprising a spray member having at least one liquid distributing spray surface, means supporting the spray member for rotation on an axis intersecting and perpendicular to said spray surface, with said spray surface extending at an angle to the horizontal, driving means for rotating said spray member in one direction around said axis, and means for feeding liquid to said spray surface, in which said means for feeding liquid directs the liquid to a limited area of said spray surface below the point of intersection of said axis and said spray surface, and in which said supporting means maintains the spray member at a predetermined relative vertical height with respect to the normal surface level of a body of liquid from which the appaRatus is adapted to project said drops, said spray member having said limited area of its spray surface lower than said normal surface level, said apparatus including a trough having walls defining a separate space extending above and below said normal surface level and within which trough said spray member may rotate, and said means for feeding liquid including a passageway communicating with the body of liquid and directing such liquid against said limited area of said spray surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
213 words
Liquid cooling apparatus for upward projection of fine drops of liquid comprising a spray member having at least one liquid distributing spray surface, means supporting the spray member for rotation on an axis intersecting and perpendicular to said spray surface, with said spray surface extending at an angle to the horizontal, driving means for rotating said spray member in one direction around said axis, and means for feeding liquid to said spray surface, in which said means for feeding liquid directs the liquid to a limited area of said spray surface below the point of intersection of said axis and said spray surface, and in which said supporting means maintains the spray member at a predetermined relative vertical height with respect to the normal surface level of a body of liquid from which the appaRatus is adapted to project said drops, said spray member having said limited area of its spray surface lower than said normal surface level, said apparatus including a trough having walls defining a separate space extending above and below said normal surface level and within which trough said spray member may rotate, and said means for feeding liquid including a passageway communicating with the body of liquid and directing such liquid against said limited area of said spray surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
Liquid cooling apparatus according to claim 12 having means for variable adjustment of the speed of rotation of said spray surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
98 words
Liquid cooling apparatus according to claim 12 in which said spray surface is a circular plane surface having a plurality of spiral guide portions thereon extending radially outwardly from inner points located near said axis, said guide portions curving forwardly in the direction of rotation along a path determined by the equation r k theta , in which r is the radius in inches from said axis, theta is the angle in radians ahead of the point of origin of the spiral at said axis, and k is a constant in the range from 7 to 12 inclusive.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
225 words
Liquid cooling apparatus for upward projection of fine drops of liquid comprising a spray member having at least one liquid distributing spray surface, means supporting the spray member for rotation on an axis intersecting and perpendicular to said spray surface, with said spray surface extending at an angle to the horizontal, driving means for rotating said spray member in one direction around said axis, and means for feeding liquid to said spray surface, in which said means for feeding liquid directs the liquid to a limited area of said spray surface below the point of intersection of said axis and said spray surface, and in which said apparatus includes a floatable support member for maintaining the spray member at a predetermined relative vertical height with respect to a liquid surface on which the support member and apparatus are adapted to float, said spray member having said limited area of its spray surface lower than the level of liquid on which the apparatus is adapted to float, said apparatus including a trough having walls defining a separate space extending above and below the liquid level and within which said spray member may rotate, and said means for feeding liquid including a passageway communicating with the liquid on which the apparatus is adapted to float and directing such liquid against said limited area of the spray surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
225 words
Liquid cooling apparatus for upward projection of fine drops of liquid comprising a spray member having at least one liquid distributing spray surface, means supporting the spray member for rotation on an axis intersecting and perpendicular to said spray surface, with said spray surface extending at an angle to the horizontal, driving means for rotating said spray member in one direction around said axis, and means for feeding liquid to said spray surface, in which said means for feeding liquid directs the liquid to a limited area of said spray surface below the point of intersection of said axis and said spray surface, and in which said apparatus includes a floatable support member for maintaining the spray member at a predetermined relative vertical height with respect to a liquid surface on which the support member and apparatus are adapted to float, said spray member having said limited area of its spray surface lower than the level of liquid on which the apparatus is adapted to float, said apparatus including a trough having walls defining a separate space extending above and below the liquid level and within which said spray member may rotate, and said means for feeding liquid including a passageway communicating with the liquid on which the apparatus is adapted to float and directing such liquid against said limited area of the spray surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
Liquid cooling apparatus according to claim 15 in which said spray member is a circular plate with two parallel spray surfaces, and in which said axis is horizontal and said spray surfaces are vertical.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
Liquid cooling apparatus according to claim 16 having a plurality of said spray members supported for rotation on said axis and operatively connected for simultaneous rotation by said driving means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
Liquid cooling apparatus according to claim 15 in which said spray member surface has a plurality of guides radiating from said point of intersection of said axis and said surface.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
Liquid cooling apparatus according to claim 18 in which said guides include ribs projecting from said surface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
Liquid cooling apparatus according to claim 18 in which said guides include recessed channels in said surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1812767A
Cited
US1848202A
Cited
US2399108A
Cited
US2494551A
Cited
US3411759A
Cited
US3416729A
Cited
US3521864A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-05 | 1976-09-04 | 1977-03-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-05 | 1980-09-04 | 1981-03-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-05 | 1984-09-04 | 1985-03-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |