Unit and method for spray cooling fluid

Claim 1

A modular fluid cooling unit for cooling a body of water and the like and comprising a generally cylindrical stationary tower having a flow passage therethrough with a discharge outlet at an open upper end of the tower and an inlet at its lower end, a power operated axial flow pump between upper and lower ends of the tower, the pump including a cylindrical rotor with an axial flow passageway coaxially aligned with the tower and forming part of its flow passage, the cylindrical rotor forcing fluid through the tower with a vortical motion of relatively high kinetic energy and under relatively low pressure, a velocity deflector mounted on the tower, the velocity deflector including a downwardly directed conical portion in coaxially fixed relation to the tower at its discharge outlet and jointly defining with the tower a substantially unobstructed annulus permitting slinging of fluid in a 360° radiating spray pattern from the discharge outlet, the conical deflector portion amplifying the angular escape velocity of the fluid by at least partial deflection of the axial velocity of the fluid at the discharge outlet of the tower, a float structure for supporting the tower, the pump and the velocity deflector, the float structure including a fluid tight shell enveloping the pump, the shell extending above the water surface being of an inverted cone shape providing a downwardly sloping surface radiating in surrounding symmetrical relation to the tower for minimizing surface area exposed to wind for improved seaworthiness.