Dual path drift eliminator structure and method for crossflow cooling tower

Claim 3

The method as set forth in claim 1 including the steps of initially directing said moist airstream both upwardly and laterally relative to said initial path.

Claim 4

The method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of separately draining the water collected in said first and second air passages respectively.

Claim 5

Drift eliminator structure adapted to be positioned adjacent the air exit face of the fill structure of a crossflow cooling tower for removing entrained water droplets from the moist air, leaving said fill structure, said drift eliminator structure comprising: a plurality of horizontally spaced, elongated, generally upright, transversely V-shaped members each having first and second generally planar sheets oriented at an angle relative to each other; partition means joined to and positioned between each opposed pair of adjacent sheets of proximal V-shaped members dividing the space therebetween into individual, elongated discrete cells located for passage of fill-derived moist air therethrough, the air cells between the first and second sheets respectively presenting corresponding side-by-side first and second eliminator sections, said side-by-side eliminator sections between respective pairs of V-shaped members being located in spaced relationship to one another to define therebetween generally upright water drainage passages for each cell respectively and extending generally from the top to the bottom of said drift eliminator for at least partial water drainage along respective drainage passages, the partition means presenting the air cells of said first eliminator section and the first sheets being located to define longitudinally parallel air cells for receiving air from said outlet face and oriented for diverting such air upwardly relative to the initial path of the air leaving said exit face such that a vector representing the travel of moist air along said initial path, and a vector representing the travel of moist air along the air passages of said first section, cooperatively establishing a reference plane, the partition means defining the air cells of said second eliminator section and the second sheets being located to define longitudinally parallel air passages for receiving air after flow thereof through said first eliminator section and oriented for diverting such air laterally relative to the path of air leaving said first eliminator section, such that a vector representing the travel of air along the air passages of said second section is at an angle relative to said reference plane.

Claim 6

Drift eliminator structure adapted to be positioned adjacent the air exit face of the fill structure of a crossflow cooling tower for removing entrained water droplets from the moist air, leaving said fill structure, said drift eliminator structure comprising: a plurality of horizontally spaced, elongated, generally upright, transversely V-shaped members each having first and second generally planar sheets oriented at an angle relative to each other; partition means joined to and positioned between each opposed pair of adjacent sheets of proximal V-shaped members dividing the space therebetween into individual, elongated discrete cells located for passage of fill-derived moist air therethrough, the air cells between the first and second sheets respectively presenting corresponding side-by-side first and second eliminator sections, said side-by-side eliminator sections between respective pairs of V-shaped members being located in spaced relationship to one another to define therebetween generally upright water drainage passages for each cell respectively and extending generally from the top to the bottom of said drift eliminator for at least partial water drainage along respective drainage passages, the partition means presenting the air cells of said first eliminator section and the first sheets being located to define longitudinally parallel air cells for receiving air from said outlet face and oriented for diverting such air upwardly relative to the initial path of the air leaving said exit face such that a vector representing the travel of moist air along said initial path, and a vector representing the travel of moist air along the air passages of said first section, cooperatively establishing a reference plane, the partition means defining the air cells of said second eliminator section and the second sheets being located to define longitudinally parallel air passages for receiving air after flow thereof through said first eliminator section and oriented for diverting such air laterally relative to the path of air leaving said first eliminator section, such that a vector representing the travel of air along the air passages of said second section is at an angle relative to said reference plane.

Claim 7

In a crossflow cooling tower: a hot water distributor; a cold water collection basin beneath said distributor; fill structure located between said basin and distributor for dispersing hot water gravitating from the latter; means for directing ambient-derived air through said fill structure in crossflowing intersecting relationship to the flow of water therethrough for cooling of the latter; two-pass, cellular drift eliminator structure positioned proximal to the air exit face of said fill structure for removing droplets of water entrained within the moist air leaving the fill structure, said eliminator structure comprising: a plurality of horizontally spaced, elongated, generally upright, transversely V-shaped members each having first and second generally planar sheets oriented at an angle relative to each other; partition means joined to and positioned between each opposed pair of adjacent first and second sheets of proximal V-shaped members dividing the space therebetween into individual, elongated discrete cells located for passage of fill-derived moist air therethrough, the air cells between the first and second sheets respectively presenting corresponding side-by-side first and second eliminator sections, said side-by-side eliminator sections between respective pairs of V-shaped members being located in spaced relationship to one another to define therebetween generally upright water drainage passages for each cell respectively and extending generally from the top to the bottom of said drift eliminator for at least partial drainage along respective drainage passages, the partition means presently the air cells of said first eliminator section and the first sheets being located to define longitudinally parallel air passages for receiving air from said outlet face and oriented for diverting such air upwardly relative to the initial path of the air leaving said exit face such that a vector representing the travel of moist air along said initial path, and a vector representing the travel of moist air along the air passages of said first section, cooperatively establish a reference plane, the partition means defining the air cells of said second eliminator section and the second sheets being located to define longitudinally parallel air passages for receiving air after flow thereof through said first eliminator section and oriented for diverting such air laterally relatively to the path of air leaving said first eliminator section, such that a vector representing the travel of air along the air passages of said second section is at an angle relative to said reference plane.

Claim 8

In a crossflow cooling tower: a hot water distributor; a cold water collection basin beneath said distributor; fill structure located between said basin and distributor for dispersing hot water gravitating from the latter; means for directing ambient-derived air through said fill structure in crossflowing intersecting relationship to the flow of water therethrough for cooling of the latter; two-pass, cellular drift eliminator structure positioned proximal to the air exit face of said fill structure for removing droplets of water entrained within the moist air leaving the fill structure, said eliminator structure comprising: a plurality of horizontally spaced, elongated, generally upright, transversely V-shaped members each having first and second generally planar sheets oriented at an angle relative to each other; partition means joined to and positioned between each opposed pair of adjacent first and second sheets of proximal V-shaped members dividing the space therebetween into individual, elongated discrete cells located for passage of fill-derived moist air therethrough, the air cells between the first and second sheets respectively presenting corresponding side-by-side first and second eliminator sections, said side-by-side eliminator sections between respective pairs of V-shaped members being located in spaced relationship to one another to define therebetween generally upright water drainage passages for each cell respectively and extending generally from the top to the bottom of said drift eliminator for at least partial drainage along respective drainage passages, the partition means presently the air cells of said first eliminator section and the first sheets being located to define longitudinally parallel air passages for receiving air from said outlet face and oriented for diverting such air upwardly relative to the initial path of the air leaving said exit face such that a vector representing the travel of moist air along said initial path, and a vector representing the travel of moist air along the air passages of said first section, cooperatively establish a reference plane, the partition means defining the air cells of said second eliminator section and the second sheets being located to define longitudinally parallel air passages for receiving air after flow thereof through said first eliminator section and oriented for diverting such air laterally relatively to the path of air leaving said first eliminator section, such that a vector representing the travel of air along the air passages of said second section is at an angle relative to said reference plane.

Claim 9

The cooling tower as set forth in claim 1 wherein the orientation of the air passages of said second section serves to divert air received from said first section upwardly.

Claim 10

The cooling tower as set forth in claim 6 wherein the air passages of said first and second sections are disposed at substantially equal angles relative to the initial path of moist air from said outlet face.

Claim 11

The cooling tower as set forth in claim 1 wherein the disposition of the air passages in said first section serves to divert said air from said outlet face both upwardly and laterally relative to the initial path of the air.

Claim 12

The cooling tower as set forth in claim 1 wherein said partition means is in the form of an elongated, preformed, generally sinusoidally corrugated sheet.

Claim 13

The cooling tower as set forth in claim 1 wherein said V-shaped members are substantially imperforate.

Claim 14

The cooling tower as set forth in claim 1 wherein said V-shaped members are configured to present an included obtuse angle.

Claim 15

The cooling tower as set forth in claim 1 wherein said V-shaped members and corrugated sections are formed of neoprene asbestos, and said segments are adhesively secured to said sheets.

Claim 16

The cooling tower as set forth in claim 1 wherein said air current-directing means comprises a hyperbolic, natural draft-inducing stack.

Claim 17

The cooling tower as set forth in claim 1 wherein said air current-directing means comprises a current-inducing powered fan.

Claim 18

The cooling tower as set forth in claim 1 wherein the air passages in said first and second cellular structures are oriented at an angle of from about 10° to 60° relative to the horizontal.

Claim 19

The cooling tower as set forth in claim 15 wherein said angle is from about 15° to 50°.

Claim 20

The cooling tower as set forth in claim 12 wherein said angle is about 30°.

Claim 21

The cooling tower as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drift eliminator is composed of a series of elongated, vertically stacked eliminator elements positioned adjacent the moist air outlet face of said fill structure, said stacked eliminator elements cooperatively extending substantially the entire height of said fill structure.

Claim 22

The combination of claim 18 wherein said vertically stacked eliminator sections are positioned in offset relationship to one another, with the lowermost eliminator section situated at the innermost position and all higher eliminator sections being offset outwardly therefrom.