Method of evaporative cooling of a fluid and apparatus therefor

Claim 2

A process for indirect evaporative cooling of a liquid desiccant product comprising the steps of: a) placing a gas stream entering the process in contact with a cooled plate that separates the gas stream entering the process from the liquid product that will exit said process; b) forcing a portion of the gas stream entering the process through holes in the plate, wherein a portion of the liquid product evaporates into the gas forced through the holes, cooling the liquid product: and c) removing the resulting cooled liquid product.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 wherein the portion of the gas stream that is forced through the holes in the plate is from about 5% to 100% of the fluid entering the process.

Claim 4

The process of claim 1 wherein the gas stream that is forced through the holes in the plate then flows in a cross-current direction relative to a direction of the fluid stream entering the process.

Claim 5

The process of claim 1 wherein the gas stream that is forced through the holes in the plate then flows in a counter-current direction relative to a direction of the fluid stream entering the process.

Claim 6

The process of claim 1 wherein a plurality of hole-containing plates are employed.

Claim 7

The process of claim 1 wherein the plate is a hole-containing, corrugated plate that defines a plurality of channels through which a plurality of respective gas and liquid streams flow.

Claim 8

The process of claim 1 wherein the plate has an outside surface that is not flat.

Claim 9

The process of claim 1 wherein the gas stream entering the process has a higher pressure than the gas stream that exits the process.

Claim 10

The process of claim 1 wherein the gas stream is a stream of air.

Claim 11

The process of claim 1 wherein the gas stream entering the process is exposed to a desiccant.

Claim 12

The process of claim 1 wherein the gas stream entering the process is exposed to a dry desiccant.

Claim 13

The process of claim 1 wherein the gas stream entering the process is exposed to a liquid desiccant.

Claim 14

The process of claim 1 wherein a portion of the gas stream is heated.

Claim 15

The process of claim 1 wherein the liquid is heated.

Claim 16

The process of claim 1 wherein the plate is further provided with a layer of porous material capable of allowing flow of the liquid therein.

Claim 17

A process for indirect evaporative cooling of a liquid desiccant product comprising the steps of: a) providing an indirect evaporative cooling apparatus having a dry side channel and a wet side channel separated by a plate having holes that permit fluid communication between the dry side channel and the wet side channel; b) introducing the liquid product into the wet side channel; c) introducing a gas into the dry side channel in a manner such that a portion of the gas is pre-cooled and passed through the holes in the plate wherein a portion of the liquid product evaporates into the gas forced through the holes, cooling the liquid product; d) removing a resulting gas/evaporative liquid vapor combination from the wet side channel; and e) removing a resulting cooled liquid product from the wet aide channel.

Claim 18

A process for indirect evaporative cooling of a liquid desiccant product comprising the steps of: a) providing an indirect evaporative cooling apparatus having a dry side channel and a wet side channel separated by a plate having holes that permit fluid communication between the dry side channel and the wet side channel; b) introducing the liquid product into the wet side channel; c) introducing a gas into the dry side channel in a manner such that a portion of the gas is pre-cooled and passed through the holes in the plate wherein a portion of the liquid product evaporates into the gas forced through the holes, cooling the liquid product; d) removing a resulting gas/evaporative liquid vapor combination from the wet side channel; and e) removing a resulting cooled liquid product from the wet aide channel.

Claim 19

The process of claim 16 wherein the portion of pre-cooled gas that passes through the holes in the plate is from about 5% to 100% (by volume) of the gas introduced into the dry side channel.

Claim 20

The process of claim 16 wherein the portion of pre-cooled gas that passes through the holes in the plate then flows in a cross-current direction in the wet side channel.

Claim 21

The process of claim 16 wherein the portion of gas that passes through the holes in the plate then flows in a counter-current direction in the wet side channel.

Claim 22

The process of claim 16 wherein a plurality of plates define a plurality of dry side channels and a plurality of wet side channels.

Claim 23

The process of claim 16 wherein the plate is a hole-containing corrugated plate that defines a plurality of channels through which a plurality of respective gas streams flow.

Claim 24

The process of claim 16 wherein the evaporative cooling process employs a series of corrugated plates having alternating orientations and define (1) a plurality of dry side channels that cause fluid flow in an incoming fluid flow direction and (2) a plurality of wet side channels that cause fluid flow in a cross-current direction relative to the incoming fluid flow direction.

Claim 25

The process of claim 16 wherein the gas is air.

Claim 26

The process of claim 16 wherein the gas exposed to a desiccant in the dry side channel.

Claim 27

The process of claim 16 wherein the gas is exposed to a dry desiccant in the dry side channel.

Claim 28

The process of claim 16 wherein the gas is exposed to a liquid desiccant in the dry side channel.

Claim 29

The process of claim 16 wherein the gas is exposed to a liquid desiccant in the dry side channel and wherein that liquid desiccant is transferred to the wet side channel where it is used as a component of an evaporative liquid.

Claim 30

The process of claim 16 wherein the gas is heated.

Claim 31

The process of claim 16 wherein the evaporative liquid is heated.

Claim 32

The process of claim 16 wherein the plate is further provided with a layer of porous material capable of allowing flow of the liquid product therein.

Claim 33

The process of claim 16 wherein the resulting gas/evaporative liquid vapor system is removed from the wet side channel in two or more streams that have different temperatures.

Claim 34

The process of claim 16 wherein the resulting gas/evaporative liquid vapor combination is removed from the wet side channel in (a) two or more relatively humid streams that have different, relatively higher temperatures and are directed to an upper region of a cooling tower and (b) at least one relatively cooler, less humid stream that is directed to a lower region of the cooling tower.

Claim 35

A process for indirect evaporative cooling of a water product comprising the steps of: a) providing an indirect evaporative cooling device having a dry side channel that defines a first air flow direction and a wet side channel that defines a second air flow direction that is cross-current to the first air flow direction and wherein the dry side channel and the wet side channel are separated by a plate having holes that permit fluid communication between the dry side channel and wet side channel; b) introducing air into the dry side channel at a pressure such that a portion of the air passes through the holes in the plate; c) providing the dry side channel with a desiccant; d) providing a wet side channel portion of the plate with a film of water, a portion of which is capable of evaporating into the air under the temperature and pressure conditions existing in the wet side channel; e) removing a resulting gas/liquid vapor stream from the wet side channel; and f) removing a resulting cooled water product from the wet side channel.

Claim 36

A process for indirect evaporative cooling of a water product comprising the steps of: a) providing an indirect evaporative cooling device having a dry side channel that defines a first air flow direction and a wet side channel that defines a second air flow direction that is cross-current to the first air flow direction and wherein the dry side channel and the wet side channel are separated by a plate having holes that permit fluid communication between the dry side channel and wet side channel; b) introducing air into the dry side channel at a pressure such that a portion of the air passes through the holes in the plate; c) providing the dry side channel with a desiccant; d) providing a wet side channel portion of the plate with a film of water, a portion of which is capable of evaporating into the air under the temperature and pressure conditions existing in the wet side channel; e) removing a resulting gas/liquid vapor stream from the wet side channel; and f) removing a resulting cooled water product from the wet side channel.

Claim 37

The process of claim 33 wherein the desiccant is a solid desiccant.

Claim 38

The process of claim 33 wherein the desiccant is a liquid desiccant.

Claim 39

The process of claim 33 wherein the portion of air that passes through the holes in the plate is from about 5% to 100% (by volume) of the air introduced into the dry channel.

Claim 40

The process of claim 33 wherein the air is exposed to a liquid desiccant in the dry side channel and wherein that liquid desiccant is then transferred to the wet side channel where it is used as a component of liquid product.

Claim 41

The process of claim 33 wherein the portion of the air that passes through the holes in the plate is from about 20% to about 100% (by volume) of the air introduced into the dry channel and wherein the remainder of said air passes around the plate and into the wet side channel.

Claim 42

The process of claim 33 wherein the air is heated.

Claim 43

The process of claim 33 wherein the water is heated.

Claim 44

The process of claim 33 wherein the plate is further provided with a layer of porous material capable of allowing flow of the liquid product therein.

Claim 45

The process of claim 33 wherein the resulting gas/evaporative liquid vapor system is removed from the wet side channel in two or more streams that have different temperatures.

Claim 46

Apparatus for cooling a liquid product via indirect evaporative cooling utilizing evaporative liquid and working gas, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of parallel, spaced apart plates each having two surfaces, wherein (a) the first surface of each plate forms at least partially a dry side, over which the working gas flows, (b) the first surface further forms perforations to permit the working gas from the dry side to flow onto the second surface, (c) the second surface of each plate forms at least partially a wet side, wherein the wet side is wetted with evaporative fluid which cools the wet side as it evaporates, (d) each second surface further forms a wet side channel for the liquid to be cooled, (e) opposing surfaces of adjacent plates have like sides, and (f) the plates are oriented generally vertically in order to allow the liquid product to flow; and means for causing the working air to flow over the dry side, through the perforation, and then over the wet side; means for providing the liquid product to the wet side channel; and means for providing the cooled liquid product from the wet side channel to a user.

Claim 47

Apparatus for cooling a liquid product via indirect evaporative cooling utilizing evaporative liquid and working gas, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of parallel, spaced apart plates each having two surfaces, wherein (a) the first surface of each plate forms at least partially a dry side, over which the working gas flows, (b) the first surface further forms perforations to permit the working gas from the dry side to flow onto the second surface, (c) the second surface of each plate forms at least partially a wet side, wherein the wet side is wetted with evaporative fluid which cools the wet side as it evaporates, (d) each second surface further forms a wet side channel for the liquid to be cooled, (e) opposing surfaces of adjacent plates have like sides, and (f) the plates are oriented generally vertically in order to allow the liquid product to flow; and means for causing the working air to flow over the dry side, through the perforation, and then over the wet side; means for providing the liquid product to the wet side channel; and means for providing the cooled liquid product from the wet side channel to a user.

Claim 48

The apparatus of claim 43 wherein a portion of the liquid product comprises the evaporative liquid.

Claim 49

The apparatus of claim 43 wherein approximately 5% to 100% of the working gas, by volume, passes from the dry side of a plate to the wet side via the perforations.

Claim 50

The apparatus of claim 43 wherein each plate is corrugated, forming corrugation channels for the working gas.

Claim 51

The apparatus of claim 43 wherein each plate further forms working gas channels on the wet side and the dry side to guide the working gas.

Claim 52

The apparatus of claim 47 wherein the working gas channels on the wet sides are generally transverse to the working gas channels on the dry sides.

Claim 53

The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the working gas is air.

Claim 54

The apparatus of claim 43 wherein thin product liquid is water.