IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,004,463

Granted Patent B2

US 9,004,463 · App. 13/716,838 · Granted Apr 14, 2015

Cooling tower with indirect heat exchanger

Inventors: Thomas Carter (Olney, MD); Zan Liu (Jessup, MD); David Andrew Aaron (Jessup, MD); Philip Hollander (Jessup, MD)

Assignee: Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.

F28C1/14 F28F3/00 F28F3/005 B01F3/04 F28C3/06 F28F2275/205 F28F3/046 F28F21/065 F28F21/081 F28F25/06 F28F25/087

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 9,004,463
App. No.: 13/716,838
Granted: Apr 14, 2015
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A heat exchange apparatus is provided with an indirect evaporative heat exchange section and a direct evaporative heat exchange section. The indirect evaporative heat exchange section is usually located above the direct evaporative heat exchange section, and an evaporative liquid is passed downwardly onto the indirect heat exchange section. The evaporative liquid that exits the direct evaporative heat exchange section then passes downwardly across and through the indirect heat exchange section. The evaporative liquid is collected in a sump and then pumped upwardly to be distributed again across the direct heat exchange section. The indirect heat exchange section is comprised of a plate type heat exchanger.

Claims (176)

1. A method of exchanging heat comprising the steps of:

providing an indirect heat exchange section,

the indirect heat exchange section conducting a fluid stream within a plurality of pathways,

the indirect heat exchange section comprising a top, a bottom, an air inlet and an air outlet,

moving air between the air inlet and the air outlet of the indirect heat exchange section,

the air moving through the indirect heat exchange section exchanging heat with the fluid stream within the plurality of pathways in the indirect section,

wherein the indirect heat exchange section is comprised of a plate type heat exchanger,

the plate type heat exchanger comprised of a series of adjacent plate cassettes forming an alternating arrangement of a first series of flow passages and a second series of flow passages,

the second series of flow passages arranged such that the air moving through the indirect section passes through the second series of flow passages,

wherein the air moving through the indirect heat exchange section moves counter-current to the direction of flow of the fluid stream through the indirect heat exchange section.

2. The method of exchanging heat of claim 1 wherein in the plate heat exchanger comprised of a series of adjacent plate cassettes forming an alternating arrangement of a first series of closed loop flow passages and a second series of open loop flow passages,

each plate cassette in the series of adjacent plate cassettes includes an enhanced surface pattern to increase plate surface area and to increase the heat transfer from the fluid stream to the air moving through the second series of flow passages in the plate heat exchanger.

3. The method of exchanging heat of claim 1 wherein in the plate heat exchanger comprised of a series of adjacent plate cassettes forming an alternating arrangement of a first series of closed loop flow passages and a second series of open loop flow passages,

a second inlet header and a second outlet header are operatively connected to a third series of closed loop flow passages in the plate heat exchanger such that a second fluid stream can pass into the third series of closed loop flow passages and out from the third series of flow passages.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising

distributing an evaporative liquid generally downward onto and through the indirect heat exchange section such that indirect heat exchange occurs between the fluid stream within the plurality of pathways and the evaporative liquid.

5. A method of exchanging heat comprising the steps of:

providing a direct evaporative heat exchange section and an indirect heat exchange section conducting fluid stream within a plurality of pathways,

the direct heat exchange section comprising a top, a bottom, an air inlet, and an air outlet,

the indirect heat exchange section comprising a top, a bottom, an air inlet and an air outlet,

the direct heat exchange section being placed generally above the indirect heat exchange section,

distributing an evaporative liquid generally downwardly onto and through the direct heat exchange section,

moving air between the air inlet and the air outlet of the indirect section, and moving air between the air inlet and the air outlet of the direct section,

the air moving through the indirect heat exchange section exchanging heat and mass with the evaporative liquid moving through the indirect heat exchange section and hence indirectly exchanging heat with the fluid stream within the plurality of pathways in the indirect section,

the air moving through the direct heat exchange section exchanging heat and mass with the evaporative liquid moving through the direct heat exchange section,

distributing substantially all of the evaporative liquid leaving the direct heat exchange section generally downwardly onto the indirect heat exchange section,

wherein the indirect heat exchange section is comprised of a plate type heat exchanger,

the plate type heat exchanger comprised of a series of adjacent plate cassettes forming an alternating arrangement of a first series of flow passages and a second series of flow passages,

the second series of flow passages arranged such that the evaporative liquid can pass through the second series of flow passages and such that the air moving through the indirect section passes through the second series of flow passages, wherein the plate heat exchanger comprises a series of adjacent plates forming an alternating arrangement of a first series of closed loop flow passages and a second series of open loop flow passages,

6. The method of exchanging heat of claim 5 , further comprising:

collecting substantially all of the evaporative liquid that exits the indirect heat exchange section, and pumping the collected evaporative liquid upwardly such that it can be distributed generally downwardly onto and through the direct heat exchange section.

7. The method of exchanging heat of claim 5 wherein the air moving through the indirect heat exchange section moves generally counter-current to the direction of flow of the evaporative liquid through the indirect heat exchange section.

8. The method of exchanging heat of claim 5 wherein

the air moving through the indirect heat exchange section moves generally cross-current to the direction of flow of the evaporative liquid through the indirect heat exchange section.

9. The method of exchanging heat of claim 5 wherein the air moving through the direct heat exchanger section moves generally cross-current to the direction of flow of the evaporative liquid through the direct heat exchange section.

10. The method of exchanging heat of claim 5 wherein the plate heat exchanger comprised of a series of adjacent plate cassettes forming an alternating arrangement of a first series of closed loop flow passages and a second series of open loop flow passages, each plate cassette in the series of adjacent plate cassettes includes an enhanced surface pattern to increase plate surface area and to increase the sensible and latent heat transfer from the evaporative liquid to the air moving through the second series of flow passages in the plate heat exchanger.

11. The method of exchanging heat of claim 5 wherein

two direct heat exchange sections and two indirect heat exchange sections are provided,

with each direct heat exchange section located generally above each indirect heat exchange section.

12. The method of exchanging heat of claim 5

wherein the air moving through the direct heat exchange section moves generally counter-current to the direction of flow of the evaporative liquid through the direct heat exchange section.

13. The method of exchanging heat of claim 5 wherein

the air moving through the indirect heat exchange section moves generally parallel-current to the direction of flow of the evaporative liquid through the indirect heat exchange section.

14. A method of exchanging heat comprising the steps of:

providing a direct evaporative heat exchange section and an indirect heat exchange section, the indirect heat exchange section conducting a fluid stream within a plurality of pathways,

the direct heat exchange section comprising a top, a bottom, an air inlet, and an air outlet,

the indirect heat exchange section comprising a top, a bottom, an air inlet and an air outlet, the direct heat exchange section being placed generally above the indirect heat exchange section,

moving air between the air inlet and the air outlet of the indirect section, and moving air between the air inlet and the air outlet of the direct section, the air moving through the indirect heat exchange section exchanging heat with the fluid stream within the plurality of pathways in the indirect section,

wherein the indirect heat exchange section is comprised of a plate type heat exchanger,

the plate heat exchanger comprised of a series of adjacent plate cassettes forming an alternating arrangement of a first series of flow passages and a second series of flow passages,

an inlet header and an outlet header operatively connected to the first series of flow passages such that the fluid stream can pass into the first series of flow passages and out from the first series of flow passage, the second series of flow passages arranged such that the air moving through the indirect section passes through the second series of flow passages, wherein in the plate heat exchanger comprised of a series of adjacent plate cassettes forming an alternating arrangement of a first series of closed loop flow passages and a second series of open loop flow passages,

a second inlet header and a second outlet header are operatively connected to a third series of closed loop flow passages in the plate type heat exchanger such that a second fluid stream can pass into the third series of closed loop flow passages and out from the third series of closed loop flow passages.

15. The method of exchanging heat of claim 14 wherein the air moving through the indirect heat exchange section moves counter-current to the direction of flow of the fluid stream through the indirect heat exchange section.

16. The method of exchanging heat of claim 14 wherein the air moving through the indirect heat exchange section moves generally cross-current to the direction of flow of the fluid stream through the indirect heat exchange section.

17. The method of exchanging heat of claim 14 wherein each plate cassette in the series of adjacent plate cassettes includes an enhanced surface pattern to increase plate surface area and to increase the heat transfer from the fluid stream to the air moving through the second series of flow passages in the plate heat exchanger.

18. The method of exchanging heat of claim 14 wherein two direct heat exchange sections and two indirect heat exchange sections are provided, with one direct heat exchange section located generally above one indirect heat exchange section and the second direct heat exchange section located generally above the second indirect heat exchange section.

19. The method of exchanging heat of claim 14

wherein the air moving through the indirect heat exchange section moves parallel-current to the direction of flow of the fluid stream through the indirect heat exchange section.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising

21. A method of exchanging heat comprising the steps of:

providing an indirect heat exchange section,

the indirect heat exchange section conducting a fluid stream within a plurality of pathways,

the indirect heat exchange section comprising a top, a bottom, an air inlet and an air outlet,

moving air between the air inlet and the air outlet of the indirect heat exchange section,

the air moving through the indirect heat exchange section exchanging heat with the fluid stream within the plurality of pathways in the indirect section, wherein the indirect heat exchange section is comprised of a plate type heat exchanger,

the plate type heat exchanger comprised of a series of adjacent plate cassettes forming an alternating arrangement of a first series of flow passages and a second series of flow passages,

the second series of flow passages arranged such that the air moving through the indirect section passes through the second series of flow passages, wherein the air moving through the indirect heat exchange section moves generally parallel-current to the direction of flow of the fluid stream, through the indirect heat exchange section.

22. The method of exchanging heat of claim 21 wherein in the plate heat exchanger comprised of a series of adjacent plate cassettes forming an alternating arrangement of a first series of closed loop flow passages and a second series of open loop flow passages,

23. The method of exchanging heat of claim 21 wherein in the plate heat exchanger comprised of a series of adjacent plate cassettes forming an alternating arrangement of a first series of closed loop flow passages and a second series of open loop flow passages,

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising

25. A method of exchanging heat comprising the steps of:

providing an indirect heat exchange section,

the indirect heat exchange section conducting a fluid stream within a plurality of pathways,

the indirect heat exchange section comprising a top, a bottom, an air inlet and an air outlet,

moving air between the air inlet and the air outlet of the indirect heat exchange section,

the plate type heat exchanger comprised of a series of adjacent plate cassettes forming an alternating arrangement of a first series of flow passages and a second series of flow passages,

the second series of flow passages arranged such that the air moving through the indirect section passes through the second series of flow passages, wherein in the plate heat exchanger comprised of a series of adjacent plate cassettes forming an alternating arrangement of a first series of closed loop flow passages and a second series of open loop flow passages,

26. A method of exchanging heat comprising the steps of:

providing a direct evaporative heat exchange section and an indirect heat exchange section conducting fluid stream within a plurality of pathways,

the direct heat exchange section comprising a top, a bottom, an air inlet, and an air outlet,

the indirect heat exchange section comprising a top, a bottom, an air inlet and an air outlet,

the direct heat exchange section being placed generally above the indirect heat exchange section,

distributing an evaporative liquid generally downwardly onto and through the direct heat exchange section,

moving air between the air inlet and the air outlet of the indirect section, and

moving air between the air inlet and the air outlet of the direct section,

the air moving through the direct heat exchange section exchanging heat and mass with the evaporative liquid moving through the direct heat exchange section,

distributing substantially all of the evaporative liquid leaving the direct heat exchange section generally downwardly onto the indirect heat exchange section,

wherein the indirect heat exchange section is comprised of a plate type heat exchanger,

the plate type heat exchanger comprised of a series of adjacent plate cassettes forming an alternating arrangement of a first series of flow passages and a second series of flow passages,

the second series of flow passages arranged such that the evaporative liquid can pass through the second series of flow passages and such that the air moving through the indirect section passes through the second series of flow passages, wherein two direct heat exchange sections and two indirect heat exchange sections are provided,

with each direct heat exchange section located generally above each indirect heat exchange section.

27. The method of exchanging heat of claim 26 , further comprising:

collecting substantially all of the evaporative liquid that exits the indirect heat exchange sections, and pumping the collected evaporative liquid upwardly such that it can be distributed generally downwardly onto and through the direct heat exchange sections.

28. The method of exchanging heat of claim 26 wherein the air moving through the indirect heat exchange sections moves generally counter-current to the direction of flow of the evaporative liquid through the indirect heat exchange sections.

29. The method of exchanging heat of claim 26 wherein the air moving through the indirect heat exchange sections moves generally cross-current to the direction of flow of the evaporative liquid through the indirect heat exchange sections.

30. The method of exchanging heat of claim 26 wherein the air moving through the direct heat exchange sections moves generally cross-current to the direction of flow of the evaporative liquid through the direct heat exchange sections.

31. The method of exchanging heat of claim 26 wherein the plate heat exchanger comprised of a series of adjacent plate cassettes forming an alternating arrangement of a first series of closed loop flow passages and a second series of open loop flow passages, each plate cassette in the series of adjacent plate cassettes includes an enhanced surface pattern to increase plate surface area and to increase the sensible and latent heat transfer from the evaporative liquid to the air moving through the second series of flow passages in the plate heat exchanger.

32. The method of exchanging heat of claim 26 wherein the plate heat exchanger comprised of a series of adjacent plates forming an alternating arrangement of a first series of closed loop flow passages and a second series of open loop flow passages,

33. The method of exchanging heat of claim 26

wherein the air moving through the direct heat exchange sections moves generally counter-current to the direction of flow of the evaporative liquid through the direct heat exchange sections.

34. The method of exchanging heat of claim 26 wherein the air moving through the indirect heat exchange sections moves generally parallel-current to the direction of flow of the evaporative liquid through the indirect heat exchange sections.

35. A method of exchanging heat comprising the steps of:

providing a direct evaporative heat exchange section and an indirect heat exchange section, the indirect heat exchange section conducting a fluid stream within a plurality of pathways,

the direct heat exchange section comprising a top, a bottom, an air inlet, and an air outlet,

the indirect heat exchange section comprising a top, a bottom, an air inlet and an air outlet, the direct heat exchange section being placed generally above the indirect heat exchange section,

wherein the indirect heat exchange section is comprised of a plate type heat exchanger,

the plate heat exchanger comprised of a series of adjacent plate cassettes forming an alternating arrangement of a first series of flow passages and a second series of flow passages,

an inlet header and an outlet header operatively connected to the first series of flow passages such that the fluid stream can pass into the first series of flow passages and out from the first series of flow passage, the second series of flow passages arranged such that the air moving through the indirect section passes through the second series of flow passages, wherein two direct heat exchange sections and two indirect heat exchange sections are provided, with one direct heat exchange section located generally above one indirect heat exchange section and the second direct heat exchange section located generally above the second indirect heat exchange section.

36. The method of exchanging heat of claim 35 wherein the air moving through the indirect heat exchange sections moves counter-current to the direction of flow of the fluid stream through the indirect heat exchange sections.

37. The method of exchanging heat of claim 35 wherein the air moving through the indirect heat exchange sections moves generally cross-current to the direction of flow of the fluid stream through the indirect heat exchange sections.

38. The method of exchanging heat of claim 35 wherein in the plate heat exchanger comprised of a series of adjacent plate cassettes forming an alternating arrangement of a first series of closed loop flow passages and a second series of open loop flow passages,

39. The method of exchanging heat of claim 35

wherein the air moving through the indirect heat exchange sections moves parallel-current to the direction of flow of the fluid stream through the indirect heat exchange sections.

40. The method of claim 35 further comprising

distributing an evaporative liquid generally downward onto and through the indirect heat exchange sections such that indirect heat exchange occurs between the fluid stream within the plurality of pathways and the evaporative liquid.

41. A method of exchanging heat comprising the steps of: