US3731461A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Drift eliminators for atmospheric cooling tower
Assignee: Hamon Sobelco SA
•
Filing: 1970-04-07
•
Granted: 1973-05-08
•
Expires: 1990-04-07
Abstract
Abstract To reduce or eliminate droplet formation in the plume issuing from a cooling tower, a layer of finned tubes is provided to heat the moist air prior to its issuance from the tower. The fins have a shape similar to conventional drift eliminator blades and thus the blades, at the same time, function to eliminate droplets from the gas stream. In addition, the above-mentioned tubes can be fitted with vertical outlet tubes or nozzles such that the finned tubes fulfill the following functions: COLLECT THE WATER DROPLETS CONTAINED IN THE AIR LEAVING THE COOLING TOWER; WARM UP THE AIR LEAVING THE TOWER; AND DISTRIBUTE THE WATER TO BE COOLED IN THE COOLING TOWER, OVER THE HEAT TRANSFER SECTION.
Inventors
- 👤 M Hamon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 04:35
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28C; F28C1/00; F28C1/14; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B30/00; Y02B30/70; Y10; Y10S; Y10S261/00; Y10S261/11; Y10S261/77
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
An atmospheric cooling tower comprising side walls provided with an air inlet means for atmospheric air and having a top outlet means for the exit of heated outlet air, gas liquid contact means within the tower intermediate the air inlet means and the air outlet means, a plurality of heat exchange tubes arranged in a generally horizontal layer transversely within the tower above said contact means, a plurality of metallic fins mounted on the tubes in heat exchange relation therewith, said fins being in generally parallel relation and being nonplanar and defining a series of tortuous vertical flow paths for the heat exchange flow of the outlet air over the tubes, means provided at the ends of the tubes for passing through said tubes a heated liquid with the outlet air passing from the contact means through the flow paths so as to reduce liquid droplets suspended in the outlet air existing through the outlet means and to reduce the relative humidity of said outlet air, and said tubes having depending outlet nozzles for directing the heated liquid therein onto the contact means within the cooling tower.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
An atmospheric cooling tower comprising side walls provided with an air inlet means for atmospheric air and having a top outlet means for the exit of heated outlet air, gas liquid contact means within the tower intermediate the air inlet means and the air outlet means, a plurality of heat exchange tubes arranged in a generally horizontal layer transversely within the tower above said contact means, a plurality of metallic fins mounted on the tubes in heat exchange relation therewith, said fins being in generally parallel relation and being nonplanar and defining a series of tortuous vertical flow paths for the heat exchange flow of the outlet air over the tubes, means provided at the ends of the tubes for passing through said tubes a heated liquid with the outlet air passing from the contact means through the flow paths so as to reduce liquid droplets suspended in the outlet air existing through the outlet means and to reduce the relative humidity of said outlet air, and said tubes having depending outlet nozzles for directing the heated liquid therein onto the contact means within the cooling tower.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the fins are spaced apart and define zig-zag air flow passages.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the fins have upper end portions through which the tubes pass so that the major portions of the fins depend from the tubes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the means at one of the ends of the tubes is an outlet header means and is in fluid communication with the water supply system for the tower.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the means at one of the ends of the tubes is an inlet header means and is in communication with a source of heated liquid.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1883665A
Cited
US1948524A
Cited
US2153627A
Cited
US2627396A
Cited
US3189007A
Cited
US3345048A
Cited
US3473298A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-07 | 1976-11-06 | 1977-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-07 | 1980-11-06 | 1981-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-07 | 1984-11-06 | 1985-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |