Patent ID: 6886816
Filing Date: 2005-05-03
Classification: F28F,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. In a cooling tower for cooling water, said cooling tower having an upper reservoir to distribute heated water, a lower reservoir to receive the cooled water, a plurality of spaced film fill sheets positioned substantially upright over which the heated water to be cooled travels from said upper to said lower reservoir, and a blower for forcing air between said sheets so as to cool the water flowing down the sheets, wherein the improvement comprises: a plurality of buttons formed thereon and extending outwardly from one surface of the sheet, said buttons being arranged in a plurality of rows with the buttons in each said row being substantially uniformly separated with spaces therebetween, said buttons of one row being offset one half the distance between two adjacent buttons from the rows immediately above and below said one row; each row having a plurality of dimples formed thereon and extending inwardly from said one surface of said sheet, said dimples in each said row being arranged between adjacent ones of said buttons with said buttons and dimples being substantially uniformly separated from one another with spaces therebetween, said dimples of one row being offset one half the distance between two adjacent buttons from the rows immediately above and below said one row, a channel on both sides of each said button with said channels extending downwardly and laterally with respect to the vertical, said dimples being located at the intersection of said channels for two such adjacent rows; and a grid pattern of channels that border each of said buttons on four diagonal sides, said channels connect the base of said buttons and said dimples such that upon releasing heated water to be cooled from said upper reservoir so as to flow down said sheets, said water upon encountering a first row of buttons and dimples is divided into rivulets flowing downwardly within said spaces between said buttons, said channels and said dimples of said first row of said buttons wherein as said water flows downwardly from said first row, said water encountering said buttons and said dimples in the next lower or second row so as to divert the flow of said water in a meandering manner into said spaces and said channels of said second row, and thence said water will flow downwardly within said spaces, said channels, and said dimples of said second row, wherein as said water flows downwardly from said second row, said water encounters said buttons, said dimples, and said channels of the next lower row so as to divert the flow of water substantially laterally into said spaces of said next row, and so on until said water flows into said lower reservoir whereby the rate at which said water flows down said sheet is inhibited thereby maximizing the length of time that said water is exposed to the flow of cooling air as said water flows from said upper to said lower reservoir.