Abstract:
A fill sheet arrangement in a direct heat exchange section of a cooling tower is provided. Each fill sheet includes ridges, grooves, separators, and an air inlet louver zone itself having ridges, grooves and separators, that improve the performance of the fill sheet arrangement when installed as a direct heat exchange section of a cooling tower. The air inlet louver zone between adjacent fill sheets to improve the air flow capabilities and performance of the direct heat exchange section by limiting the evaporative liquid from leaving the fill sheet.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to air inlet louver zone of heat and mass transfer media, or fill sheet arrangement within the direct heat exchange portion of a cooling tower. More particularly, the present invention relates to inlet louver zone attached to a fill sheet that is used in a direct heat exchange unit, which could be a cooling tower. 
         [0002]    The heat and mass transfer media, or fill sheet arrangement, is generally vertically oriented with an evaporative liquid, usually water, coursing over the material, usually flowing downwardly, with an air stream directed usually transversely but potentially concurrent or cross current through the spaced fill sheet direct cooling section. The air interacts with the evaporative liquid for heat and mass transfer. 
         [0003]    The integrated air inlet louver zone is attached to an edge of fill sheet, is a part of fill sheet, directs airstream to fill, and limits evaporative fluid from leaving the fill sheet beyond the fill sheet edge. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The invention made improvements to the air inlet louver zone included in the fill sheet near the first side edge of the fill sheet arrangement. Each fill sheet includes an air inlet louver zone comprised of a plurality of gradually raised surfaces that lead to form the raised ridges of each fill sheet. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    In the drawings, 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a first fill sheet in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a partial view of a first inlet louver zone showing a male indexer and adjacent raised surfaces in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a partial view of a first inlet louver zone showing a male indexer and cutouts in adjacent raised surfaces in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a perspective side view of a second fill sheet in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a partial view of a second fill sheet showing second inlet louver zone in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are schematic views of a portion of a first and second inlet louver zone showing a male indexer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C  are schematic views of a portion of a first and second inlet louver zone showing a male separator in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0013]    Referring now to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, a first fill sheet is shown at  10  and a first inlet louver zone is shown at  15 . First fill sheet  10  is shown to be of a generally rectangular and generally planar structure; however, it should be understood that based on design of installation needs first fill sheet  10  may be of a square or trapezoidal structure as well. First fill sheet  10  is seen to comprise a top edge  11 , bottom edge  12 , first side edge  18 , and second side edge  14 . Cooling air typically enters from the direction of first side edge  18  and travels and exits towards the general direction of second side edge  14 . Included in first fill sheet  10  is first inlet louver zone  15  extending from first inlet edge  18  to transition edge  13 . It is noted that transition edge  13  may be straight or curved. First inlet louver zone  15  is shown to be of a generally rectangular and generally planar structure; however, it should be understood that based on design of installation needs first inlet louver zone  15  may be of a square or trapezoidal structure as well. First inlet louver zone  15  extends from first side edge  18  to transition edge  13  and from top edge  11  to bottom edge  12 . Generally, when installed in a direct heat exchange unit, possibly as a component of a cooling tower, evaporative liquid, usually water, flows downwardly onto top edge  11  and across first fill sheet  10 , and exits bottom edge  12 . First side edge  18  is typically an air inlet edge wherein air is forced or drawn cross-current to the evaporative liquid downward flow to exit from second side edge  14 . Such combination of evaporative liquid generally flowing down and cross-current air flow acts to remove heat from the evaporative liquid by both a heat and mass transfer operation. It should be understood that air flow may be somewhat counter current or con-concurrent with the evaporative liquid downward flow, depending on the design of the direct heat exchange unit. 
         [0014]    Each first fill sheet  10  including first inlet louver zone  15  are usually comprised of polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, or any other plastic sheet formed in a press, vacuum forming, or molding operation. 
         [0015]    First fill sheet  10  is seen to comprise of plurality of first fill sheet ridges  34  on the rear surface of first fill sheet  10  extending from first transition edge  13  to second side edge  14 . Alternating with first fill sheet ridges  34  are first fill sheet grooves  35 . 
         [0016]    First inlet louver zone  15  is also seen to comprise of plurality of first ridges  20  extending length wise from first side edge  18  to first transition edge  13  matching the shapes of a plurality of first sheet ridge  34 . Alternating with first ridge  20  are first grooves  21 , which also extend lengthwise across first inlet louver zone  15  from first side edge  18  to first transition edge at an inclined angle. 
         [0017]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , first fill sheet  10  is shown with first inlet louver zone  15  is also seen to comprise a first male indexer  30 , first male separators  31 , and first recessed ridges  32 . 
         [0018]    First male indexer  30  extends upwardly from the surface of first inlet louver zone  15 . As to be further explained, first male indexer  30  is typically located on first groove  21  on the rear surface of first inlet louver zone  15 . 
         [0019]    First male separator  31  extends upwardly from the surface of first inlet louver zone  15 . As to be further explained, the extended surface of first male separator  30  is typically flush with first inlet louver zone ridge  20 , and the center of first male separator  30  is typically located on first ridge  20  on the rear surface of first inlet louver zone  15 . 
         [0020]    First recessed ridge  32  extends upwardly from the surface of first inlet louver zone  15  to slightly lower than first ridge  20 . First ridge side wall  33  connects first groove  21  to first recessed ridge  32 . 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , first fill sheet  10  is shown with first ridge  20  and first ridge cutout  36  on two adjacent first ridges  20  of first male indexer  30 . 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , second fill sheet  40  is seen to be quite similar to first fill sheet  10  in that second fill sheet  40  also is a generally rectangular, generally planar structure, having top edge  41 , bottom edge  42 , first side edge  43  and second side edge  44 . 
         [0023]    Included in second fill sheet  40  is second inlet louver zone  50  extending from first inlet edge  43  to transition edge  51  and from top edge  41  to bottom edge  42 . It is noted that transition edge  51  may be straight or curved. Second inlet louver zone  50  is seen to be quite similar to first inlet louver zone  15  in that second inlet louver zone is shown to be of a generally rectangular and generally planar structure; however, it should be understood that based on design of installation needs second inlet louver zone  50  may be of a square or trapezoidal structure as well. 
         [0024]    Second fill sheet  40  including second inlet louver zone  50  is again quite similar or identical to first fill sheet  10  there to in being comprised of polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, or any other plastic sheet made in a pressing, vacuum forming, or molding operation. 
         [0025]    Further, second fill sheet  40  is seen to comprise a series of second fill sheet ridges  45  on the front surface of second fill sheet  40  and alternating series of second fill sheet grooves  46  on the front surface of second fill sheet  40 . Second fill sheet ridges  45  extend lengthwise from transition edge  51  to second side edge  44  and second fill sheet grooves  46  extend lengthwise from transition edge  51  to second side edge  44 . 
         [0026]    Second inlet zone  50  is seen to comprise a series of second inlet zone ridges  52  extending from first edge  43  and transition edge  51 . Similarly, second inlet zone  50  is seen to comprise a series of second inlet zone groove  53  extending from first edge  43  and transition edge  51 . Second inlet zone ridge  52  aligns with second fill sheet ridge  45  and second inlet zone groove  53  aligns with second fill sheet groove  46 . 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , second fill sheet  40  has second inlet louver zone  50 , which is also seen to comprise a second male indexer  55 , first male separators  56 , and second recessed ridges  57 . 
         [0028]    Second male indexer  55  extends upwardly from the surface of second inlet louver zone  50 . As to be further explained, second male indexer  55  is typically located on second groove  53  on the front surface of second inlet louver zone  50 . 
         [0029]    Second male separator  56  extends upwardly from the surface of first second inlet louver zone  50 . As to be further explained, the extended surface of second male separator  56  is typically flush with second inlet louver zone ridge  52 , and the center of first male separator  56  is typically located on second ridge  52  on the front surface of second inlet louver zone  50 . 
         [0030]    Second recessed ridge  57  extends upwardly from the surface of second inlet louver zone  50  to slightly lower than second ridge  52 . Second ridge side wall  58  connects second groove  53  to second recessed ridge  57 . 
         [0031]    In practice, a fill arrangement in a direct heat exchange unit would be comprised of two fill sheets located adjacent each other and repeated multiple times as needed to occupy the heat exchanger. Subsequently, two inlet louver zones included in the two fill sheets would also be located adjacent each other and repeat multiple times as needed. 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIG. 6A , schematics are shown wherein a portion of first inlet louver zone  15  is seen to be adjacent a portion of second inlet louver zone  50 . First fill sheet first male indexer  30  is seen to extend from first groove  21  on the rear surface of first fill sheet  10  toward second recessed ridge  57  on the front surface of second fill sheet  50 . During the assembly process of stacking first fill sheet  10  adjacent to second fill sheet  40 , as first male indexer  30  travel toward second inlet louver zone  50 , second ridge side wall  58  guides first male indexer  30  toward second recessed ridge  57 .  FIG. 6 b    shows desired location of first inlet louver zone  15  with respect to second inlet louver zone  50  and first male indexer  30  contacting second recessed ridge  57 . Air travels through a plurality of air paths  60  created by adjacent first inlet louver zone  15  and second inlet zone, but for those air paths that are partially blocked by first male indexer  30 , first ridge cutout  36  allows  50  air to go around first male indexer  30  and behind first ridge  20 . 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 a   , schematic shows the intended location of first inlet zone  15  location with respect to second inlet zone  50  wherein a portion of first inlet louver zone  15  is seen to be adjacent a portion of second inlet louver zone  50  and wherein first fill sheet first male separator  31  is seen to extend from first groove  21  to first ridge  20  on the rear face of first inlet louver zone  15  and wherein the rear face of first ridge  20  comes in contact with the front face of second groove  53  of second inlet louver zone  50 .  FIG. 7 b    is seen where a portion of second inlet louver zone  50  is located lower than the intended position with respect to first inlet louver zone  15  and the rear face of first ridge  20  misses the front face of second groove  53  but first male separator  31  abuts the front face of second groove  53 . Similarly,  FIG. 7 c    is seen where a portion of second inlet louver zone  50  is located higher than intended position with respect to first inlet louver zone  15  and the rear face of first ridge  20  misses the front face of second groove  53  but first male separator  31  abuts the front face of second groove  53 .