Modules for heat exchange for use in cooling towers

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to modules for heat exchange for use in cooling towers and methods of assembling cooling towers using such modules. The aforementioned modules for heat exchange may include fill packing and a structural system configured to provide support for at least the fill packing, in which the structural system includes a plurality of structural members configured to provide compression and tension support. The aforementioned modules for heat exchange may be assembled prior to being transported to a job site and installed in a cooling tower.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchange module for use in a cooling tower, the heat exchange module comprising:
 fill packing; and   a structural system configured to provide support for at least the fill packing, the structural system comprising a plurality of structural members configured to provide compression and tension support for the cooling tower.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchange module of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange module is assembled prior to being installed in the cooling tower. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchange module of  claim 2 , wherein the heat exchange module when assembled is configured to be transportable. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchange module of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange module further comprises a firewall structure,
 wherein the firewall structure is configured to be transportable.   
     
     
         5 . The heat exchange module of  claim 4 , wherein the firewall structure comprises a fiber-reinforced material. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchange module of  claim 4 , wherein the firewall structure is configured to form a portion of a firewall system of the cooling tower, the firewall system of the cooling tower configured to separate a first cell of the cooling tower from a second cell of the cooling tower. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchange module of  claim 4 , wherein the firewall structure comprises:
 a first panel;   a second panel laterally spaced from the first wall; and   a separator disposed between the first panel and the second panel,   wherein a first side of the separator is in substantial contact with the first panel and a second side of the separator is in substantial contact with the second panel.   
     
     
         8 . The heat exchange module of  claim 7 , wherein the separator extends across a full dimension of the first panel and the second panel. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchange module of  claim 4 , wherein the firewall structure comprises a non-porous surface having resistance to water absorption. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchange module of  claim 1 , wherein the structural system is configured to provide support for the heat exchange module when the heat exchange module is transported. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchange module of  claim 1 , wherein the structural system comprises a triangular support structure formed from the plurality of structural members, the triangular support structure comprising:
 a first structural member forming a base of the triangular support structure;   a second structural member connected to the first structural member and extending out perpendicularly from the first structural member;   a third structural member connected to a first end of the first structural member and a distal end of the second structural member; and   a fourth structural member connected to a second end of the first structural member and the distal end of the second structural member.   
     
     
         12 . The heat exchange module of  claim 11 , wherein the third structural member is configured to transfer a first load from the first structural member to the distal end of the second structural member,
 wherein the fourth structural member is configured to transfer a second load from the first structural member to the distal end of the second structural member,   wherein the second structural member is configured to transfer at least the first load and the second load from the distal end of the second structural member to a center portion of the heat exchange module.   
     
     
         13 . The heat exchange module of  claim 11 , wherein at least the first structural member and the second structural member are compression members. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchange module of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the third structural member and the fourth structural members are tension members. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchange module of  claim 11 , wherein the triangular support structure is configured to transfer a load from an overhang portion of the heat exchange module to the center portion of the heat exchange module when the heat exchange module is transported on a surface having a dimension less than a dimension of the heat exchange module,
 wherein the overhang portion corresponds to a portion of the heat exchange module overhanging the surface on which the heat exchange module is transported.   
     
     
         16 . The heat exchange module of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange module further comprises a fastening member, the fastening member configured to fasten the heat exchange module when transported. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchange module of  claim 1 , wherein the structural system is configured to form a portion of a support system of the cooling tower,
 wherein the support system of the cooling tower is configured to provide support to the cooling tower when the cooling tower is assembled.   
     
     
         18 . The heat exchange module of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange module further comprises an alignment tube, the alignment tube configured to lock a position of the fill packing within the heat exchange module. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchange module of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange module further comprises a saddle structure, the saddle structure configured to support a header pipe of the cooling tower. 
     
     
         20 . The heat exchange module of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange module when installed in the cooling tower is connected to an air inlet structure of the cooling tower using a corbel.