Cooling tower splash fill

Abstract

A splash fill arrangement for use in a direct heat exchange section of a cooling tower is provided. Each splash fill arrangement includes support plates and elongated bars extending there between, which arrangement improves the performance of the splash fill arrangement when installed as a direct heat exchange section of a cooling tower. Certain of the elongated bars between the support plates are angled from the horizontal to improve the air flow capabilities and performance of the direct heat exchange section.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A splash fill arrangement for use in a direct heat exchanger, comprising
 a support plate and a plurality of elongated bars,   the support plate including a plurality of openings, each support plate opening adapted to receive an elongated bar,   at least one of the elongated bars set at an angle from the horizontal of between 5 and degrees.   
     
     
         2 . The splash fill arrangement of  claim 1  wherein
 at least one of the elongated bars has a generally smooth edged rectangular cross section. 
 
     
     
         3 . The splash fill arrangement of  claim 1  wherein
 at least one of the elongated bars has a generally smooth edged rectangular cross section with at least one raised ridge along a lower surface of the elongated bar. 
 
     
     
         4 . The splash fill arrangement of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the elongated bars has a generally smooth edged rectangular cross section with a top surface thereof generally raised from the horizontal and a bottom surface thereof indented from the horizontal. 
     
     
         5 . The splash fill arrangement of  claim 1  further comprising
 a second plurality of elongated bars located beneath the plurality of elongated bars and wherein at least one of the second plurality of elongated bars is set an angle of about 0 degrees from the horizontal. 
 
     
     
         6 . The splash fill arrangement of  claim 1  further comprising
 a second plurality of elongated bars, the second plurality of elongated bars positioned adjacent an air inlet of the direct heat exchanger and wherein at least one of the second plurality of elongated bars is set at an upward angle from the horizontal of between 5 and 45 degrees, and 
 a third plurality of elongated bars, the third plurality of elongated bars positioned adjacent an air outlet of the direct heat exchanger and wherein at least one of the third plurality of elongated bars is set at a downward angle from the horizontal of between and 50 degrees. 
 
     
     
         7 . The splash fill arrangement of  claim 1  further comprising
 vertical gaps between elongated bars wherein the gaps are generally smallest near the top of support plate and gradually increase toward the bottom of plate. 
 
     
     
         8 . A splash fill arrangement for use in a direct heat exchanger, comprising
 a support plate and a first plurality of elongated bars,   the support plate including a plurality of openings, each support plate opening adapted to receive an elongated bar from the first plurality of elongated bars,   a second plurality of elongated bars, each support plate opening adapted to receive an elongated bar from the second plurality of elongated bars.   at least one of the first plurality of elongated bars set at an angle from the horizontal of between 5 and 45 degrees,   at least one of the second plurality of elongated bars set at an angle of about 0 degrees from the horizontal, and wherein the second plurality of elongated bars is located generally between the first plurality of elongated bars.   
     
     
         9 . The splash fill arrangement of  claim 7  wherein
 at least one of the first plurality of elongated bars has a generally smooth edged rectangular cross section. 
 
     
     
         10 . The splash fill arrangement of  claim 7  wherein
 at least one of the first plurality of elongated bars has a generally smooth edged rectangular cross section with at least one raised ridge along a lower surface of the elongated bar. 
 
     
     
         10 . The splash fill arrangement of  claim 7  wherein at least one of the first plurality of elongated bars has a generally smooth edged rectangular cross section with a top surface thereof generally raised from the horizontal and a bottom surface thereof indented from the horizontal. 
     
     
         11 . A splash fill arrangement for use in a direct heat exchanger, comprising
 a support plate and a first plurality of elongated bars,   the support plate including a plurality of openings, each support plate opening adapted to receive an elongated bar from the first plurality of elongated bars,   a second plurality of elongated bars, the second plurality of elongated bars positioned adjacent an air inlet of the direct heat exchanger and wherein at least one of the second plurality of elongated bars is set at an upward angle from the horizontal of between 5 and 45 degrees, and   a third plurality of elongated bars, the third plurality of elongated bars positioned adjacent an air outlet of the direct heat exchanger and wherein at least one of the third plurality of elongated bars is set at a downward angle from the horizontal of between and 50 degrees.   
     
     
         12 . The splash fill arrangement of  claim 11  wherein
 at least one of the first plurality of elongated bars has a generally smooth edged rectangular cross section. 
 
     
     
         13 . The splash fill arrangement of  claim 11  wherein
 at least one of the first plurality of elongated bars has a generally smooth edged rectangular cross section with at least one raised ridge along a lower surface of the elongated bar. 
 
     
     
         14 . The splash fill arrangement of  claim 11  wherein at least one of the first plurality of elongated bars has a generally smooth edged rectangular cross section with a top surface thereof generally raised from the horizontal and a bottom surface thereof indented from the horizontal. 
     
     
         15 . The splash fill arrangement of  claim 11  further comprising
 vertical gaps between elongated bars wherein the gaps are generally smallest near the top of support plate and gradually increase toward the bottom of plate. 
 
     
     
         16 . The splash fill arrangement of  claim 11  wherein
 at least one of the first plurality of elongated bars has an opening 
 in a lower surface of the elongated bar.