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US 10,895,420 B2Granted
Hybrid fluid cooler method and apparatus
AssigneeSPX Cooling Technologies, Inc.
InventorJason Stratman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hybrid fluid cooler assembly that provides increased heat exchange. The apparatus includes a plurality of adjacently spaced arrays, each array having a plurality of cooling conduits in combination a direct heat exchange portion. In addition, the apparatus includes an airflow inlet that provides a single air flow current that traverses the direct heat exchange portion and then the indirect heat exchange portion in series.
Claims15
A hybrid fluid cooler apparatus that extends along a longitudinal axis for use in a heat exchange processes, comprising:
- a frame assembly comprising:
- a first end wall;
- a second end wall that opposes said first end wall;
- a first side wall that extends between said first and second end walls;
- a second side wall that opposes said first side wall that extends between said first and second end walls;
- a direct heat exchange section having a plurality of fill sheets and oriented at a first position along the longitudinal axis;
- an indirect heat exchange section oriented at a second position along the longitudinal axis, in series with said direct heat exchange section, wherein said indirect heat exchange section comprises a plurality of vertical arrays adjacently spaced laterally to each other, said plurality of vertical arrays each comprising a plurality of horizontal conduits having a diameter that extend across the hybrid fluid cooler apparatus in spaced relation to each other at different vertical levels of the hybrid fluid cooler apparatus, wherein a horizontal spacing between said horizontal conduits within said vertical arrays is three (3) times the diameter centerline to centerline of said conduits;
- and
- an airflow inlet oriented at a position below said direct heat exchange section along the longitudinal axis that provides entry for a single air flow current wherein said single airflow current traverses through said direct heat exchange section and said indirect section in series, wherein the plurality of fill sheets are disposed below the entire indirect heat exchange section.
6 more elements
A hybrid heat exchange apparatus for use in a fluid cooler having a longitudinal axis, comprising:
- a direct heat exchange section having a plurality of fill sheets and oriented at a first position along the longitudinal axis, wherein said direct heat exchange section comprises heat exchange packs;
- an indirect heat exchange section oriented at a second location along the longitudinal axis, in series with said direct heat exchange section, wherein said indirect heat exchange section comprises a plurality of vertical arrays adjacently spaced laterally to each other, said arrays each comprising a plurality of horizontal conduits having a diameter that extend across the fluid cooler in spaced relation to each other at different vertical levels of the fluid cooler, wherein a horizontal spacing between said horizontal conduits within said vertical arrays is three (3) times the diameter centerline to centerline of said conduits;
- and
- an airflow inlet oriented at a position below said direct heat exchange section along the longitudinal axis that provides entry for a single air flow current wherein said single airflow current traverses through said direct heat exchange section and said indirect heat exchange section in series, wherein the plurality of fill sheets are disposed below the entire indirect heat exchange section.
1 more element
A method for cooling a fluid using a hybrid fluid cooler, comprising:
- flowing the fluid to be cooled through an indirect heat exchange assembly having a plurality of vertical arrays adjacently spaced laterally to each other, the arrays each comprising a plurality of horizontal conduits extending across the indirect heat exchange assembly in spaced relation to each other at different vertical levels of the indirect heat exchange assembly, wherein a horizontal spacing between said horizontal conduits within said vertical arrays is three (3) times the diameter centerline to centerline of said conduits;
- spraying a heat exchange fluid onto the conduits and a direct heat exchange section having a plurality of fill sheets and positioned below the indirect heat exchange assembly;
- and
- passing a single air flow current over the direct heat exchange section and the indirect heat exchange assembly in series, wherein the plurality of fill sheets are disposed below the entire indirect heat exchange section.
1 more element
A method for cooling a fluid using a hybrid fluid cooler, comprising:
- flowing a fluid to be cooled through an indirect heat exchange assembly having a plurality of vertical arrays adjacently spaced laterally to each other, the arrays each comprising a plurality of horizontal conduits extending across the indirect heat exchange assembly in spaced relation to each other at different vertical levels of the indirect heat exchange assembly, wherein a horizontal spacing between said horizontal conduits within said vertical arrays is three (3) times the diameter centerline to centerline of said conduits;
- spraying a heat exchange fluid onto a direct heat exchange section having a plurality of fill sheets and positioned above the indirect heat exchange assembly;
- and
- passing a single air flow current over the indirect heat exchange assembly and the direct heat exchange section in series, wherein the plurality of fill sheets are disposed below the entire indirect heat exchange section.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.