Cooling tower with indirect heat exchanger

A method of exchanging heat comprising the steps of:

• providing a direct evaporative heat exchange section and an indirect evaporative heat exchange section, the indirect heat exchange section conducting a fluid stream within a plurality of pathways, the direct heat exchange section comprising a top, a bottom, an air inlet, and an air outlet,
• the indirect heat exchange section comprising a top, a bottom, an air inlet and an air outlet, the indirect heat exchange section being placed generally above the direct heat exchange section, distributing an evaporative liquid generally downward onto and through the indirect heat exchange section such that indirect heat exchange occurs between the fluid stream within the plurality of pathways and the evaporative liquid,
• moving air between the air inlet and the air outlet of the indirect section, and moving air between the air inlet and the air outlet of the direct section, the air moving through the indirect heat exchange section exchanging both heat and mass with the evaporative liquid moving through the indirect heat exchange section and hence indirectly exchanging heat with the fluid stream within the plurality of pathways in the indirect section,
• the air moving through the direct heat exchange section exchanging heat and mass with the evaporative liquid moving through the direct heat exchange section,
• distributing substantially all of the evaporative liquid leaving the indirect heat exchange section generally downward onto the direct heat exchange section,
• distributing substantially all of the air exiting the direct section to the inlet and of the indirect section.