Direct contact water-to-air heat exchanger and method

A method of direct contact, water-to-air heat exchange characterized by low power requirements for the circulation of air and water therethrough, said method comprising:

• introducing air to be conditioned into a vertically extending columnar air/water contact chamber in a substantially horizontally directed flow proximate the bottom of the chamber;
• providing a discharge opening proximate the top of the chamber;
• passing the horizontally directed flow of introduced air through a first turning vane to turn the air flow by an angle on the order of 90.degree. to an upwardly directed flow and thereafter passing the air through a second turning vane to turn the air flow again by an angle on the order of 90.degree. to direct the air to the discharge opening, thereby subdividing the flow of air within the chamber into three zones, a first lower zone in which the air flow is substantially horizontal as a continuation of the introduced air, a second middle zone located between the two turning vanes wherein the air flow is substantially upward, and a third upper zone in which the air flow is at least partially horizontally directed toward the discharge opening;
• while introducing the air to be conditioned and passing it through the chamber, spraying water at a predetermined temperature into the chamber from an upper portion thereof and passing the water by gravity through the three zones to establish a partly countercurrent, partly crosscurrent flow of water to air within the contact chamber;
• and
• providing a thermodynamically efficient heat transfer between the water and air in the three zones while minimizing the power requirement to circulate air and water through the chamber.

A direct contact water-to-air heat exchanger characterized by low power requirements for the circulation of air and water therethrough and a thermodynamically efficient provision of near moisture saturated cooled or warmed air to satisfy a cooling or heating load, said heat exchanger comprising:

• a pair of vertically extending columnar air/water contact chambers, each chamber defining upper and lower ends and a sidewall structure;
• an air handling section located between said contact chambers;
• an opening in the sidewall structure proximate the lower end of each chamber for permitting introduction of air to be conditioned into the chamber from said air handling section in a substantially horizontal flow direction;
• an opening in the sidewall structure proximate the upper end of each chamber for permitting discharge of conditioned air from each chamber into the air handling section;
• a first inclined turning vane located in the lower part of each chamber;
• a second inclined turning vane located in the upper part of each chamber;
• the first and second turning vanes in each chamber serving to define three zones in the chamber, a first lower zone in which the air flow is substantially horizontal as a continuation of the introduced air, a second middle zone located between the turning vanes wherein the air flow is substantially upward and a third upper zone in which the flow is at least partially horizontally directed toward the air discharge means;
• water spray means located at the upper end of each chamber for spraying water at a predetermined cold temperature into said chamber for a downward gravity assisted passage through the three zones;
• and
• water collection means located at the lower end of each chamber for collecting water that has passed through the chamber.