Combination direct and indirect closed circuit evaporative heat exchanger with blow-through fan

In a heat exchange apparatus, a method of exchanging heat comprising the steps of:

• providing a direct evaporative heat exchange section and an integral indirect evaporative heat exchange section, said indirect section conducting a fluid stream within a plurality of individual circuits comprising said indirect section, and said direct section comprised of a fill bundle each of said heat exchange sections having a top side, a bottom side, an inboard side, an outboard side, an air inlet and an air outlet, said inboard and outboard side of each said heat exchange section defining a respective direct and indirect heat exchange section width, said direct and indirect heat exchange section widths being substantially equal;
• placing said direct section above said indirect section;
• providing a means above said direct section top side for spraying an evaporative liquid generally downwardly across said direct section;
• passing said evaporative liquid from said direct section downwardly across said individual circuits of said indirect evaporative heat exchange section in order for said liquid to indirectly exchange heat with said fluid stream within said circuits;
• providing at least one means for moving an ambient stream of air into a air inlet of said apparatus, said inlet having a horizontal extent and a vertical extent, said air inlet in communication with an air entry zone common to each of said heat exchange sections;
• splitting said air stream within said entry zone into a first air stream and a second air stream, said first air stream flowing upwardly into said direct heat exchange section air inlet, which said inlet is associated with said bottom side of said direct section, and said second air stream flowing downwardly into said indirect heat exchange section air inlet, which said inlet is associated with said top side of said indirect section, said first air stream flowing countercurrent with said evaporative liquid within said direct section and said second air stream flowing concurrent with said evaporative liquid within said indirect section, said first air stream evaporatively exchanging heat with said evaporative liquid in said direct section before exiting said air outlet, which said outlet is associated with said top side of said direct section, said second air stream evaporatively exchanging heat with said evaporative liquid in said indirect section before exiting said air outlet, which said outlet is associated with said bottom side of said indirect section;
• collecting substantially all of said evaporative liquid exiting said indirect section in a sump;
• pumping substantially all of said collected evaporative liquid upwardly to said direct evaporative heat exchange section for redistribution;
• and
• enclosing said sump, said spray means, and each of said heat exchange sections within a single structure, said structure having a generally open roof above said spray means, a generally solid base for containing said sump, a from wall, a near wall, and a pair of side walls interconnecting with said roof, base and front and rear walls.