Wet/dry cooling tower and method

An atmospheric cooling tower apparatus, comprising:

• a housing means having an air inlet and an air outlet;
• a first evaporative heat transfer means disposed in the housing;
• a closed coil heat transfer means disposed in the housing;
• a first water distribution means disposed above the first evaporative heat transfer means configured to distribute water onto the first evaporative fill heat transfer fill means;
• a first collection means disposed beneath the first evaporative heat transfer means configured to collect water that has passed through the first evaporative heat transfer means;
• a first control valve means that controls an inflow of water to supply water to one or both of the first evaporative heat transfer means and the closed coil heat transfer means, wherein the first control valve means has one position where a first fraction of the water is supplied to the first evaporative heat transfer means, and another position where a second fraction of the water is supplied to the closed coil heat transfer means;
• a second evaporative heat transfer means disposed beneath the first collection means, and further comprising a second collection means below the second evaporative heat transfer means, wherein a second air path is defined between the first and second collection means beneath the first air path and through the second evaporative heat transfer means, and wherein the first collection means also is configured as a second water distribution means to distribute collected water onto the second evaporative heat transfer means;
• wherein the closed coil heat transfer means and the first evaporative heat transfer means are disposed laterally next to each other and wherein a first air path is defined between the first water distribution means and the first collection means, through the first evaporative heat transfer means, and through the closed coil heat transfer means.

An atmospheric cooling method for a tower apparatus having a housing structure having an air inlet and an air outlet, comprising:

• distributing water to a first evaporative heat transfer media disposed in the housing a first water distribution assembly disposed above the first evaporative heat transfer media configured to distribute water onto the first evaporative fill heat transfer fill media;
• distributing water to a closed coil heat transfer media disposed in the housing;
• collecting water using a first collection basin disposed beneath the first evaporative heat transfer media configured to collect water that has passed through the first evaporative heat transfer media;
• and
• controlling an inflow of water to supply water to one or both of the first evaporative heat transfer media and the closed coil heat transfer media using a first control valve, wherein the first control valve has one position where a first fraction of the water is supplied to the first evaporative heat transfer media, and another position where a second fraction of the water is supplied to the closed coil heat transfer media;
• distributing water to a second evaporative heat transfer media disposed beneath the first collection basin, and further comprising a second collection basin below the second evaporative heat transfer media, wherein a second air path is defined between the first and second collection basins beneath the first air path and through the second evaporative heat transfer media, and wherein the first collection basin also is configured as a second water distribution assembly to distribute collected water onto the second evaporative heat transfer media;
• wherein the closed coil heat transfer media and the first evaporative heat transfer media are disposed laterally next to each other and wherein a first air path is defined between the first water distribution assembly and the first collection basin, through the first evaporative heat transfer media, and through the closed coil heat transfer media.