Heat exchange – With first fluid holder or collector open to second fluid – Trickler
Patent
1997-01-21
1999-02-02
Leo, Leonard R.
Heat exchange
With first fluid holder or collector open to second fluid
Trickler
261111, 2611121, 165116, B01F 304
Patent
active
058652426
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
2. Description of the Related Art
Two types of heat exchangers currently exist.
The first uses the "splash"-process as shown in FIG. 1 provides grids or such like that enable the splitting of water drops during their downfall in the evaporation tower. The split water drops hit a stream of air and are cooled due to the forced evaporation of the water.
The second type of heat exchanger uses the "film"-process as shown in FIG. 2 which provides differently shaped plastic plates that are stuck together. During its descent covers the plates as a "film". The stream of air sweeping over the water-"film" causes the evaporation of the water and thus cools the water.
The "film"-process is disadvantageous in that it uses the entire space while being transported and is susceptible to blockage caused by small foreign particles. The "splash"-process is disadvantageous in that manpower is needed for its installation at the operational site and due to the fact that it is operationally inefficient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the disadvantages of the known processes, i.e. to design a more effective and economical heat exchanger.
The present invention is directed to a panel comprising a plurality of frames and vanes connected between said frames. Outer ones of the frames include connecting mechanisms attached thereto to enable the panel to be coupled to at least one other said panel which are movable relative to each other about said connecting mechanisms into a desired position to thereby align and differently adjust the vanes relative to a flow of at least one fluid through the panel.
In the preferred embodiment, the connecting mechanisms including projecting studs and receiving studs provided on the outer ones of the frame for pivotally coupling individual ones of the panels together in positions at different angles.
The panel is preferably formed in a one shot injection molding operation.
The present invention also concerns a panel assembly, comprising at least two panels, each panel including a pair of outer frame members, at least one intermediate frame member extending parallel to the outer frame members, and a plurality of vanes connected between the outer and intermediate frames to form the panel structure. Connecting arrangements attached to the outer frame members facilitate pivotal connection of one said panel to another said panel. The panels extend at a selected acute angle to each other.
The connecting arrangements are preferably hinged connections between adjacent ones of the panels.
The connecting arrangements preferably include first projecting connectors formed along one outer frame member and second receiving connectors formed along the other outer frame member. The first and second connectors of the adjacent panels enable interconnection to achieve a succession of interconnected panels.
The present invention also concerns a method of achieving mass transfer between two fluids. The method comprises the steps of introducing a first fluid into a module where the first fluid flows through first through first and second series of vanes. A second fluid is introduced into the module where the second fluid flows through the first and second series of vanes and contacts the first fluid. If one of the first an second fluid is a liquid, then the interaction of the first and second fluids with the first and second series of vanes causes the liquid to splash and film onto the second series of vanes from the first series. If one of the fluids is a gas, then the first and second series of vanes cause deflection in the flow of the gas. The module is a panel and a plurality of the panels are interconnected to each other at a predetermined but variable angle greater than zero degrees.
In further accordance with the method of the invention, the first and second series of vanes are oppositely inclined relative to each other.
The predetermined angle is determined based on specific flow parameters within the operating
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CTI Journal, vol. 12, No. 1, pp. 19 and 31-46, Date Unknown.
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