Patent Application
20170297043
Cooling towers typically utilize a grid work of overhead nozzles to form a plurality of overlapping spray patterns for the purpose of distributing water over the upper surface of a layer of fill material through which air is drawn. The water flows downward through the fill material as the air flows upward through or across the fill material whereby the heat of the water is transferred to the air.
It is important to obtain as uniform a distribution as possible of the water over the upper surface of the fill material so that the water will uniformly flow through the fill material across the entire cross-sectional area of the tower. If the water distribution is not uniform, channels of uneven water loading will develop which cause the formation of low pressure paths through which the air will channel, thus greatly reducing the efficiency of the heat exchange operation conducted by the cooling tower.
It has been found that the efficiency of the heat exchange operation is greatly increased by using fluid distributing devices or nozzles that will create a plurality of abutting or overlapping square spray patterns, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,458, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. The formation of square spray patterns enables the spray patterns to be mated with each other so that voids or gaps do not exist between adjacent spray patterns. However, inefficiencies may still occur if the fluid distributed by each nozzle is not distributed uniformly across each of the individual square spray patterns.
The nozzles typically include a nozzle body, a cap, and a turbine. The nozzle body is provided with a central hub fixed within a fluid passage of the nozzle body with a plurality of radially spaced ribs. The cap has a stem with a central bore. The stem is configured to be slidingly registered in the central hub of the nozzle body. The cap is connected to the nozzle body so that the nozzle body and the cap are spaced apart from one another to define an annular nozzle opening therebetween.
The turbine has a mounting ring sized to be positioned about the nozzle body and a plurality of fins extending circumferentially about a bottom surface of the nozzle body. The fins extend radially outward from the bottom surface of the mounting ring so that the fins are positioned to intercept the fluid exiting the nozzle opening and uniformly distribute the water. The mounting ring is held in place by a locking ring so that the turbine is freely rotatable relative to the nozzle body and the cap. The mounting ring of the turbine is generally flat so that a portion of the fluid exiting the nozzle opening flows across the bottom of the mounting ring. The flow of fluid across the mounting ring in this manner creates a fluid bearing on which the turbine rotates.
While such nozzles have met with success, drawbacks nevertheless are encountered. In particular, such cooling tower nozzles are subject to failure as a result of the mounting ring contacting the locking ring. The contact creates a wear point.
To this end, a need exists for a spray nozzle which overcomes the problems of the prior art. It is to such a spray nozzle that the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed.
Before explaining at least one embodiment of the disclosure in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction, experiments, exemplary data, and/or the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings unless otherwise noted.
The systems and methods as described in the present disclosure are capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description, and should not be regarded as limiting.
The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements.
As used in the description herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having,” or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, unless otherwise noted, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements, but may also include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.
Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive and not to an exclusive “or.” For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by one of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).
In addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components of the embodiments herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the inventive concept. This description should be read to include one or more, and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise. Further, use of the term “plurality” is meant to convey “more than one” unless expressly stated to the contrary.
As used herein, any reference to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “one example,” “for example,” or “an example” means that a particular element, feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearance of the phrase “in some embodiments” or “one example” in various places in the specification is not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, for example.
Referring now to
The nozzle body 12 is a generally tubular member defining a fluid passage 29 (
The irregular shaped annular surface 22 is an undulating surface having four peaks 25a-25d (
The nozzle body 12 is further provided with peg portions 24a and 24b. The peg portions 24a and 24b are diametrically formed on the circumference of the fluid passage 29 of the nozzle body 12. While two peg portions are illustrated, it will be appreciated that any number of peg portions may be employed. The peg portions 24a and 24b are provided with a longitudinal bore 52a and 52b extending through the peg portions 24a and 24b. The bores 52a and 52b include shoulders 62a and 62b at a distal end thereof. Compression springs 58a and 58b (
The nozzle body 12c is provided with peg portions 47a and 47b, which are similar to the peg portions 24a and 24b described herein, except the peg portions 47a and 47b are positioned adjacent the peaks 43a and 43c rather than being positioned adjacent the troughs. In addition, the peaks 43a and 43c, which are positioned adjacent the peg portions 47a and 47b, respectively, are formed to have a surface area less than the surface area of the peaks 43b and 43d.
Returning to
The disk portion 34 of the cap 14 has a rim 38 that defines an annular surface 44 which has a substantially planar configuration. The peg portions 24a and 24b are aligned with threaded openings 30a and 30b in the cap 14 such that the fasteners 53a and 53b may threadingly connect the nozzle body 12 to the cap 14. In one version, the threaded openings 30a and 30b are defined by a metal fixture embedded in the disk portion 34 of the cap 14. The cap 14 is connected to the nozzle body 12 so that the annular surface 22 of the nozzle body 12 and the annular surface 44 of the cap 14 define a nozzle opening 50 therebetween. More specifically, the cap 14 is connected to the nozzle body 12 so that a portion of the annular surface 22 of the nozzle body 12 and the annular surface 44 of the cap 14 are engaged when the spray nozzle 10 is in an un-pressurized condition. However, when pressurized, the annular surface 22 of the nozzle body 12 and the annular surface 44 of the cap 14 become spaced apart from another. The advantage of this feature will be described below.
Because of the irregular shape of the surface 22, the spacing between the surface 22 and the surface 44 varies around a circumference of the annular nozzle opening 50 to create a non-circular spray pattern of fluid exiting the nozzle opening 50. In particular, a generally square spray pattern will be provided due to the formation of four troughs 27a-27d and four peaks 25a-25d. The fluid flowing past the peaks 25a-25d will define the corners of the square pattern because the peaks 25a-25d cause a flow restriction which increases the pressure of the fluid and thus causes the fluid to flow farther than the fluid flowing past the troughs 27a-27d. While the troughs 25a-25d have been illustrated as being semi-oval in shape and the other troughs described herein have been illustrated as being rectangular in shape, the troughs may be formed to have a variety of other shapes, including square, triangular, and semi-circular, by way of example.
The biased connection of the cap 14 to the nozzle body 12 created in part by the compression springs 58a and 58b provides an automatic adjusting mechanism for increasing the spacing between the first and second annular surfaces 22 and 44 in response to an increase in fluid pressure in the annular nozzle opening 50. When fluid pressure supplied to the spray nozzle 10 is increased, the increased force acting on the cap 14 will compress the springs 58a and 58b to increase the spacing between annular surfaces 22 and 44. By causing the first and second annular surfaces 22 and 44 of the spray nozzle 10 to engage in a non-pressurized condition, the need to maintain tight tolerances with respect to the minimum spacing between the annular surfaces 22 and 44 is eliminated. Instead, the reaction of the cap 14 to fluid pressure is dependent on the tension of the compression springs 58a and 58b.
It will be appreciated that in the absence of the variable or automatic nozzle adjustment provided by the springs 58a and 58b and the sliding engagement of cap 14 with the nozzle body 12, a substantial increase in fluid supply pressure would cause the spray pattern to be extended radially outward to an undue extent and would tend to create a void in the center of the pattern. Conversely, a decrease in flow supply pressure would cause the spray pattern to be reduced radially inward and would tend to create a void in the outer perimeter of the spray pattern. By appropriate choice of the spring rate of the springs 58a and 58b, the spray nozzle 10 will automatically adjust the cross-sectional area of the annular nozzle opening 50 so as to maintain a substantially uniform spray pattern over a wide range of fluid supply pressures and flow rates.
Referring now to
In one embodiment of the spray nozzle 10, the retaining member 18 is sized to extend over a substantial portion of the turbine 16 so as to prevent at least some drift droplets (sometimes referred to as drift emissions) from rising above the spray nozzle 10. Drift droplets that may have been caught in an airstream and carried out of the cooling tower will instead contact the underside of the retaining member 18 and eventually drop through the cooling tower as desired. In this way, unwanted emissions from the cooling tower may be reduced.
The connection between the retaining member 18 and the nozzle body 12 may facilitate the connection of the spray nozzle 10 to the fluid distributing header. For instance, in one embodiment, a service technician may grasp the retaining member 18 to rotate the spray nozzle 10 to threadingly connect the spray nozzle 10 to the fluid distributing header. In one embodiment of the spray nozzle 10, a connection tool (not shown) may be provided having two parallel sides and a gap in between. The connection tool may be used to fasten the spray nozzle 10 to the fluid distributing header. In such an embodiment, the gap of the connection tool is configured to receive the retaining member 18. Because of the connection between the retaining member 18 and the nozzle body 12, rotation of the retaining member 18 with the connection tool rotates the nozzle body 12 facilitating the threading connection of the nozzle body 12 to the fluid distributing header, for instance.
In one embodiment, the nozzle body 12, the cap 14, and the retaining member 18 may be constructed of a durable polymeric material, such as acetyl.
Referring again to
The reverser member 19 includes a cup portion 96 and a plurality of arms 92a-92d extending radially outward and upward from the cup portion 96. A rim of the cup portion 96 may be provided with notches 98 for diffusing fluid. The arms 92a-92d of the reverser member 19 are provided with clip portions 94 (only one of which is numbered in
In operation, a portion of the fluid flowing through the spray nozzle 10 flows through the fluid flow passage 39 of the cap 14 and contacts the inside of the cup portion 96 causing a downward force on the turbine 16. The fluid flow passage 39 is sized such that the downward force applied to the cup portion 96, and thus the turbine 16, balances the upward force created by the fluid exiting the nozzle opening 50 to cause the turbine 16 to remain spaced from the cap 14 and the retaining member 18. In this way, a cushion of water forms between the turbine 16 and the retaining member 18 to reduce the rate of wear as the turbine 16 rotates.
From the above description, it is clear that the inventive concepts disclosed herein are well adapted to carry out the objects and to attain the advantages mentioned herein as well as those inherent in the inventive concepts disclosed herein. While presently preferred embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein have been described for purposes of this disclosure, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are accomplished within the scope and coverage of the inventive concepts disclosed and claimed herein.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/324,544, filed on Apr. 19, 2016, the entire contents of which being hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62324544 | Apr 2016 | US |
