ISO-Container Cooling Tower Layout for Dense Stacking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling towers require large dimensions, making them difficult to place in desired positions, transport, and maintain due to structural and dimensional constraints, which limits their placement density and transportability.
Innovation Solution
A cooling tower design featuring an external skeletal frame conforming to ISO standardized dimensions, with a central volume of fill media, a variable flow hot water distribution system using low-pressure fixed orifice nozzles, and telescoping legs for adjustable height, allowing for compactness and easy transportation while maintaining effective heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If biologic constructs are delivered using conventional instrumentation, then the delivery process is simple, but positioning precision and alignment accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery system is divided into separate functional modules: a delivery catheter for navigation, deployment arms for implant handling, and a drive mechanism for actuation. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system manageability despite increased complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Deployment arms serve as intermediary components between the delivery catheter and the biologic construct. These arms provide a mechanical interface that enables precise positioning and controlled deployment of the implant, bridging the gap between simple delivery and precise placement.
2Ease of operation
If both sides of the biologic construct appear similar, then manufacturing is easier, but correct orientation during implantation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The biologic construct incorporates visual markers or color differentiation on one side to indicate the correct orientation for implantation. This allows surgeons to quickly identify the proper placement direction without complex instrumentation, maintaining ease of operation while preventing orientation errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The deployment arms are designed with features that provide tactile or visual feedback to the surgeon during implantation, confirming correct orientation and placement of the biologic construct. This feedback mechanism compensates for the lack of inherent orientation cues in the implant itself.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the delivery system is modular with separable components, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The modular delivery system employs standardized interfaces and universal components that can be used across different implant sizes and types. The drive mechanism and delivery catheter can accommodate various biologic constructs, providing versatility without requiring completely separate systems for each application.
Solution Approach 2:
The deployment arms are designed to nest within the delivery catheter when not in use, and the modular components can be assembled in a hierarchical manner. This nesting approach reduces the spatial footprint of the assembled system and simplifies storage and handling despite the modular design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design reduces the vertical height requirement, decreases pump power needs, and allows for increased placement density, including stacking and adjacent positioning, while maintaining efficient cooling performance and compliance with international shipping standards.
Implementation Method 1
Air is directed upwardly through the fill media, in 'counter flow' to the water moving down, and exits the top of the fill media. As is known in the art, the upwardly moving air, in counterflow to the downwardly moving hot water, removes heat from the water.
Implementation Method 2
Air is directed upwardly through the fill media... the upwardly moving air, in counterflow to the downwardly moving hot water, removes heat from the water.
Implementation Method 3
Water can then be sprayed downwardly onto the fill media, where it moves by gravity through the media to drip out the bottom
Implementation Method 4
the piping feeding the nozzles (comprising the header and lateral sections) is positioned within a layer of drift eliminator, which captures water mist which is being pulled upwardly by the air stream.
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling tower for evaporative cooling of water is contained within an ISO-compliant shipping container frame, permitting stacking of cooling towers for transport and for certain industrial applications. A volume of fill media is contained within the frame. Spaced apart troughs underlie the fill media, running substantially the length of the fill media and connecting to a basin. Baffles are connected to one upper edge of the troughs, while an air flow space is positioned over the other upper trough edge. A water distribution system, with variable flow nozzles positioned closely above the fill media, sprays water over the upper surface of the fill media, where it moves by gravity down into the troughs. Fans atop the fill media move air vertically upward through the fill media.