Hinged Baffle Water Collection System for Cooling Towers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling towers face challenges in efficiently collecting and managing water that falls within the system while allowing air to pass through, leading to inefficiencies in water drainage and potential water loss due to upward air flow.
Innovation Solution
A water collection system comprising elongated upper and lower troughs, supported by end brackets and hinged baffles that adjust with air flow to minimize water loss, allowing for effective drainage and cycling of water through the system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a conventional water collection system is used, then water can be collected and drained, but upward air flow causes water loss through droplets being blown out
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful upward air flow that causes water loss into a beneficial force by using deflectors to redirect this air flow downward. The deflectors capture the upward moving air and water droplets, redirecting them back into the water collection troughs, thereby transforming the harmful effect into a mechanism that enhances water recovery while maintaining air flow through the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces deflectors as intermediary elements between the upward air flow and the water collection troughs. These deflectors act as mediators that intercept the air flow carrying water droplets and redirect them into the collection system, preventing direct water loss while allowing continuous air passage through the cooling tower.
2Ease of operation
If water collection troughs are positioned to collect falling water, then drainage is enabled, but air flow resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning water collection troughs only in specific locations where water accumulation occurs, rather than throughout the entire cooling tower. The deflectors are strategically placed at key points where upward air flow intersects with falling water, allowing effective water collection while minimizing interference with overall air flow paths and reducing energy resistance.
3Loss of substance
If drift eliminators are added to reduce water droplet loss, then water loss decreases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using traditional drift eliminators that attempt to block water droplets from escaping upward, the patent inverts the approach by using deflectors to actively redirect upward air flow and captured droplets back downward into collection troughs. This inverted strategy achieves water loss reduction through a simpler, more direct mechanism that avoids the complexity of conventional drift elimination systems.
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 solution enhances water collection and drainage efficiency, reducing water loss and facilitating easier operation and maintenance by ensuring effective water circulation within the cooling tower.
Implementation Method 1
hinged baffles that adjust with air flow to minimize water loss
Implementation Method 2
the water can be gravity drained or pumped out for cycling through the system
Data Source
AI summary
A water cooling tower having an improved water collection system. The cooling tower has an outer shell, legs, and one or more layers of fill material, through which the water to be cooled moves vertically downward. The water is distributed across the upper surface of the fill material by piping and nozzles. A fan underlying the fill material moves air vertically upward through the fill material. The water collection system, which is positioned below the fill material, has upper and lower troughs which receive water flowing vertically downward through the fill material. Preferably, the lower troughs are positioned beneath the spaces between upper troughs, to catch water falling between the upper troughs. A number of hinged baffles close off the spaces between lower troughs, but rotate upward in response to upward air flow and open the spaces between the lower troughs.