Reticular Panel Thermal Exchange Pack for Cooling Towers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing thermal exchange packs for cooling towers are inefficient with dirty waters, prone to clogging, and have low thermal efficiency, along with complex and time-consuming assembly processes and noise issues due to water droplets hitting the cold water surface.

Innovation Solution

A thermal exchange pack comprising reticular panels with a corrugated development, featuring fins and connection zones that allow for easy assembly and prevent clogging, along with protuberances and blades that enhance thermal efficiency and reduce noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If reticular panels with continuous contact sheets are used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the passage space for suspended solids is reduced causing clogging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidclogging resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous contact sheet is divided into discrete modular elements arranged in a reticular pattern. This segmentation creates gaps between the elements that allow suspended solids to pass through freely, preventing clogging while maintaining the structural integrity and ease of manufacture of the panel system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If reticular panels are assembled in vertical or diagonal arrangement, then the assembly process is simple, but the assembling time becomes long and difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidassembling time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The panels are pre-assembled into complete packs with all connection elements in place during manufacturing. This preliminary assembly action allows the entire pack to be installed as a single unit in the cooling tower, dramatically reducing the on-site assembling time and complexity while maintaining ease of operation during installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If water droplets are allowed to hit the cold water surface directly, then the thermal exchange process is simple, but noise is generated that requires additional damping elements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidnoise

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The reticular panel structure is designed to convert the harmful noise-generating impact of water droplets into a beneficial splashing action. The open reticular configuration allows droplets to splash against the panels and disperse in multiple directions rather than accumulating and hitting the water surface directly, thereby reducing noise while enhancing thermal exchange efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Loss of energy

If solid sheets or film fills are used, then thermal efficiency is high, but they can only be used with cleaner waters having low suspended solids

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal efficiencyVSAvoidwater quality adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The reticular panels incorporate localized splashing zones with optimized geometry and distribution patterns in specific areas of the panel. These local quality variations create enhanced droplet dispersion and thermal exchange zones that maintain high thermal efficiency even when processing dirty water with suspended solids, making the system adaptable to various water quality conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 provides high thermal efficiency with any type of water, including dirty water, reduces clogging and noise, and allows for quick and easy assembly, enhancing the operational efficiency of cooling towers.

Implementation Method 1

water evaporation and the density difference of the mixture of air and steam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

water gives energy to air in a substantially air isothermal way, but with heat transfer, i.e. cooling of water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

reticular panels with a corrugated development, featuring fins

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface area expansion through corrugation: Corrugation

Data Source

PatentUS20250093109A1Thermal exchange pack for a cooling tower

Publication Date: 2025.03.20 SPIG

AI summary

A thermal exchange pack (10) for a cooling tower includes a plurality of reticular panels (1), each panel defining a longitudinal plane (1a) and a sagittal plane (1b) normal to the longitudinal plane (1a), crossing at a main axis (1c), and extending on the longitudinal plane (1a) in a corrugated way, making fins (2) recurrent along the main axis (1c), arranged in two rows (1′) symmetrical in respect of said sagittal plane (1b), extending along corresponding secondary axes (2a) transversal to the main axis (1c) and mutually parallel, each including at least a top crest (20) more spaced from the longitudinal plane (1a) in respect of the remnant fin (2), wherein the panels (1) are mutually stacked in the pack (10), so that each longitudinal plane (1a) is spaced from an adjacent longitudinal plane (1a) through the fins (2), and wherein the pack (10) is so configured, that in operation each longitudinal plane (1a) is parallel to a bottom of a water collection basin of a cooling tower.