The present invention relates to an evaporator of a working fluid for an OTEC plant, comprising an elongated evaporator body extending along a main axis, a bundle of evaporators transporting hot water and extending along the main axis, and a sprinkling system extending above the bundle of evaporators and suitable for sprinkling the working fluid in the liquid state onto the bundle of evaporators in order to evaporate this working fluid.

The evaporator body defines a bottom and an exhaust space for the gaseous working fluid between the bottom and the bundle of evaporators. The evaporator further comprises a damper system arranged in the exhaust space and configured to damp the drop of working fluid droplets in a non-evaporated liquid state after passing through the bundle of evaporators.

The present invention relates to an evaporator of a working fluid for an OTEC plant, comprising an elongated evaporator body extending along a main axis, a bundle of evaporators transporting hot water, a sprinkling system arranged in an upper part of the evaporator body, a system for evacuating the fluid in gaseous state and a guide system for the fluid in gaseous state towards the evacuation system. The guide system comprises an elongated cover extending along the main axis, covering the bundle of evaporators and the sprinkling system, and two partitioning means which are arranged at each end of the evaporator body and form on each of these ends a sealed connection between the outer surface of the cover and the inner surface of the evaporator body.

A steam generator for a fuel cell system having a heat exchanger (34) with at least one internal heat exchange surface, a water inflow pipe (46), a dripper head (52) with a flow passageway fluidly connected to the water inflow pipe (46). The dripper head (52) extends inside the heat exchanger (52) above the heat exchange surface for feeding water down onto the heat exchange surface for conversion into steam. The dripper head (52) has outlet holes (56) spaced along the flow passageway and between adjacent outlet (holes 56) the dripper head has a stepped profile on at least its underside to prevent droplets from adjacent holes coalescing. A fuel inflow pipe can have a section mounted coaxially to a part of the water inflow pipe (46). The fuel inflow pipe's section can surround the water inflow pipe's part. In a fuel cell system with a steam generator, the steam generator can include the fuel inflow pipe and a combined steam and fuel outlet and a reformer directly or indirectly connected downstream of the steam generator.

The present invention relates to an evaporator of a working fluid for an OTEC plant, comprising an evaporator body, a bundle of evaporators extending along the central axis, subject to a pressure drop along this axis and suitable for evaporating the working fluid according to an evaporation profile defined based on this pressure drop and a spraying system comprising a working fluid supply network and a plurality of spray nozzles arranged on the supply network and able to spray the working fluid.

All of the spray nozzles have substantially the same spray rate and the arrangements of the spray nozzles in relation to the bundle of evaporators are chosen so as to ensure a predetermined spray profile along the central axis in accordance with the evaporation profile.

An indirect evaporative cooling system for cooling a space adjacent to or containing an ablution bay is described. The indirect evaporative cooling system includes a greywater source from the ablution bay and evaporative cooler apparatus located above the space to be cooled in a dome shaped housing. The evaporative cooler apparatus includes a wet channel, at least one spray nozzle, and a dry channel. The at least one spray nozzle is located at the top of the evaporative cooler apparatus and is fluidly connected to the greywater source and the wet channel. The wet channel is located directly above the dry channel. A first side of the dry channel is connected to a first opening with a fan and outside air.

An indirect evaporative cooling system for cooling a space adjacent to or containing an ablution bay is described. The indirect evaporative cooling system includes a greywater source from the ablution bay and evaporative cooler apparatus located above the space to be cooled in a dome shaped housing. The evaporative cooler apparatus includes a wet channel, at least one spray nozzle, and a dry channel. The at least one spray nozzle is located at the top of the evaporative cooler apparatus and is fluidly connected to the greywater source and the wet channel. The wet channel is located directly above the dry channel. A first side of the dry channel is connected to a first opening with a fan and outside air.

A method by a controller of a cooling system includes calculating a difference between a first temperature of ambient air and a second temperature of pre-cooled air. The pre-cooled air is ambient air that has been cooled by water from a water distribution system before it enters one or more condenser coils. The method further includes determining that the difference between the first and second temperatures is less than or equal to a predetermined temperature difference, and in response, determining that the first temperature is greater than or equal to a minimum temperature. The method further includes, if the first temperature is greater than or equal to the minimum temperature, instructing the water distribution system to distribute the water to pre-cool the ambient air for a predetermined length of time and to disable the distribution of the water after the predetermined amount of time has elapsed.

A method by a controller of a cooling system includes calculating a difference between a first temperature of ambient air and a second temperature of pre-cooled air. The pre-cooled air is ambient air that has been cooled by water from a water distribution system before it enters one or more condenser coils. The method further includes determining that the difference between the first and second temperatures is less than or equal to a predetermined temperature difference, and in response, determining that the first temperature is greater than or equal to a minimum temperature. The method further includes, if the first temperature is greater than or equal to the minimum temperature, instructing the water distribution system to distribute the water to pre-cool the ambient air for a predetermined length of time and to disable the distribution of the water after the predetermined amount of time has elapsed.

Techniques for distributing a liquid in a liquid-gas system include flowing a liquid into a system of nozzles and basin of the liquid-gas contacting system; and operating the nozzles and basin system with a distribution sub-assembly configured to operate the nozzles under a plurality of liquid flow rates and maintaining a consistent spatial liquid distribution of the liquid within the distribution sub-assembly at the plurality of liquid flow rates.

A cooling tower with a hot water distribution system includes a distribution lateral disposed above a hot water basin. The distribution lateral discharges fluid into the hot water basin, which in turn, releases the fluid through a plurality of orifices. As the fluid is released, it falls on heat-exchanging fill material that assists in increasing the cooling rate of the fluid. The distribution lateral is configured structurally to discharge the fluid through a plurality of outlets at one or more angles (as compared to the horizontal) into the hot water basins. In one embodiment, the outlets are arranged into one or more rows that extend along a substantial length of the distribution lateral. Discharging the fluid in this manner enhances and promotes a more even fluid flow within the hot water basin, which results in a more even fluid flow over and onto the fill material, thereby increasing thermal efficiency.