A counter-flow simultaneous heat and mass exchange device is operated by directing flows of two fluids into a heat and mass exchange device at initial mass flow rates where ideal changes in total enthalpy rates of the two fluids are unequal. At least one of the following state variables in the fluids is measured: temperature, pressure and concentration, which together define the thermodynamic state of the two fluid streams at the points of entry to and exit from the device. The flow rates of the fluids at the points of entry and/or exit to/from the device are measured; and the mass flow rate of at least one of the two fluids is changed such that the ideal change in total enthalpy rates of the two fluids through the device are brought closer to being equal.

A cooling tower (2) for cooling a liquid (4) with a gas (6), which cooling tower (2) comprises: (i) a vessel (8) for receiving the gas (6) passing upwardly and the liquid (4) passing downwardly, with the liquid (4) being hotter than the gas (6); (ii) a gas outlet (4) which is at a top portion (16) of the vessel (8) and which is for allowing the gas (6) to pass out of the vessel (8), (iii) a support member (20) which is positioned across a bottom portion (22) of the vessel (8): (iv) a plurality of apertures (24) which are in the support member (20) and through which the gas (6) and the liquid (4) are able to pass; (v) a fluidised bed (26) of packing elements (28) on the support member (20); (vi) liquid emitting means (30) which is positioned in the vessel (8) above the fluidised bed (26), and which is for emitting alas liquid (4) to be cooled such the liquid (4) passes downwardly towards the fluidised bed (26); (vii) pump means (32) for pumping the liquid to the liquid emitting means (30); and (viii) a fan (34) for blowing the pas upwardly through the fluidised bed (26), and the cooling tower (2) being such that it includes (ix) control means (31) for controlling (a) the velocity of the gas through die vessel (8), and (b) the liquid to gas ratio in the vessel (8), whereby the fluidised bed (26) is caused to operate at a tumbling rate which when combined with selected pre-fluidised packing height causes an approach temperature of below 10 F. (5.6 C.); (x) wherein the tumbling rate is controlled by a combination of controlled gas velocity and liquid to gas ratio creating turbulent mixing and tumbling of packing elements (28) in the fluidised bed (26); (xi) and wherein the pre-fluidised height of the fluidised bed (26) is from 0.15-1.0 m.

Condensing apparatuses and their use in various heat and mass exchange systems are generally described. The condensing apparatuses, such as bubble column condensers, may employ a heat exchanger positioned external to the condensing vessel to remove heat from a bubble column condenser outlet stream to produce a heat exchanger outlet stream. In certain cases, the condensing apparatus may also include a cooling device positioned external to the vessel configured and positioned to remove heat from the heat exchanger outlet stream to produce a cooling device outlet stream. The condensing apparatus may be configured to include various internal features, such as a vapor distribution region and/or a plurality of liquid flow control weirs and/or chambers within the apparatus having an aspect ratio of at least 1.5. A condensing apparatus may be coupled with a humidifier to form part of a desalination system, in certain cases.

A device for producing droplets is disclosed. A disk assembly comprising a first disk mounted to a second disk is provided. The first disk comprises first openings. The second disk comprises second openings. The first openings and the second openings alternately align with one another such that, as a liquid passes through the first openings and the second openings, the liquid falls as a droplet as the first openings and the second openings skew apart.

The invention is a distributor tray for at least one a gas/liquid heat and a material exchange column comprising passages for passing gas through the tray. The tray has an upper plate (P1) and a lower plate (P2) with each plate having at least two distinct liquid passages. The openings (10 and 11) of the upper plate (P1) are positioned at distinct elevations with at least one of the liquid passages (10) of upper plate (P1) having a lower elevation communicating with one of the liquid passages of the lower plate through a supply line (9). The invention also relates to a gas/liquid heat and/or material exchange column equipped with a distributor tray (2) in accordance with the invention and to a floating barge having a column and to the use of the column.

A contacting device and method are presented for the collection, contacting, and distribution of fluids between particulate beds of a downflow vessel, which may operate in co-current flow. By one approach, the contacting device includes a liquid collection tray, a mixing channel in fluid communication with the liquid collection tray, and a liquid distribution zone.

An apparatus has a housing with at least one gutter, a body of fill material disposed in the housing, a liquid distribution system disposed in the housing and positioned above the fill material, a fan positioned below the body of fill material for blowing air upward through the fill material, a liquid collection assembly positioned between the fill material and the fan for collecting the liquid gravitating through the fill material. The liquid collection assembly has at least one troughless, open sided surface element angled so gravity is utilized to capture the down flowing liquid to provide a barrier between the fill media and the fan and to carry the liquid down the surface element and into the at least one gutter.

The present invention is directed to a direct-drive fan system and a variable process control system for efficiently managing the operation of fans in a cooling system such as a wet-cooling tower or air-cooled heat exchanger (ACHE), HVAC systems, mechanical towers or chiller systems. The present invention is based on the integration of key features and characteristics such as tower thermal performance, fan speed and airflow, motor torque, fan pitch, fan speed, fan aerodynamic properties, and pump flow. The variable process control system processes feedback signals from multiple locations in order control a high torque, variable speed, permanent magnet motor to drive the fan. Such feedback signals represent certain operating conditions including motor temperature, basin temperature, vibrations, and pump flow rates. Other data processed by the variable process control system in order to control the motor include turbine back pressure set-point, condenser temperature set-point and plant part-load setting. The variable process control system processes this data and the aforesaid feedback signals to optimize the operation of the cooling system in order to prevent disruption of the industrial process and prevent equipment (turbine) failure or trip. The variable process control system alerts the operators for the need to conduct maintenance actions to remedy deficient operating conditions such as condenser fouling. The variable process control system increases cooling for cracking crude and also adjusts the motor RPM, and hence the fan RPM, accordingly during plant part-load conditions in order to save energy.

The present invention relates to a process and contactor vessel in which gas and liquid contact occurs to facilitate mass transfer therebetween. In one embodiment, the process includes a fluidised bed including mobile inert primary objects and secondary particles that facilitate turbulent mixing and enhanced gas/liquid surface area in the contactor.

Provided is a cyclone dust collector with a higher particle collection efficiency than before. The cyclone dust collector of the present invention includes a nozzle assembly including a plurality of the nozzles arranged within a first cross section defined by a plane containing a center axis of the cylindrical case and part of the spiral flow path intersecting with each other, the nozzles being adapted to spray the water mist in a direction along the first cross section