US 7,320,458 B2
Heating tower apparatus and method with isolation of outlet and inlet air
Eldon F. Mockry, Lenexa, Kans. (US); Jidong Yang, Overland Park, Kans. (US); Gregory P. Hentschel, Overland Park, Kans. (US); Jason Stratman, Lee's Summit, Mo. (US); Glenn S. Brenneke, Lee's Summit, Mo. (US); Darrin Ray Clubine, Kansas City, Mo. (US); James Douglas Randall, Kansas City, Mo. (US); and Ohler L. Kinney, Jr., Overland Park, Kans. (US)
Assigned to SPX Cooling Technologies, Inc., Overland Park, Kans. (US)
Filed on Jul. 15, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/181,863.
Application 11/181863 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/942940, filed on Sep. 17, 2004, granted, now 7,137,623.
Application 10/942940 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/942939, filed on Sep. 17, 2004, granted, now 7,137,619.
Prior Publication US 2006/0060995 A1, Mar. 23, 2006
Int. Cl. B01F 3/04 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 261—128  [261/140.1; 261/30; 165/164; 165/182] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for heating a fluid, comprising:
receiving the fluid to be heated into a heating tower, the heating tower comprising:
a vertical axis,
a frame assembly having opposed side walls that extend generally parallel to the vertical axis and opposing top and bottom end walls that are each connected to, and extend between the side walls;
a heat exchange section disposed in the frame assembly, wherein the heat exchange assembly comprises a series of coils;
a fan stack disposed within said top end wall;
an air inlet duct connected to the top end wall, wherein said air inlet duct extends along the longitudinal axis away from the top end wall;
passing the inlet air stream over the series of coils;
imparting heat from the inlet air stream on the fluid to be heated;
discharging the air stream from the heating tower through an outlet; and
isolating the inlet air stream from the outlet air stream.