US3610417A

US3610417A - System for preventing sludge formation in a cooling tower reservoir

Info

Publication number: US3610417A
Application number: US13646A
Authority: US
Inventors: James H Deloach
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-02-24
Filing date: 1970-02-24
Publication date: 1971-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 1988-10-05

Abstract

A number of parallel spaced pipe sections are disposed in overlying adjacent relation to a reservoir base. Apertures are formed along the length of each pipe section at an acute angular relation with the horizontal. Fluid from the reservoir is pumped through the pipe sections so as to produce jets that exit from the apertures. These jets impinge upon the reservoir base and cause agitation of the liquid stored in the reservoir. This agitation inhibits propagation of organisms which produce sludge.

Description

United States Patent James II. DeLoach 1604 E. 34th St., Savannah, Ga. 31404 13,646

Feb. 24, 1970 Oct. 5, 1971 Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented SYSTEM FOR PREVENTING SLUDGE FORMATION IN A COOLING TOWER RESERVOIR 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figs.

U.S. C1 210/167, 134/198, 239/112 Int. Cl B0ld 35/02 Field of Search 210/64, 57, 167,60; 239/112,557; 134/198, 200,171

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,565,863 12/1925 Murphy 239/112 2,167,466 7/1939 Shawhan et a1 210/167 X 3,126,427 3/1964 Broughton 210/57 X 3,165,466 1/1965 Vautrain et a1. 210/114 3,497,453 2/l970 Yurdin 210/60 X 2,262,767 11/1941 Jeter 134/198 X Primary Examiner-Michael Rogers AnarneysClarence A. O'Brien and Harvey B. Jacobson ABSTRACT: A number of parallel spaced pipe sections are disposed in overlying adjacent relation to a reservoir base. Apertures are formed along the length of each pipe section at an acute angular relation with the horizontal. Fluid from the reservoir is pumped through the pipe sections so as to produce jets that exit from the apertures. These jets impinge upon the reservoir base and cause agitation of the liquid stored in the reservoir. This agitation inhibits propagation of organisms which produce sludge.

PATENTED UET 5 1971 James H. DeLaach I N V NTOR.

SYSTEM FOR PREVENTING SLUDGE FORMATION IN A COOLING TOWER RESERVOIR v The present relates to fluid circulation systems and more particularly to a reservoir-mounted system having apertured pipe sections that produce fluid jets capable of agitating the reservoir contents.

At the present time, in systems, such as refrigeration or airconditioning systems, which utilize circulating fluid, sludge and algae fonnations hamper efficient operation and require periodic plant shutdown. It has been found that the sludge and algae formed in such systems is principally produced by the growth and propagation of organisms, with such growth, after a period of operation, causing condensers and conduit sections to clog.

The present invention is directed to a circulating system which agitates the contents of a reservoir thereby inhibiting the propagation of algae and sludge-producing organisms which develop best in relatively calm fluid. By virtue of the present invention, plant shutdown due to algae and sludge formation is eliminated and the time-consuming and costly process of cleaning the reservoir and refrigeration or air-conditioning system components is eliminated. The presently disclosed device keeps the entire cooling system clean at all times. The present invention is adaptable to any cooling system provided with a reservoir where recirculating fluid, usually water, is used.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view illustrating the disposition of the present invention in a cooling system tower reservoir.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along a plane passing through section line 2-2 in FIG. 1. This view illustrates the cross section of a jet-producing pipe section.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along a plane passing through section line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and illustrates an end section of a pipe section such as in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along a plane passing through section line 4-4 of FIG. 1 and illustrates a strainer at the output port of the reservoir.

Referring to FIG. 1, a typical reservoir in a cooling system is indicated by reference numeral 10. Usually, this reservoir forms the base of a cooling tower 12. An outlet port 14 is formed in a transverse wall of the reservoir and allows insertion of an outlet pipe 16 which forms a conduit to the inlet of a centrifugal pump 18. An outlet pipe 20 is connected between the outlet of pump 18 and a can-type line strainer 22. The outlet of the strainer 22 is connected to pipe 24 that communicates with a discharge manifold 26 via a flow-regulating valve 28. The manifold 26 is disposed in parallel spaced relation to a lateral wall 30 of the reservoir and a series of horizontally aligned and spaced apertures 32 are formed in the lateral wall 30. Pipe sections 34 pass through respective apertures 32 and connecting pipes 36 effect communication between the pipe sections 34 and T-connectors 38 which are connected in line with the discharge manifold 26. At the end of each pipe section is a cap 35, which serves as a spacer for the pipe sections 34. More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the cap 35 allows the pipe section 34 to be disposed in adjacent slightly spaced relation to the base of the reservoir 10. The outward end of the discharge manifold 26 is normally capped, as at 40, so that fluid pumped into the discharge manifold by pump 18 is forced into the spaced pipe sections 34.

As clearly indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3, each pipe section 34 includes a number of longitudinally spaced

aperture sets

42 and 44 formed with the apertures in transverse alignment with one another and at an acute angular relation with respect to the horizontal. Preferably, these apertures are formed at 45 with respect to the horizontal. These apertures produce discharging fluid jets as fluid is pumped into the pipe sections.

By virtue of the angular relation of the

apertures

42 and 44, the jets impinge upon the base of reservoir 10 and constantly agitate or churn the reservoir contents so as to prevent settling. This constant agitation inhibits the formation of organisms such as algae. In addition to the

apertures

42 and 44 along the pipe section, the end cap 35 of each pipe section includes an axial aperture 45 for allowing constant discharge of fluid through the end of the pipe section so as to prevent trash or sludge from collecting at the cap end.

'lno'rder to provide straining filtration of the fluid circulating between the reservoir and the pipe sections, a strainer 46 is positioned adjacent the outlet port 14 and causes straining of the fluid flowing from the reservoir into the outlet pipe or conduit 16. The strainer 46 is preferably of the removable type so that it can be periodically replaced or cleaned.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the in-line strainer 22 includes means connected thereto for draining the strainer so that the strainer may be cleaned without its removal from the system and without requiring system shutdown. Toward these ends, a pipe section 48 is connected in communicating relation with the bottom of the strainer 22 and serves to allow drainage of waste material from the strainer. Normally, a bleedoff line 50 is connected in communicating relation with the pipe 48 via a T-connector 52. A flow-inhibiting valve 54 is mounted in the line 50 so that a relatively slow and inhibited flow of waste material is obtained through the line 50. The bleedoff line 50 should be so positioned above the desired water level in the reservoir 10 so that the reservoir will not be drained by a siphoning action through the bleedoff line. Occasionally, it is desirable to flush the strainer 22 so that waste or sludge material that has not been removed through normal draining through line 50 can be removed. Toward this end, a flushing pipe 56 is connected to T-connector 52 and when a valve 58 on the flushing pipe 56 is opened, forced flushing of the strainer 22 will be achieved. During the flushing process, it is preferable to shut valve 28 in line with the discharge manifold 26.

A simplified variation of the system can be effected by eliminating line strainer 22 and the draining and flushing pipes 50 and 56 connected thereto. Instead of these components, the end cap 40 at the outward end of the discharge manifold 26 can be replaced by a fitting for attaching a bleedoff pipe 60 through an in-line valve 62. By properly adjusting valve 62, a portion of the fluid flowing through the discharge manifold 26 can be bled from the manifold. The bled fluid could be filtered or strained by an auxiliary strainer (not shown) and returned to the reservoir 10. Alternately, the bled fluid can be disposed of and replaced with fresh fluid.

In operation of the present invention, the jet-producing pipe sections 34 agitate the liquid in the reservoir and keep particu late matter and organisms in suspension and motion. The suspended matter continually undergoes straining, with bleedofi' means removing sludge from the recirculated fluid. By adjusting the bleedoff valve, the desired concentration of solids in the reservoir liquid can be maintained. This keeps the reservoir free of excess sludge and saves considerable time in maintaining the cooling system which the reservoir is related to in a clean condition. I

Typically, the circulating pump 18 and piping connected to the system should have the capacity to circulate 8 to 10 percent, in gallons per minute, of the volume in gallons of the reservoir. Also, a typical discharge pressure of the pump 18 is in the order of 15 to 20 pounds per square inch. The described system is typically operative for a 500gallon cooling tower reservoir but is adaptable to any size.

The present system is self-contained and intended to recirculate reservoir water on a continual basis thereby agitating or stirring the contents on warm days, weekends. warm nights and during other periods when the cooling system would not normally be in 'use. By virtue of this continual agitation, growth and propagation of algae and other sludge-producing organisms is inhibited.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An apparatus for preventing sludge formation in a reservoir comprising a plurality of pipe sections disposed adjacent the reservoir base, a plurality of radial apertures formed in each of said pipe sections along the lengths thereof in acute angular relation to the horizontal for directing fluid jets against the reservoir base thereby agitating the reservoir contents and preventing sludge formation, a pipe cap on the end of each of said plurality of pipe sections having an opening therein to continually prevent material accumulation in the end portion of each of said plurality of pipe sections, a pump having an inlet and outlet, first conduit means connecting the outlet of said pump with said plurality of pipe sections, second conduit means extending from the reservoir to the inlet of said pump, first straining means adjacent said second conduit means at the reservoir end thereof for straining liquid before it enters said pump, said first conduit means including a second straining means for straining liquid discharge through the outlet of said pump, means for bleeding off filtered materials from said second straining means while said pump and said second straining means are operating to provide a relatively slow, continuous drainage to waste, and positive drainage means connected to said second straining means for rapidly cleaning said second straining means during operation of said second straining means and said pump.