Importance

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Abstract

A heat exchange unit for an air conditioning/refrigeration system includes a plurality of independent spiral coils carrying hot refrigerant. Water is sprayed onto an upper set of the coils and passes through a bank of surface media onto a lower set of coils and then into a sump where it is recirculated. Water is also sprayed onto the lower coils. Air flows upwardly though the unit and cools the downwardly moving water droplets. Although most of the cooling in the unit is from evaporation, an unusual feature is the almost complete lack of scale buildup. The unit is almost completely dark inside so algae doesn't grow. Periodic high water temperatures and periodic purging of the recirculated water minimizes fungi growth. The coils are supported in such a manner that the tubes are allowed to lengthen and expand radially when temperatures are high and shrink when temperatures are low.

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First Claim