05/167624

03/20/1973

07/30/1971

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165/85

290/55, 261/DIG.011, 165/135, 165/900, 261/DIG.087, 290/44, 165/86, 165/111

F28B3/08; F28B3/00; F28F5/00; F28B1/06

165/86,92,111,135,85 190/44,55

Davis Jr., Albert W.

I claim

1. A fluid cooling tower including an upstanding tower column, an annular receiver with a circular track disposed radially outwardly of said column, means to mount said receiver for movement along said track a disc-shaped, hollow turret rotatably, sealably disposed about the top of said column and a shaft connected centrally at its top to said turret and anti-frictionally, rotatably supported within said column, a plurality of hollow vanes having openings connected to said turret at points substantially equally angularly spaced about said turret, said vanes being suspended from said turret and being directed to discharge into said receiver, said vanes being constructed in such a manner that air from outwardly of said column may be drawn inwardly of said vanes, to pass upwardly and outwardly through said vanes adjacent said turret as hot fluid entering said tower is passed upwardly and outwardly therefrom into said turret and downwardly through said vanes into said receiver, said vane shape and disposition being such that air-vane contact tends to urge said turret and vanes into rotation in the course of air flow, and conduit means being provided to conduct away the cooled fluid.

2. A fluid cooling tower as claimed in claim 1 which includes an annular support for said track, with said receiver being rotably supported by said track.

3. A fluid cooling tower as claimed in claim 2 which additionally includes a tank to receive cooled fluid from said receiver, and from which said conduit means extends.

4. A fluid cooling tower as claimed in claim 1 in which said vanes are rotatably, sealably received within said track as provided by said receiver.

5. A fluid cooling tower as claimed in claim 1 in which said conduit means returns said cooled fluid with remaining heat content thereof to be used in the fluid supplied into the column.

6. A fluid cooling tower as claimed in claim 1 in which a transfer ring is provided for suspension from said turret above said receiver, and in which said vanes comprise upper vanes carrying fluid outwardly and downwardly for discharge into said transfer ring, and lower vanes through which fluid passes downwardly from said transfer ring into said receiver.

7. A fluid cooling tower as claimed in claim 6, in which the upper vanes are spaced apart about said transfer ring inner periphery to provide escape slits for upwardly rising air as heated in the space within said vanes therebelow, and in which the trailing faces of upper vanes are concavely arcuate in direction of travel, with leading faces of adjacent vanes being spaced farthest from said trailing faces at respective outermost points of said upper vanes.

8. A fluid cooling tower as claimed in claim 6, in which said lower vanes are spaced apart outermost to provide entrance slits for outside air, and in which the trailing faces of the lower vanes are concavely arcuate in direction of travel, with leading faces of adjacent vanes being spacest farthest from said trailing faces at respective innermost points of said lower vanes.

9. A fluid cooling tower as claimed in claim 1 in which vane construction is of modified light structural steel angle stock for a base and transverse side, and is of a light metal, as aluminum, for a hypotemuse side.

10. A fluid cooling tower as claimed in claim 9, in which said hypotemuse side comprises the leading side in direction of travel.

11. A fluid cooling tower as claimed in claim 6, in which the vane construction is of modified light structural steel angle stock for a base and transverse side, and is of a light metal, as aluminum, for a hypotenuse side, and in which the upper vane, inwardly disposed base face is insulated.

12. A fluid cooling tower as claimed in claim 1, in which vane construction comprises inner and outer light metal plates spaced apart by light metal corrugated sheet material.

13. A fluid cooling tower as claimed in claim 12, in which said light material is aluminum.

14. A fluid cooling tower as claimed in claim 1, which additionally provides motor-generator means automatically set motor operative responsive to a predetermined temperature of vane fluid, to abet turret-vane rotation.

15. A fluid cooling tower as claimed in claim 2, in which said receiver is selectively, drivably engaged on its inner face by generator-motor mounted means to abet turret-vane rotation by air passage inwardly of, and outwardly and upwardly through said vanes.

16. A fluid cooling tower as claimed in claim 2, in which motor-generator means is selectively engaged for drive rotation by said receiver, whereby to generate electrical current responsive to excessive air drive of said turret-vanes-receiver.

17. A fluid cooling tower as claimed in claim 1, in which said turret, said tower column at the top thereof, together cooperate to provide a water seal to prevent steam escape as said turret rotates with relation to said tower column.

18. A fluid cooling tower as claimed in claim 1, in which upwardly and inwardly extending deflector means is provided outwardly of said tower column and inwardly of said vanes, to deflect air drawn in through vane lower portions, upwardly and outwardly through said vanes thereabove.

THE PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED

Our expanding economy finds demands for more and more water, and water heretofore used to cool exhaust steam, now has many other demands thereon. Also water heretofore employed to cool steam has now been found to raise ecological problems. Also structures which can take advantage of wind energy imparted thereto, can use this effect in directed manner for employment as power.

Heretofore steam, after serving stages of use, has been passed through condensers, or similar heat exchange elements, to transfer the heat from the steam to a coolant, the partly cooled fluid then has been re-cycled back for re-heating and further use. The aforesaid coolant, with the heat picked up therein, has been passed on to mechanical or natural draft, wet or dry cooling towers. Also, in cases, the exhaust steam may be passed into a cooling tower to exchange heat therein directly with air. Due to water scarcity, it becomes ever more necessary for power generating stations to re-cycle greater percentages of the working vapor and coolants. The expense involved, particularly in constructing no-loss cooling fluid cycles is such that it might be a greater economic benefit for power plants to by-pass secondary coolant cycles, and instead, direct their exhaust steam to more efficient cooling means.

THE INVENTION OFFERING SOLUTION

The present invention involves the conduction of exhaust steam directly to cooling tower structures, including rotated components that will utilize the waste steam heat energy to assist in their rotation. Also such rotated components may be designed to utilize any wind velocity to which they are exposed, to abet rotation. Such rotated components in cases of strong winds may be utilized themselves to generate substantial amount of additional energy. Power plants currently using river or bay water for colling presently contribute greatly to thermal pollution by returning their heated coolant water back to the river or bay of origin; such plants if employing the aforesaid types of cooling towers, would instead transfer their waste heat into the clean air.

An invention, as will be set forth hereinbelow in detail, presents solution to the problem of cooling exhaust steam by using its waste heat to assist in driving the cooling structure, (wind also assisting at times). This is accomplished by mounting a turret rotatably upon the tower column, with the vanes being suspended from the turret to discharge into an annular receiver rotatable upon an annular track disposed radially outwardly from the column. The vanes are so constructed and directed that they radiate heat from the fluid (vapor or liquid) as it passes downwardly, while air passing upwardly, exteriorally of, and from within the vanes, is directed against the vanes in outward passage, tending to abet rotation. The vanes discharge downwardly into an annular, rotated receiver, that in turn discharges the cooled fluid into a suitable reservoir.

Consequently, it is a primary object of the invention to provide a more efficient, closed cycle steam condensing structure that comprises a cooling tower including a rotated turret-vane-receiver means about the tower column.

It is another object of the invention to provide a cooling tower of this class in which the vanes are so constructed and directed that air passing therethrough tends to abet turret-vane-receiver rotation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cooling tower of this class in which the rotation of receiver may be harnessed to drive other power means.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cooling tower of the class described in which the turret-vane-receiver rotation may be abetted by power means in driving engagement with the received.

It is also another object of the invention to provide a cooling tower of the class described in which vane construction comprises lower vanes directed to draw air inwardly therethrough above an air shield in manner to increase the velocity of air discharged outwardly through the vanes thereabove.

It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a cooling tower of the class described in which lower vanes may include cone members to receive drive wind therein, also to serve as heat radiating elements.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a cooling tower of this class in which baffle means are interposed between rotated receiver discharge into stationary tank to provide tortuous path for vapor entrapment and airborne particle exclusion.

It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a cooling tower of this class in which the inner surface of the three-sided upper vanes is insulated.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a cooling tower of this class in which the receiver is supported above said track upon a plurality of equally angularly spaced apart dual flanged wheels.

It is also another and important object of the invention to provide a cooling tower of this class with turret shaft journalled in the tower column, to drive a means to assist in the raising of the steam.

Other and further objects will be apparent when the specification hereinbelow is considered in relation to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view, partially diagrammatic, of a preferred embodiment of a cooling tower showing turret, upper vane, transfer ring, lower vane, and tank construction;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional elevational view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional elevational view of upper vane construction taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional plan view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 1, further to show upper vane construction;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional plan view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 1, to show lower vane construction;

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional elevational view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a small scale, fragmentary, isometric view of another embodiment of vane construction, in which vanes extend from turret to receiver;

FIG. 8 is a small scale, fragmentary isometric view of an arrangement of upper vanes alternative with the arrangement shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional elevational of an alternative turret seal construction;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevational view, part in section and partially diagrammatic, showing alternative tower and receiver environment;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view, part in section, showing alternative tower and receiver environment; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of an alternative form of vane plate or sheet construction.

Referring now in detail to the drawings in which like reference numerals are assigned to like elements in the various views, a cooling tower 10 is shown in FIG. 1 in which a tower column 11 upstands from any suitable base 13. Radially outwardly of the tower column 11, a ring of upstanding support posts or pilings 14 support an annular platform 12. From the inner periphery of the annular platform 12 a frusto-conical air shield or deflector 17 stands up as a roof over the space therebelow around the tower column 11, for whatever purpose may be made of such space.

The cooling tower 10 is employed in cooling steam, and reducing it to return feed water with some substantial heat content still left therein. Thus boiler means 15 is shown discharging superheated steam into (a battery of) high temperature turbine means 16a, with discharge therefrom in turn into low pressure turbine means 16b. This low temperature turbine means 16b is indicated in FIG. 1 as discharging through insulated ducts 18 into the tower column 11. Also, in FIG. 1, insulated return ducts 19 are indicated as bringing the reduced steam, in form of hot water, back through a return line 20a which joins the boiler feed water line 21 in adjacency with its boiler entry.

Within the insulated cooling tower column 11, a spider 22 is shown in FIG. 2, as supporting centrally a speed reducer or gear box 23, with a turret support shaft 24 terminating therein, the turret shaft 24 being rotatably supported from above, as will be later described, hereinbelow. The gear box 23, is indicated as driving a propeller 25, the reduction gearing being such as to substantially reduce shaft 24 rotation with relation to the rotation of the propeller 25. A diagrammatically indicated, conventional clutch arrangement 26, selectively actuated by electrical circuitry 27, is indicated as being provided to connect the gear box to drive the propeller. Optionally the propeller 25 may be directly connected within the gear box 23 to be driven by the shaft 24. The function of the propeller 25 is to assist the impulse given to the steam, as discharged from the low temperature turbine 16b, in directing it upwardly in the tower column 11.

At the top of the tower column 11, a guide and anti-frictional unit assembly 28 is shown in FIG. 2 including a gusseted spider arrangement with spokes 29 strongly gusseted as connected to a bearing assembly cup or housing 30, which has a great support mission imposed thereon. For instance, the lower race 31a of a ball bearing unit 31 is rigidly attached to the bottom of the housing 30 and supported thereby, whereas the upper race 31b of the ball bearing unit 31 is indicated as rigidly connected to the shaft 24, and provides the member or element which carries the weight of the shaft 24 and all elements supported thereby, through to the tower column 11 for support. Spaced slightly above the upper race of the ball bearing unit 31 is a roller bearing unit 32 with inner race 32a connected to the shaft 24 and outer race 24a connected to the inner surface of the housing 30. In this manner ample anti-frictions means is indicated diagrammatically with rotational contact surfaces in both horizontal and vertical planes.

The upper, circular plate 33a of the turret 33 is shown having the upper end of the shaft 24 connected thereto, as by connection flange 24a, while the lower plate 33b of the turret 33 has an annular flange 33c formed around the central opening therethrough, so that the turret 33 may bear rotably against a vertically disposed bearing ring 11a around the top of the tower column 11. As shown in FIG. 2, guy lines or support cables 43 extend outwardly and downwardly from the connection flange 24a to support a vane transfer ring, to be hereinbelow described.

Considering FIG. 1 with relation to FIGS. 3 and 4, upper fluid conduit vanes 34 are shown extending from the periphery or outer ring 33d of the turret 33, as curved arcuately outwardly and downwardly, for connection into the upper plate 35a of a hollow transfer ring 35. The vanes 34 are equally, angularly spaced apart about the turret 33, and are correspondingly equally, angularly spaced apart about the transfer ring 35. Consequently, the upper vanes 34 extend in substantially radial directions from a center as defined by the axis of the shaft 24. Dimensionally, for power plant usage, turret diameters may range from say 40 feet to 140 feet, while transfer ring outer diameters may range from say 80 feet to 280 feet. As to width, the transfer rings, in transfer annular dimensions, may range from say 30 inches to 5 feet. Consequently, turret side ring elevation may range from say 24 inches to 54 inches.

As to construction of the upper vanes 34, these may be of various shapes and of various configurations in cross-section, and may change cross-sectional configuration from elevation to elevation, and such vanes may be constructed of various materials.

Typical construction of upper vanes 34 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, with an inner or base side 34a comprising a leg of a modified structural steel angle, and with the adjacent leg 34b of the modified structural steel angle extending substantially in modified, generally transverse direction from upright of the turret 32, FIG. 3, to generally radially across the transfer ring 35. The leg 34b in this construction comprises the trailing surface of the upper vane 34, and hence the hypotenuse leg 34c comprises the leading surface. SUch leading surface or leg 34c may be of aluminum or of similar light material with high coefficient of radiation. Noticeably the base side 34a may have an insulative material, as fiberglass, or a similar plastic 34d on the outer side thereof. The drive air or atmospheric air, (as wind blown air), that is relied upon to abet turret-vane-receiver rotation, is more effective when it picks up more heat when it is passing between the vanes 34, and for this reason the base sides 34a are insulated so that most heat transfer from the steam passing down from the turret is through the leading side 34b and trailing side 34c.

The lower ends of the upper vanes 34 connect into a hollow transfer ring 35 which receives the steam and any condensed water thereinto, so that it may pass into substantially differently shaped lower vanes 36. Note that the cross-sectional area of the upper vanes 34, as they leave the turret 32, FIG. 3, is smaller, and increases to a largest cross-sectional area as the upper vanes 34 pass downwardly into the transfer ring. In regard to the upper vanes 34, it should be noted that, for purposes of clarity, these vanes are indicated as spaced further apart peripherally about the outer band 33d of the turret 33, and correspondingly are shown spaced further apart about the annular top plate 35a of the hollow transfer ring 35. In actuality they are much more closely spaced, as indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The relative shapes of the vanes 34 at turret outlet and at transfer ring inlet are provided with the purpose of letting heated air from below, to be hereinbelow described, pass up from inwardly of the transfer ring inner band 35b in manner to be directed in passing outwardly in a driving direction against the trailing surface 34b of the vanes 34. Also, at the point of entrance between the vanes 34, the hot air from inwardly, passes in effect through a narrow area, or venturi like restriction, and then expands at it passes outwardly through the vanes. Thus the rotation of the vane 34, as carried between turret 33 rotation and connected transfer ring 35 rotation, cooperates with the venturi effect in stepping up the drawing of the heated air outwardly through the vanes 34 in discharge, as indicated in both FIG. 4 and FIG. 3.

Noticeably in FIG. 1, the guy lines or support cables 43, described hereinabove as shown in FIG. 2, extending outwardly and downwardly from their connection to the outer portion of the connection flange 24a, through suitable openings in the lower turret plate 33b, for connection into the inner band, not shown, of the transfer ring 35. Thus the transfer ring is connected at equally, angularly spaced apart points therearound, by these guy lines or cables 43, to turret points radially upwardly and inwardly thereabove.

Referring now to FIG. 1 with relation to FIG. 5, vanes 36, of substantially uniform cross-section, are suspended to extend downwardly from the under plate of the transfer ring 35 for connection at the lower ends through or into the upper plate 38a of an annular receiver 38. Thus the receiver 38, to be hereinbelow described, is connected for rotation with the transfer ring 35 and turret 33, successively thereabove. The vanes 36, correspondingly as the vanes 34, are shown spaced further apart in FIG. 1 for reasons of clarity than they are shown as spaced in actuality in FIG. 5. Thus to leave a reduced area or venturi passage outwardly through which the atmospheric air may be drawn in, as the receiver rotates. The atmospheric air thus passes inwardly in heat exchange relation with the vanes 36, and also, as directed into driving direction against the trailing surfaces 36b of the vanes 36. In further regard to vane 36 construction, the outer faces thereof may comprise the base legs 36a of a modified structural steel angle, with the legs 36b that provide the surfaces against which the entering air engages in drive relationship, extending arcuately inwardly or generally transversely across the receiver top plate 38a. The third or leading leg 36c of the vane 36 may be comprised of a light metal, of a coefficient of radiation, as aluminum.

As indicated in FIGS. 1 and 5, a number of equally vertically spaced apart cones 37 may be attached to the vane legs 36a, as by suitable screws or other connection means, and these cones 37 may be disposed in staggered relation from vane 36 to adjacent vane 36. In case of wind blowing, the peripherally spacing of the cones 37 about the cooling tower 10 is such that in case of any wind in any degree at least substantially one half of the cones 37 on the side of the tower to windward, or at least substantially one fourth of the total cones 37, will receive wind thereinto in a component driving direction. On the other hand, as the points or apices of the cones point in direction of rotation, their retarding effect with wind in any direction, will be negligible.

Referring now to the frusto-conical roof 17 between annular platform 12 and tower column 11, this structure is thus shaped as a deflector or upwardly and inwardly extending annular baffle, so that the heavy, relatively cool, atmospheric or ambient air that is drawn in through the lower portion of the lower vanes 36 is deflected upwardly and inwardly, with air currents being set up, further to form an upward air stream. As hot air rises with relation to cool air, the air that picks up heat in passing inwardly through the vanes 36, and which picks up more heat from the inner faces or leading sides 36c of the upper vanes 36, as the air rises, has attained some substantial rate of travel by the time it reaches the inner face of the transfer ring 35, and starts to pass outwardly through the upper vanes 34, as hereinabove described. Thus the outward passage of the heated air through the upper vanes 34 can attain substantial proportions.

If the inner legs 34a or base faces of the vanes 34 are insulated, as by streamlined edged, insulative plates 34d, FIGS. 3 and 4, the downwardly directed steam through the upper vanes 34 will radiate practically all heat to be expended in downward passage therethrough, outwardly through opposed leading faces 34c and trailing faces 34b into the spaces between vanes. Thus greater drive expansion is directed against the respective trailing faces 34b, and also there is enhancement of the drawing of the upwardly rising air from within the lower vanes 36, to pass through the venturi slit areas between vanes 34 for discharge to the atmosphere outwardly of the upper vanes 34.

Radiation effects may be enhanced, so that shorter lengths of vanes 34 and/or 36 may be required, by filling these vanes with hollow spun shapes of light metal, or with light metal, air filled spheres, as hollow, thin walled, aluminum balls 39, as indicated in dotted lines in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5. As these spheres or balls fill the vanes, the contact therebetween, and the pressurizing of the balls or spheres 39 from within, as by the heating of the enclosed entrapped air, additionally result in strengthening the vanes against transverse stresses or buckling. Also further strength may be obtained by subjecting the vanes thus filled to voltage impressed thereacross.

As shown in FIG. 6, the lower vanes 36 extend downwardly into an annular receiver 40, and the vanes 36 may be connected to the top plate 40a of the receiver, or extend downwardly through openings through such top plate 40a, it being desired that the vanes establish driving connection with the receiver 40. An annular track 41, indicated in cross-section as a conventional railroad rail, has flanged rollers 42 mounted thereon, a plurality of such rollers 42 being equally angular spaced apart beneath the receiver 40 and connected therebeneath by conventional connection arms 42a, whereby the receiver is carried for rotation upon the track 41. A series of valves 44, indicated as yieldably seated inwardly, or check valves, are disposed in staggered relation around the receiver outer plate 40b. The lower row of valves 44 are set to open at lowest pressure, and the rows successively higher are set to open at successively higher pressures. Consequently, steam can be condensed to water and discharged from the receiver 40 at various quantitative rates. These check valves 44 also serve to prevent air being drawn into the receiver 40.

A low level tank 45 is disposed outwardly of the receiver discharge plate 40b with an ample number of discharge conduit 19 passing downwardly therefrom and through the annular platform 12, at substantially equally angularly spaced peripheral distances apart. A baffle seal 46a is provided between the rotated receiver 40 and the stationary tank 45, and also a corresponding baffle seal 46b is provided thereabove shown between a receiver included baffle plate 40d and the outer side 45a of the tank 45. Also, the receiver includes a dust and detritus shield 40e with a dust seal 46c being provided between the shield 40e, carried in rotation with the receiver 40, and the stationary outer side 45a of the tank 45. Also a dust or detritus shield 40f is provided to extend downwardly from the receiver inner wall 40g to protect debris from interfering with track-roller contact.

In FIG. 6 the frusto-conical deflector or roof member 17, also shown in FIG. 1, is indicated as having an annular trough or gutter 17a formed as its peripheral or base member which connects it with the inner face of the annular support platform 12, and a check valve controlled discharge spout 47 is shown extend beneath the gutter 17a as indicative of gutter discharge.

As indicated in FIG. 6, a wheel 64 is shown in dotted lines as attached to the vane 36, and a means 65 is shown in dotted lines to indicate that the lowermost portions of the vanes 36 are rigidly connected around the periphery thereof just above the top plate 40a of the receiver 40. In this form of the invention the receiver 40 could be stationary and provide the track in the form of an annular slot or flange track in the receiver 40 to guide the lower end portions of the vanes 36 in rotation around the fixed receiver.

In FIG. 6 a wheel 57 is indicated as being mounted by means 58 connected to the outer periphery of the annular support platform or ring 12 and this wheel 57 bears as an anti-friction means against the inner surface of the shield 40c that forms part of the rotated receiver 40. A plurality of these wheels or anti-friction rollers 57 may be provided at equally angularly spaced apart distances around the periphery of the support ring 12. The wheels 57 are disposed in manner than only those to windward at any time are in engagement with the inner surface of the annular shield 40c that comprises the outermost member of the rotated receiver 40.

A motor-generator unit 54 is shown in FIG. 6 as supported by the annular support platform 12 with a wheel 55 mounted on the motor shaft 56 shown in frictional engagement with the receiver side 40g. Optionally, the wheel may comprise a spur pinion, and a planetary spur gear may be mounted around the inner periphery of the receiver (on plate 40g) to mesh with the pinion. A number of motor-generator units 54 are provided as may be required on the stillest day, to abet turret-vane assembly drive in cases when air movement is not adequate. Preferably these motor-generator units 54 would be spaced equally angularly apart around the inner periphery of the receiver 40, as supported by the annular support or platform ring 12. In FIG. 1 it is indicated that the motor-generator units 54 may be set operative as drive motors from a control panel 59 actuated by an electrical signal 59a transmitted thereto from a thermo-sensitive, electrical transmitter means 60 selectively disposed, as in a lower vane 36. When the motor-generator units 54 are not motor operative, they may be shifted to an idling position; or in cases of high winds driving the turret-vane assembly, shift could be made to establish receiver contact drive through the motor for generator drive.

A vane construction 34c may be provided which eliminates a transfer ring, and in which the vanes extend outwardly and downwardly from the periphery of the turret 33, and then straight downwardly into the receiver 40, as indicated in FIG. 7. In this case, the vane construction is such as to draw atmospheric air upwardly from inwardly of, and below the receiver 40, no deflector or roof 17 being provided, as indicated in FIG. 1. Optionally the vanes 340 could be formed of special construction with lowermost cross-section corresponding with the cross-section as indicated in FIG. 5, and with cross-section changing gradually until upper portion cross-section corresponds with cross-section of FIG. 4, and at point of turret connection, with cross-section of FIG. 3. In this case a deflector or roof, not shown in FIG. 7, would be provided, corresponding with the deflector or roof 17 in FIGS. 1 and 6.

An alternative upper vane construction is shown in FIG. 8 in which vanes 34e and 34f are connected to extend respectively from upper and the lower portions of outer periphery of turret 33 to connect into the upper plate 35a of transfer ring 35, in equally, angularly spaced apart relationship therearound. In such cases the cross-sectional plan view of connection into transfer ring upper plate 35a will appear in correspondence with the configurations and dispositions of FIG. 5. In such cases the outer diameter of the turret 33, with a taller or deeper turret 33, may be of relatively smaller outer diameter with relation to the transfer ring diameters. This decrease of ratio of turret diameter to transfer ring diameter is obtainable by virtue of the vertically staggered relationship of connection of alternate vanes 34e, 34f, into the periphery of turret 33.

As shown in FIG. 9 the turret 33e is not in rotative frictional contact with an outer rim at the top of the tower column 11, as shown in FIG. 2, but rather the turret 33c includes a lower, frusto-conical portion 33f, with the smaller diameter, lower end face thereof in slight rotative clearance with the upper face of the column 11. In this case a cylindrical baffle 50 extends downwardly from the upper base circle of the frusto-conical member 33f to move in a water seal provided in an annular water tank or cup 48 disposed about the top of the tower column 11. Above this water seal inter-fitted baffle rings are provided between the outer periphery of the cylindrical baffle 50 and the inner periphery of the annular tank or cup 48. Thus a vapor seal 49 is provided to entrap any steam or steam vapor that may bubble up through the water seal. Radiation fins 48a are indicated as provided about the water tank or cup 48.

As indicated in FIG. 10, the low pressure turbine 16b is indicated as disposed in close adjacentcy to the lower portion of the tower column 11 to discharge exhaust steam upwardly thereinto through an upwardly extended discharge conduit 18a. Obviously under certain conditions of discharge velocity from this conduit 18a, use of a lift propeller 25, as shown in FIG. 2, may be minimized, or even eliminated.

Also in FIG. 10, an optional deflector and tower column shield construction 50 may be employed, which deflects upwardly the atmospheric air drawn inwardly through the lower portions of the vanes 36. This arrangement has a top closure 50b anchored to the tower column 11, just under the water seal 48 as shown in FIG. 9. Such arrangement provides a gutter 50a inwardly of the inner periphery of the annular support ring 12, and below the receiver 40, with suitable downspout or discharge means 47a provided to drain the gutter 47a. Obviously, a shield construction 50 about a tower column 11 can provide a substantial plurality of utilitarian stories for annular floor space.

As shown in FIG. 11 a variation of deflector shield or roof 51 is shown of modified frusto-conical construction, with the roof of concavely arcuate contour in cross-section, with a cylindrical wall 51a spaced outwardly from the tower column 11. In this form of construction, an annular splash shield 61 is shown extending inwardly from the upper, inner corner portion of the deflector shield 51. In this form any rain or snow blown in through the openings between the vanes 36 will drain out between the vanes 36 at the bottom thereof, and to drain off outwardly off the top of the receiver 40. In this construction, as in the construction shown in FIG. 10, a substantial number of annular space levels may be provided for utilitarian floor space. Also, in this form of construction, utilitarian apertures, as windows, may be provided through the cylindrical wall 51a without interference with the theory of air flow involved thereabove.

An alternative form of construction of vane walls is shown in FIG. 12 which comprises a light metal inner sheet or plate 52a, a light corrugated central or inner sheet 53, and a light metal outer sheet or plate 52b. Aluminum is suggested as a most suitable light metal for this purpose, especially in view of its most desirable coefficient of radiation. For the attainment of strength while maintaining lightness, the metal may be welded as by electrodes oppositely disposed and staggered one half a corrugation, and stepped to be moved along to impress voltage at intervals of one full corrugation.

The invention is not limited to the specific structures and variations thereof shown in the drawings or hereinabove described. For instance only the vanes may be rotated in one form of the invention, with a structure in correspondence with the transfer ring shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 8, being moved to the upper ends of the vanes to be rotated sealably with relation to the turret. In this case the propeller within the tower column to boost the steam upwardly could be driven by a motor mounted stationarily within the tower column. Also a wide range of vane constructions and configurations may be included.

The spirit of the invention thus considers a wide range of variations, modifications and embodiments with the disclosure hereinabove being by way of illustration rather than by way of specific elaboration. Also, the appended claims which complete this application are illustrative and by way of introduction to prosecution.