A cooling tower structure including a plurality of precast concrete wall panels positioned above a concrete foundation so as to define cooling cells therebetween and a plurality of precast concrete T-beams longitudinally extending across the upper ends of the transverse wall sections so as to define a distribution basin thereabove and a fill area therebelow. The T-beams have horizontal web sections with apertures formed therein for receipt of spray nozzles therethrough and longitudinally extending rib sections extending downward from the web sections. The spray nozzles and rib sections are arranged in a manner such that the water spray pattern from the nozzles impinge against the side surfaces of the rib sections. The side surfaces of the rib sections include a pair of longitudinally extending surfaces tapered downwardly from the web section towards each other to intersect with a substantially horizontal bottom surface. The intersections between the side surfaces and the bottom surface have rounded corners such that the outwardly spreading spray pattern of water from the nozzle continues below the rib sections to prevent "dead spots."

Prefabricated, open-frame panel members of fireproof material such as concrete are stacked on edge to produce a number of side-by-side, multi-level uprights which, in turn, are laterally braced and interlocked into a rigid construction by prefabricated, open-frame bracing elements interposed between opposed panel members of each level of the uprights. The bracing elements of the structure are arranged in a number of parallel, diagonal series extending across the uprights with adjacent elements in each series being in partial juxtaposition with one another so that external forces applied to the structure are resisted by directing such forces diagonally into the ground along each series of cooperating elements. The sheer mass of the individual panel units and bracing elements contributes substantially to the structural rigidity of the completed structure, yet each unit and element may be readily hoisted into position by conventional industrial lifting equipment. Heat exchange fill suspended within the completed structure is disposed to receive water gravitating therethrough to cool the water as ambient air flows through the open structure to impinge upon the fill.

Improved support means are disclosed for a plurality of vertically arranged transversely oriented fill sheets or grids for direct contact cooling towers.

A cooling stack for a cooling tower comprises at least one volumetric polymer block of a flow-around type. Each block is built up of polyhedron shaped cells. The blocks are mounted in the cooling tower by means of connecting strips strung up on suspension devices suspended to a carrying construction disposed inside the cooling tower. Each block comprises at least two flow-around type layers. The layers are arranged in the block vertically at a distance one above the other. Each layer is made up of rows of cellular components, mounted detachably by means of connecting teeth to connecting seats in small carrying bars. The small carrying bars are mounted to the connecting strips strung up on the suspension devices which are divided by spacing sleeves.

A splash bar for a cooling tower fill assembly is of longitudinally Z-shaped configuration. The top and bottom of the bar are parallel and are connected by an essentially vertical surface. The entire bar has openings throughout.