US Patent 8628066 Cooling tower and method of constructing same

A cooling tower including an enclosure, a body of fill material supported inside the enclosure, a liquid distribution system supported above the fill material having a liquid distribution header, and a fan assembly mounted directly to the header for drawing air upward through the fill material, and a drainage collection system located below the fill material. The liquid distribution system includes a liquid distribution header comprising at least one feeder conduit encased in a monolithic casting of concrete. The liquid distribution system distributes a liquid over the fill material in such a way that the liquid gravitates downward through the fill material. The header traverses the enclosure and is supported by the enclosure. The fan assembly draws air upwards through the fill material. The drainage collection system collects the liquid that gravitates through the fill material.