CROSS-FLOW COOLING TOWER WITH REDUCED UPPER INBOARD FILL SECTION

A crossflow cooling tower assembly (30) including a fill assembly (33) having a gas inlet opening (34) and a gas outlet opening (35). The outlet opening (35) is defined by a lower outlet portion (37) having a principal dimension generally inclined at an angle of about 5.degree. to 15.degree. to the vertical, and an upper outlet portion (38) having a principal dimension generally inclined at an angle of about 20.degree. to 45.degree. to the vertical which substantially widens an upper opening (38) into the exhaust plenum chamber (36) . The cooling tower assembly (30) further includes a vertical stack (40) forming an exhaust port (41) positioned vertically over the exhaust plenum chamber (36) for exhaust of the gas in the generally vertical direction. An inner wall (43) of the vertical stack (40) is of a diameter sufficient to extend the exhaust port (41) substantially vertically over both the lower outlet portion (37) and the upper outlet portion (38). An exhaust fan (45) is positioned in the exhaust port (41) and includes at least one fan blade (46) extending substantially to the inner wall (43). This configuration enables a smooth transition of the flow of gas from the generally horizontal direction, through the fill assembly (33), to the generally vertical direction, out of the exhaust port (41).