The heat exchange apparatus and method is provided with an indirect
evaporative heat exchange section and a direct evaporative heat exchange
section. An evaporative liquid is sprayed downwardly into the direct
evaporative section to directly exchange heat from the evaporative liquid
flowing across fill sheets. The evaporative liquid is then collected in a
re-spray tray. The collected evaporative liquid is then sprayed onto an
indirect evaporative heat exchange section to indirectly exchange
sensible heat from a fluid stream flowing within a series of enclosed
circuits comprising the indirect evaporative heat exchange section.