46 are as set forth above however elongated bars 44 in the upper array are shown to be installed in support plate 40 at an angle to the horizontal such angle is preferably between 5 and 45 degrees horizontal elongated bars 46 between the arrays of elongated bars 44 are seen to be installed at a zero degree angle to the horizontal such combined angled and horizontal installation of elongated bars 44 and 46 respectively is designed to improve the heat exchanging performance of the direct heat exchange system into which the splash fill arrangement is installed air flow is depicted as from left to right in fig3 as shown by the arrow water flow is generally downward this angled orientation of elongated bars 44 assists in exposing more of the evaporative liquid flowing across elongated bars 44 to the air moving across the splash fill arrangement without unduly impeding the air flow the horizontal orientation of elongated bars assists in directing the airflow in generally horizontal direction the vertical gap 43 between elongated bars 44 and 46 varies such that the size of gap 43 near top edge 47 of support plate 40 is smallest and gradually increases toward the bottom edge 48 the gradual increase in.