The performance of natural draft dry cooling towers under crosswind: CFD study

The thermal performance of a natural draft dry cooling tower (NDDCT) under a crosswind has been investigated using a general‐purpose CFD code. A three‐dimensional study using the standard k–ε turbulence model to simulate airflow in and around an NDDCT has been conducted. A parametric study has been carried out to examine the effect of crosswind velocity profile and air dry‐bulb temperature on the thermal performance of an NDDCT. Two approaches have been considered in this study to quantify the crosswind effect. Firstly, simulations have been conducted at the nominal conditions and crosswind effect has been represented by thermal effectiveness parameter. Secondly, the ejected heat from the NDDCT has been maintained at a constant value (285 MW) and the crosswind effect has been represented by the change in the cooling tower approach parameter. After quantifying the effect of the crosswind on the thermal performance, windbreak walls have been introduced as a means of reducing this effect. The results in this paper show the importance of considering the crosswind velocity profile. Moreover, the introduction of windbreak walls has indicated an improvement in reducing the thermal performance losses due to the crosswind. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A decoupled method to identify affecting mechanism of crosswind on performance of a natural draft dry cooling tower

The natural draft dry cooling tower (NDDCT) has been increasingly used for cooling in power generation in arid area. As crosswind affects the performance of a NDDCT in a complicated way, and the basic affecting mechanism is unclear, attempts have been made to improve the performance of a NDDCT based on limited experiences. This paper introduces a decoupled method to study the complicated crosswind effects on the inlet and outlet of a NDDCT separately by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling and hot state experiments. Accordingly, the basic affecting mechanism of crosswind on the NDDCT performance is identified. Crosswind changes the inlet flow field of a NDDCT and induces mainstream vortices inside the tower, so as to degrade the ventilation. Besides, low crosswind deflects the upward plume at the outlet to further degrade the ventilation, while high crosswind induces the low pressure area at the outlet to reduce the ventilation degradation.     

Thermal performance of a building coupled to an evaporative cooling tower

The thermal performance of a building fitted with an evaporative cooling tower has been evaluated in terms of discomfort index for two climates, namely, composite and hot-dry, typified by New Delhi and Jodhpur, respectively. The effects of various evaporative cooling parameters (height and cross-sectional area of the tower, packing factor, area of the pads, resistance offered to the air flow and local wind conditions) on the performance of the building have been analysed. It was found that, for given parameters of the tower and wind conditions, there is an optimum height of the tower for which the thermal discomfort condition in the building is minimum. The optimum values of the tower height for comfort conditions in the building for various other tower parameters have been obtained for each climate.     

Cooling potential of an evaporative cooling tower: Parametric studies

Dependence of the cooling potential of an evaporative cooling tower on the tower parameters (height h, cross-sectional area A_t, evaporative pad area A_p, packing factor of evaporating pads F_p and flow resistance f) has been investigated. The performance of the tower is studied for two different climates, namely hot-dry and composite, typified by Jodhpur and Delhi.     

侧风对机械通风高位收水冷却塔群三维热力特性的影响研究

为探究环境侧风对机械通风高位收水冷却塔群热力性能的影响,建立了由10座冷却塔组成的背靠背塔群的三维数值计算模型,并分析了不同环境风速及风向下冷却塔群通风特性、热风回流特性及换热特性的变化规律。研究结果表明：环境侧风诱导产生的塔内外横向旋涡对冷却塔群整体热力特性产生了恶化效应;在10 m/s风速下,侧风会使塔群平均通风量最大下降23.0%;45°侧风引起的塔群热风回流现象最严重,使得进风口气流温度和含湿量最大分别增加2.3%和6.3%;在横向旋涡及热风回流等因素的作用下,环境侧风会对冷却塔群换热特性产生不利影响,其中45°风向为最不利风向,使得出塔水温最大升高1.1 ℃。     

湿式冷却塔进风口加装导风板的优化设计

基于两相流传热传质理论,利用Fluent软件模拟300 MW机组冷却塔填料区使用多孔介质时的通风率,采用离散相模型（DPM）在配水区上表面加入热水,模拟研究新型旋流型叶片导风板的优化能力,给定不同弧度及安装角,分别在0、3和7 m·s^-1风速下计算冷却塔出塔水温,并分析侧风对冷却塔冷却性能的影响。研究结果表明：加装导风板可以降低侧风引起的不利影响,导风板数量为50块时效果最好,旋流型叶片导风板的最佳安装角为20°,此时旋流型叶片的最佳弧度为15°,最大温降可达0.787 4 K。研究结果为火电厂选择导风板提供了依据。     

吊顶辐射冷却塔供冷系统试验研究与性能分析

通过供冷试验及TRNSYS软件模拟研究了吊顶辐射冷却塔供冷系统的运行效果,分析了气象参数、部件结构等因素对系统供冷效果的影响,并与常规供冷系统全年的运行能耗进行对比。试验与理论分析结果表明,吊顶辐射冷却塔供冷系统的有效供冷量能够满足用户供冷需要,供冷房间温度稳定且分布均匀。冷却塔供冷效果与大气湿球温度、建筑内部负荷、热交换器结构等因素有关。辐射顶板末端与冷却塔供冷匹配性高,系统全年运行时数增加,应用于需全年供冷的建筑节能效果显著。     

Thermodynamic study of wet cooling tower performance

An analytical model was developed to describe thermodynamically the water evaporation process inside a counter‐flow wet cooling tower, where the air stream is in direct contact with the falling water, based on the implementation of the energy and mass balance between air and water stream describing thus, the rate of change of air temperature, humidity ratio, water temperature and evaporated water mass along tower height. The reliability of model predictions was ensured by comparisons made with pertinent experimental data, which were obtained from the literature. The paper elaborated the effect of atmospheric conditions, water mass flow rate and water inlet temperature on the variation of the thermodynamic properties of moist air inside the cooling tower and on its thermal performance characteristics. The analysis of the theoretical results revealed that the thermal performance of the cooling tower is sensitive to the degree of saturation of inlet air. Hence, the cooling capacity of the cooling tower increases with decreasing inlet air wet bulb temperature whereas the overall water temperature fall is curtailed with increasing water to air mass ratio. The change of inlet water temperature does not affect seriously the thermal behaviour of the cooling tower. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Recent researches in indirect evaporative cooler III: optimization of the cooling potential of a room–coupled indirect evaporative cooler

A mathematical model based on heat transfer principles, for characterizing the cooling performance of a room coupled indirect evaporative cooler (tube type) has been developed. Two dimensionless parameters, i.e. environment factor, ϕ and cooling factor, CF have been defined to characterize the performance of IEC coupled with a room. The optimum values of these parameters have been obtained for different environmental and thermal load conditions. In addition to this, a linear relationship has been obtained for the optimum size of a cooler to remove maximum heat from a room of given size. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermal performance of a closed wet cooling tower for chilled ceilings: measurement and CFD simulation

A closed wet cooling tower, adapted for use with chilled ceilings in buildings, was tested experimentally. The thermal efficiency of the cooling tower was measured for different air flow rates, water flow rates, spray flow rates and wet bulb air temperatures. CFD was also used to predict the thermal performance of the cooling tower. Good agreement was obtained between CFD prediction and experimental measurement. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

冷却塔外复杂流场的数值模拟与实验研究

对某能源中心楼顶的冷却塔组、烟囱、通风孔等散热设备及整个楼顶空间的流场与温度场进行了整体数值模拟,探讨了高温烟囱帽引起的排烟方向改变对冷却塔组进风处空气温度场及流场的影响,并进行了实验测试。结果表明,烟囱帽使排烟向下折转,导致冷却塔进风处下部位置空气温度显著升高;较低的烟囱烟气直排时,高温烟气会先抬升一段距离,然后受冷却塔进风处负压区吸引进入冷却塔内。     

Recent researches in indirect evaporative cooler V: relative thermal performance of buildings coupled to direct and indirect evaporative cooler

A mathematical model has been developed to evaluate the relative thermal performance of a building coupled with an indirect or direct evaporative cooler. Using periodic analysis for taking into account thermal storage of building envelope, explicit expressions have been obtained for room air temperature and room air humidity. For comparing their performance under different climatic conditions, numerical calculations have been made taking meteorological parameters for a typical day for Delhi (composite climate), Jodhpur (hot-dry climate) and Madras (hot-humid climate). It is found that the indirect evaporative cooler is a more effective and energy efficient system than the air-conditioner; it can hence be commercially used for computer and electronic exchange applications as well as for human comfort in a variety of climatic conditions, whereas direct evaporative cooler has limited use (only in hot-dry and composite climates). © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Novel design and modelling of an evaporative cooling system for buildings

Passive evaporative cooling has great potential as an alternative to conventional air‐conditioning in arid hot climates because of its low cost and zero pollution. This paper describes a novel evaporative cooling system with an automatic wind‐tracking device to improve its operating efficiency. The design and operating principles are discussed. A mathematical model is simplified by the assumption of convective heat and mass transfer of staggered streamlets of water. A computer program has been developed to calculate the deflection and length of spray water streamlets, as well as evaporative water mass, minimum cooled water temperature and required cooling time. A typical example illustrates that approximately 20 kg water are evaporated and around 26 min are required for 980 kg of water to be cooled from 28°C to the wet bulb temperature of 19.2°C of ambient air in a typical arid hot climate (relative humidity = 0.30, dry bulb temperature = 32°C and wind velocity = 4 m s^?1). The application of adsorbents, would allow the evaporative cooling system to be applied in hot, humid climates, in addition to hot climates with low humidity. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

侧风环境下湿式冷却塔性能参数变化规律的试验研究

外界侧风在很大程度上影响自然通风逆流湿式冷却塔的传热传质性能,根据相似理论,通过热态模型试验,以冷却数和刘易斯数为出发点,研究了外界侧风对冷却塔传热传质性能的影响.研究发现:冷却数和刘易斯数随着外界侧风的变化呈现先减小后增大的趋势,拐点风速值为0.4 m/s;当外界侧风风速小于0.7 ～0.8m/s时,侧风的存在严重恶...     

闭式冷却塔内冷却盘管传热热阻分析

通过对闭式冷却塔内冷却盘管各热阻的数量级分析,认为在实际计算中,管壁导热热阻比其它热阻小一个数量级,计算中可忽略,但其余热阻均不可忽略。影响盘管总热阻大小的因素很多,从数学上分析了各热阻对总热阻的影响,找出影响盘管总热阻的主次因素,为冷却盘管的研究、设计及运行管理提供参考。     

Experimental study of a direct evaporative cooling approach for Li-ion battery thermal management

A desirable operating temperature range and small temperature gradient is beneficial to the safety and longevity of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, and battery thermal management systems (BTMSs) play a critical role in achieving the temperature control. Having the advantages of direct access and low viscosity, air is widely used as a cooling medium in BTMSs. In this paper, an air-based BTMS is modified by integrating a direct evaporative cooling (DEC) system, which helps reduce the inlet air temperature for enhanced heat dissipation. Experiments are carried out on 18650-type batteries and a 9-cell battery pack to study how relative humidity and air flow rate affect the DEC system. The maximum temperatures, temperature differences, and capacity fading of batteries are compared between three cooling conditions, which include the proposed DEC, air cooling, and natural convection cooling. In addition, a DEC tunnel that can produce reciprocating air flow is assembled to further reduce the maximum temperature and temperature difference inside the battery pack. It is demonstrated that the proposed DEC system can expand the usage of Li-ion batteries in more adverse and intensive operating conditions.     

用于汽轮机排汽冷却的蒸发式冷凝器模型及性能分析

蒸发式冷凝器兼具传热性能好和节水的优势,在大型动力系统冷却中具有广阔的应用前景。建立了蒸发冷凝器的理论分析模型,提出了蒸发式冷凝器用于冷却小型汽轮机排汽的设计方案;获得了喷淋水温度、空气和蒸汽的焓值在冷凝器内沿程的变化规律,并对喷淋水量、配风量和空气温度等影响冷凝器性能的影响因素进行了分析。研究结果对蒸发式冷凝器在火力发电行业的应用具有参考意义。     

The impact of fouling on performance evaluation of evaporative coolers and condensers

Fouling of evaporative cooler and condenser tubes is one of the most important factors affecting their thermal performance, which reduces effectiveness and heat transfer capability with time. In this paper, the experimental data on fouling reported in the literature are used to develop a fouling model for this class of heat exchangers. The model predicts the decrease in heat transfer rate with the growth of fouling. A detailed model of evaporative coolers and condensers, in conjunction with the fouling model, is used to study the effect of fouling on the thermal performance of these heat exchangers at different air inlet wet bulb temperatures. The results demonstrate that fouling of tubes reduces gains in performance resulting from decreasing values of air inlet wet bulb temperature. It is found that the maximum decrease in effectiveness due to fouling is about 55 and 78% for the evaporative coolers and condensers, respectively, investigated in this study. For the evaporative cooler, the value of process fluid outlet temperature T_p,out varies by 0.66% only at the clean condition for the ambient wet bulb temperatures considered. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

水力冷却塔水轮机的节能分析

以水力冷却塔水轮机代替电动机驱动风机,节省了电机所消耗的电能,但是水轮机串联于冷却水循环系统中,增加了水循环系统的水力阻力,须消耗一部分水能克服水力阻力。利用试验和数值分析两种方法,研究了水循环系统中水轮机所引起的水力损失特点,提出水轮机节能的措施。