Modular steel-concrete composite cooling tower structure and mounting method thereof

Abstract

The invention provides a modular steel-concrete composite cooling tower structure and a mounting method thereof.The modular steel-concrete composite cooling tower structure comprises rhombic structure units, X-shaped connecting pieces and inner side reinforcing rings, and the rhombic structure units comprise the first rhombic structure unit and the second rhombic structure unit; the first rhombic structure units are transversely connected through the flange plates to form annular structure layers, and the multiple annular structure layers are longitudinally overlapped. The second rhombic structure units replace part of the first rhombic structure units and are connected with the X-shaped connecting pieces to form a reinforcing ring mounting layer; the reinforcing ring is connected with the X-shaped connecting piece through the sectional type flanged component; a metal maintenance plate covers the outer surface of the structure. Through rhombic unit modular prefabrication and flange bolt assembly, and through the synergistic effect of the X-shaped connecting pieces and the segmented reinforcing rings, a full-assembly type hyperbolic cooling tower structure is formed. The steel consumption is remarkably reduced, the construction period is shortened, temporary supports are omitted, the overall rigidity and stability are enhanced through the steel-concrete composite section, and meanwhile rapid sealing is achieved through the metal maintenance plate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of power equipment, and in particular to a modular steel-concrete composite cooling tower structure and an installation method thereof. Background Art

[0002] The primary function of a cooling tower is to exchange heat between cooling water and air, enabling the recycling of cooling water. Traditional cooling towers are constructed of reinforced concrete, which presents challenges such as long construction periods, difficulty in winter construction, poor thermal performance, and complex formwork. As cooling towers grow in size, their limitations become increasingly pronounced. While steel cooling towers exist, these require large amounts of steel and have high cross-sectional dimensions, resulting in poor economic efficiency. Therefore, a new structure that is lightweight, highly rigid, and easy to install is urgently needed. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a modular steel-concrete composite cooling tower structure and an installation method thereof, so as to solve the problem of a surge in steel consumption and high installation cost due to height / rigidity requirements of cooling towers.

[0004] According to one object of the present invention, the present invention provides a modular steel-concrete composite cooling tower structure, including a diamond-shaped structural unit, an X-shaped connector and an inner reinforcement ring, the diamond-shaped structural unit including a first diamond-shaped structural unit and a second diamond-shaped structural unit; the first diamond-shaped structural unit is horizontally connected by a flange plate to form an annular structural layer, and multiple layers of the annular structural layers are longitudinally overlapped; the second diamond-shaped structural unit replaces part of the first diamond-shaped structural unit and is connected to the X-shaped connector to form a reinforcement ring installation layer; the reinforcement ring is connected to the X-shaped connector through a segmented flange component; the outer surface of the structure is covered with a metal maintenance plate.

[0005] Furthermore, the first rhombus structure unit is a steel-concrete composite rhombus frame, and the four vertices of the first rhombus structure unit are truncated and welded to a single flange plate; the second rhombus structure unit is a steel-concrete composite rhombus frame, and the three vertices of the second rhombus structure unit are truncated and welded to a single flange plate, and the fourth vertex of the second rhombus structure unit is truncated on both sides and welded to a flange plate to form a five-flange connection node.

[0006] Furthermore, the X-shaped connector is an X-shaped steel-concrete component, and flange plates are welded to the four ends of the X-shaped connector; the X-shaped connector vertically connects the upper and lower symmetrically arranged second diamond-shaped structural units in the reinforcement ring installation layer.

[0007] Furthermore, a first steel member is welded to the inner side of the X-shaped connector, and a flange plate is provided at the end of the first steel member; the reinforcement ring is a segmented arc-shaped steel member, and a second steel member matching the first steel member is welded to the inner side of the reinforcement ring, and a flange plate is provided at the end of the second steel member, and the assembly of the reinforcement ring and the X-shaped connector is achieved by bolts.

[0008] Furthermore, the reinforcement rings are arranged at intervals of 10-20 m along the tower height direction, and flange plates are welded at both ends of the reinforcement rings to achieve circumferential connection.

[0009] Furthermore, the cross-sectional form of the diamond-shaped structural unit includes a steel-concrete circular tube cross-section, a steel-concrete rectangular tube cross-section or an H-shaped steel cross-section, and the cross-sectional form of all structural units in the same cooling tower remains consistent.

[0010] Furthermore, the first diamond-shaped structural unit is provided with spherical steel nodes at the four corners of the diamond-shaped frame, and flange plates are welded below the spherical steel nodes to form enhanced connection nodes.

[0011] According to another object of the present invention, the present invention provides a method for installing the above modular steel-concrete composite cooling tower structure, comprising the following steps: a) Bottom ring assembly: multiple first diamond-shaped structural units are connected by side flange plate bolts to form a bottom ring; b) Longitudinal expansion: The first diamond-shaped structural unit of the upper layer is bolted to the top flange of the lower layer through the bottom flange, and the sides are interconnected through flange plates; c) Strengthening ring layer assembly: at the set height, replace the first diamond structure unit with the second diamond structure unit, and vertically connect the upper and lower layers of the second diamond structure unit through X-shaped connectors; d) Reinforcement ring installation: flange-connect the second steel member of the segmented reinforcement ring to the first steel member of the X-shaped connector; e) Cover with metal protective plate to complete the enclosure.

[0012] Furthermore, in step (c), the X-shaped connector simultaneously connects the two second diamond-shaped structural units to form a spatially stable node; all structural connections are achieved through flange plate bolts to form a fully assembled structural system.

[0013] Furthermore, the diamond-shaped structural unit is combined with the X-shaped connector to form a hyperbolic oblique straight line profile, and the component axis is a combination of straight line segments; the metal maintenance plate is directly fixed to the outer surface of the diamond-shaped structural unit to form a closed tower wall structure.

[0014] This technical solution utilizes modular prefabrication of diamond-shaped units and flange bolt assembly, combined with the synergistic effect of X-shaped connectors and segmented reinforcement rings to create a fully assembled hyperbolic cooling tower structure. This design significantly reduces steel usage, shortens construction time, eliminates the need for temporary supports, and utilizes a steel-concrete composite cross-section to enhance overall rigidity and stability. Metal protective panels also provide for rapid closure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] In order to more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the specific embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a structural elevation view of a cooling tower according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic structural diagram of the first diamond-shaped structural unit of the cooling tower structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic structural diagram of the second diamond-shaped structural unit of the cooling tower structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic structural diagram of an X-shaped connector for a cooling tower structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic structural diagram of a cooling tower structure reinforcement ring according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the connection of the first diamond-shaped structural unit of the cooling tower structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the connection of the second diamond-shaped structural unit of the cooling tower structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a connection diagram of the third diamond-shaped structural unit of the cooling tower structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] In the figure: 1. First diamond-shaped structural unit; 2. Second diamond-shaped structural unit; 3. X-shaped connector; 4. Flange plate; 5. Reinforcement ring; 6. First steel member; 7. Second steel member; 8. Third diamond-shaped structural unit; 9. Spherical steel member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions of the present invention in conjunction with the embodiments. Obviously, the embodiments described are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0019] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise" and the like to indicate directions or positional relationships based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operate in a specific direction, and therefore should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0020] In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the said features. In the description of the present invention, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined. In addition, the terms "installed", "connected", and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or it can be an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or it can be a communication between the two elements. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0021] Example 1 like Figures 1 to 8 As shown, a modular steel-concrete composite cooling tower structure includes diamond-shaped structural units, X-shaped connectors and inner reinforcement rings, wherein: The diamond structure unit includes a first diamond structure unit 1 and a second diamond structure unit 2. The first diamond structure unit 1, the second diamond structure unit 2 and the X-shaped connector 3 are in the form of steel-concrete components. The cross-sectional form of the first diamond structure unit 1 and the second diamond structure unit 2 can be a steel-concrete circular tube, a steel-concrete rectangular tube, or an H-shaped steel cross-sectional structure. The appropriate cross-sectional form of the diamond structure unit is selected according to different requirements such as the height and capacity of the cooling tower.

[0022] In this embodiment, the first diamond-shaped structural unit 1 and the second diamond-shaped structural unit 2 are diamond-shaped structures composed of steel-concrete circular tubes.

[0023] The four vertices of the first diamond structure unit 1 are cut off and welded with a flange plate 4 respectively; the three vertices of the second diamond structure unit 2 are cut off and welded with a flange plate 4 respectively; the other vertex of the second diamond structure unit is cut off on both sides and welded with two flange plates 4 respectively; Several first diamond-shaped structural units 1 are connected in sequence on the left and right sides, and are connected to form a ring structure through flange plates 4 by bolts. Multiple rows of ring structures composed of first diamond-shaped structural units 1 are connected up and down through flange plates and bolts; The first diamond-shaped structural unit 1 and the second diamond-shaped structural unit 2 are assembled into a hyperbolic oblique straight line profile through flange plates 4 and bolts, and reinforcement rings 5 are provided at intervals of 10-20 m.

[0024] Specifically, two rows of annular structures composed of second diamond-shaped structural units 2 are arranged between the multiple rows of first diamond-shaped structural units 1 , and the annular structures composed of the two rows of second diamond-shaped structural units 2 are connected via an X-shaped connector 3 .

[0025] The X-shaped connector 3 has an X-shaped structure, and its cross-section is consistent with that of the diamond-shaped structural unit. A flange plate 4 is welded to each of the four ends of the X-shaped connector 3; the X-shaped connector 3 connects the upper and lower adjacent and symmetrically arranged second diamond-shaped structural units 2.

[0026] A first steel member 6 is welded to the inside of each X-shaped connector 3. The reinforcement ring 5 is a segmented flanged member. A second steel member 7 is welded to the inside of the reinforcement ring 5. The end of the second steel member 7 is welded to a flange plate 4 for connection to the first steel member 6 of the X-shaped connector 3. Flange plates 4 are welded to each end of the reinforcement ring 5 to strengthen the connection between the reinforcement rings 5. The reinforcement rings 5 are spaced 10–20 meters apart along the tower height.

[0027] The present invention also includes covering the outer surface of the structure with a metal protective plate.

[0028] The diamond-shaped structural units of the present invention are connected by bolts. When an inner reinforcement ring is required, the diamond-shaped structural units are bolted together by X-shaped connectors to achieve installation connection between cooling tower structural components, thereby forming a new structural system of the cooling tower.

[0029] This structure solves the problem of increased height, rigidity, and strength of cooling towers, which in turn increases the structural cross-section and engineering workload. Construction is simpler than conventional cooling tower structures, effectively improving construction efficiency and quality. Installation and connection only require diamond-shaped structural units, eliminating the need for separate rod connections.

[0030] In the embodiment of the present invention, the first diamond structure unit 1 can also be replaced by a third diamond structure unit 8. The structure of the third diamond structure unit 8 is to add spherical steel members 9 at the four corners of the steel-concrete member of the diamond structure unit 1, weld them to the steel-concrete member, and weld flange plates under the spherical steel members to form the third diamond structure unit 8, which effectively enhances the strength of the connection node of the diamond structure unit. The connection structure of the third diamond structure unit 8 is as follows: Figure 8 shown.

[0031] The manufacturing method of the cooling tower structure of the present invention comprises the following steps: Diamond unit prefabrication: The first diamond structure unit 1: Steel round tube / rectangular tube cast concrete or H-shaped steel, the four vertices of the diamond structure are cut off and welded with a flange plate respectively, such as Figure 2 As shown; The second diamond structure unit 2: steel round tube / rectangular tube cast concrete or H-shaped steel, the three vertices of the diamond structure are staged and welded with a flange plate 4 respectively, and the other vertex is cut off on both sides and welded with two flange plates 4 respectively, such as Figure 3 As shown; Production of X-type connector 3: X-shaped steel-concrete member end welded flange plate 4, such as Figure 4 As shown; Reinforcement Ring 5 Production: The flanges are welded at both ends of the segmented steel member, and the second steel member 7 matching the first steel member 6 of the X-shaped connector 3 is welded in the middle. Figure 5 shown.

[0032] Specifically, when manufacturing the components of the cooling tower structure of the present invention: First, two different types of first and second diamond-shaped structural units 1 and 2 are fabricated. Concrete is poured into steel circular or rectangular tubes in the first and second diamond-shaped structural units 1 and 2 to form a steel-concrete structure. The first diamond-shaped structural units 1 are sectioned at the four vertices of the diamond shape and flange plates are welded to each of them to facilitate bolted connections between the first diamond-shaped structural units 1.

[0033] In the cooling tower structure, inner reinforcement rings are required at intervals of 10 to 20 meters. Therefore, the two sides of a diamond corner of the second diamond-shaped structural unit 2 are truncated and welded to flange plates, resulting in a total of five welded flange plates in the second diamond-shaped structural unit 2. The upper and lower connections between the second diamond-shaped structural units 2 are bolted together using X-shaped connectors 3. This creates a hyperbolic structure when the diamond-shaped structural units are joined, forming an overall oblique straight line that forms the cooling tower structure.

[0034] The X-shaped connector 3 is composed of an X-shaped steel-concrete member with a cross-sectional form consistent with the diamond-shaped structural unit. After bolting, the X-shaped connector 3 and the diamond-shaped structural unit form a single unit, forming an oblique straight line. Flange plates are welded to the ends of the X-shaped connector 3 to connect to the second diamond-shaped structural unit 2.

[0035] The reinforcement ring 5 is installed inside the cooling tower structure. First, a first steel member 6 is welded to the inside of the X-shaped connector 3. The cross-section of the first steel member 6 matches the cross-section of the diamond-shaped structural unit and is used to connect the reinforcement ring 5. A flange plate is welded to the inner end of the first steel member 6 to facilitate connection with the reinforcement ring 5. The reinforcement ring 5 is a segmented steel member, with flange plates welded at both ends to connect the reinforcement rings 5. A second steel member 7 with the same cross-section, size, and length as the first steel member 6 inside the X-shaped connector 3 is welded in the middle of the segmented reinforcement ring 5. Flange plates are also installed at the ends of the second steel member 7 to achieve bolted connection with the inner steel member of the X-shaped connector 3.

[0036] The installation method of the cooling tower structure of the present invention comprises the following steps: Bottom ring: multiple first diamond-shaped structural units 1 are connected into a ring through side flange plates and bolts; Upper layer expansion: The lower flange of the first diamond-shaped structural unit 1 is connected to the upper flange plate of the lower layer, and the sides are interconnected through side flange plates; Reinforcement ring layer: The second diamond-shaped structural unit 2 replaces the first diamond-shaped structural unit 1, the X-shaped connector 3 connects the two layers of the second diamond-shaped structural unit 2 from top to bottom, and the reinforcement ring 5 is connected to the inner side of the X-shaped connector 3 with bolts; Metal protective panels cover the exterior surface of the structure to complete the enclosure.

[0037] During the installation process, the present invention is installed from bottom to top layer by layer. The second diamond-shaped structural unit 2 is only used for the tower layer that needs to be equipped with a reinforcement ring 5. The overall profile of the present invention is a hyperbolic oblique straight line configuration, and all connections are flange bolt connections.

[0038] During installation, when reinforcement ring 5 is required, the X-shaped connector 3 is bolted to the reinforcement ring 5 via a flange plate. Furthermore, the second diamond-shaped structural unit 2 is connected to the X-shaped connector 3 at the location of the reinforcement ring 5 to facilitate installation. Finally, the cooling tower structure is connected to the metal maintenance plate, completing the enclosure of the novel cooling tower structure and forming the entire structure.

[0039] Specifically, the installation method of the cooling tower of the present invention is to install from bottom to top in sequence: First, bolt the flanges on both sides of the first diamond-shaped structural unit 1 in sequence to form a ring structure, completing the connection of the first row of ring structures at the bottom. Bolt the lower flanges of the second row of first diamond-shaped structural units 1 to the upper flanges of the first row of ring structures. Once the ring structure is formed, bolt the flanges at both ends of the first diamond-shaped structural unit 1 together, completing the connection of the first and second rows. Similarly, follow the above steps to complete the connection from bottom to top. When reinforcing rings 5 are required, connect the second diamond-shaped structural unit 2 to the X-shaped connector 3 to complete the ring connection of the upper and lower rows, and then connect to the first diamond-shaped structural unit 1, thus completing the overall installation and connection of the cooling tower structure.

[0040] The cooling tower is enclosed by a metal maintenance plate, which is effectively connected to the cooling tower structure composed of the first diamond-shaped structural unit 1 and the second diamond-shaped structural unit 2, thereby completing the installation of the entire cooling tower.

[0041] The steel-concrete composite cross-section of the cooling tower structure of the present invention improves rigidity and reduces steel consumption by more than 30%. Unitized prefabrication shortens construction period by 50%, and only bolt assembly is required on site. The diamond-shaped units + X-shaped connectors form a self-stabilizing system, eliminating the need for temporary supports.

[0042] Compared with the existing method of increasing the number and cross-sectional size of cooling tower steel components to meet the large-capacity requirements of cooling towers, the cooling tower structure of the present invention is simple in structure. By connecting the diamond-shaped structural unit and the X-shaped connector, a stable cooling tower structural system is formed. The steel-concrete cross-sectional form effectively improves the rigidity and strength of the original cooling tower and reduces the amount of steel used in the cooling tower. At the same time, the diamond-shaped structural unit is adopted, which provides convenience for later construction and installation. The first diamond-shaped structural unit and the second diamond-shaped structural unit and the X-shaped connector are manufactured and completed at the time of shipment. During on-site construction, the installation of the new cooling tower structure only needs to be completed by connecting the flange plate bolts, effectively improving construction efficiency and construction quality. The cooling tower structure of the present invention is low in cost, can provide sufficient bearing capacity, and is relatively convenient and fast in terms of manufacturing process, material transportation, and construction process.

[0043] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the above embodiments, or replace some or all of the technical features therein with equivalents. However, these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A modular steel-concrete composite cooling tower structure, characterized in that: It includes a diamond structure unit, an X-shaped connector and an inner reinforcement ring, the diamond structure unit includes a first diamond structure unit and a second diamond structure unit; the first diamond structure unit is horizontally connected through a flange plate to form an annular structure layer, and multiple layers of the annular structure layer are longitudinally overlapped; the second diamond structure unit replaces part of the first diamond structure unit and is connected to the X-shaped connector to form a reinforcement ring installation layer; the reinforcement ring is connected to the X-shaped connector through a segmented flange component; the outer surface of the structure is covered with a metal maintenance plate.

2. The modular steel-concrete composite cooling tower structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first rhombus structure unit is a steel-concrete composite rhombus frame, and each of the four vertices of the first rhombus structure unit is welded with a single flange plate after being truncated; the second rhombus structure unit is a steel-concrete composite rhombus frame, and each of the three vertices of the second rhombus structure unit is welded with a single flange plate after being truncated, and the fourth vertex of the second rhombus structure unit is truncated on both sides and a flange plate is welded on each side to form a five-flange connection node.

3. The modular steel-concrete composite cooling tower structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The X-shaped connector is an X-shaped steel-concrete component, and flange plates are welded to the four ends of the X-shaped connector; the X-shaped connector vertically connects the upper and lower symmetrically arranged second diamond-shaped structural units in the reinforcement ring installation layer.

4. The modular steel-concrete composite cooling tower structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: A first steel component is welded to the inner side of the X-shaped connector, and a flange plate is provided at the end of the first steel component; the reinforcement ring is a segmented arc-shaped steel component, and a second steel component matching the first steel component is welded to the inner side of the reinforcement ring, and a flange plate is provided at the end of the second steel component. The reinforcement ring and the X-shaped connector are assembled by bolts.

5. The modular steel-concrete composite cooling tower structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The reinforcement rings are arranged at intervals of 10-20m along the tower height direction, and flange plates are welded at both ends of the reinforcement rings to achieve circumferential connection.

6. The modular steel-concrete composite cooling tower structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cross-sectional form of the diamond-shaped structural unit includes a steel-concrete circular tube cross-section, a steel-concrete rectangular tube cross-section or an H-shaped steel cross-section, and the cross-sectional forms of all structural units in the same cooling tower remain consistent.

7. The modular steel-concrete composite cooling tower structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first diamond-shaped structural unit is provided with spherical steel nodes at the four corners of the diamond-shaped frame, and flange plates are welded below the spherical steel nodes to form enhanced connection nodes.

8. The method for installing a modular steel-concrete composite cooling tower structure according to claim 1, wherein: The steps include: a) Bottom ring assembly: multiple first diamond-shaped structural units are connected by side flange plate bolts to form a bottom ring; b) Longitudinal expansion: The first diamond-shaped structural unit of the upper layer is bolted to the top flange of the lower layer through the bottom flange, and the sides are interconnected through flange plates; c) Strengthening ring layer assembly: at the set height, replace the first diamond structure unit with the second diamond structure unit, and vertically connect the upper and lower layers of the second diamond structure unit through X-shaped connectors; d) Installation of reinforcement ring: Connect the segmented reinforcement ring to the X-shaped connector; e) Cover with metal protective plate to complete the closure.

9. The method for installing a modular steel-concrete composite cooling tower structure according to claim 8, wherein: In step c), the X-shaped connector simultaneously connects the two second diamond-shaped structural units to form a spatially stable node; all structural connections are achieved through flange plate bolts to form a fully assembled structural system.

10. The method for installing a modular steel-concrete composite cooling tower structure according to claim 8, wherein: The diamond-shaped structural unit and the X-shaped connector are combined to form a hyperbolic oblique straight line profile, and the component axis is a combination of straight line segments; the metal maintenance plate is directly fixed to the outer surface of the diamond-shaped structural unit to form a closed tower wall structure.

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