Dynamo-based parameterized layered mold arrangement method for power plant cooling tower with ribs

Abstract

This invention discloses a parametric layered formwork design method for ribbed cooling towers in thermal power plants based on Dynamo, belonging to the field of building construction technology. This invention aims to solve the technical problems of low efficiency and difficulty in guaranteeing accuracy in existing formwork design for ribbed cooling towers. The method includes: acquiring the geometric, rib, and layer parameters of the cooling tower; automatically generating an accurate 3D solid model of the ribbed cooling tower in a BIM software environment; horizontally cutting the model according to the construction layer height to obtain multiple layered entities; for any layered entity, generating an integrated outer formwork and rib formwork that perfectly fits its outer surface and rib surface; finally, dividing the entire ring formwork into standardized formwork units along the circumference, and assigning position, size, and other attribute information to each unit to generate formwork data that can directly guide construction. This achieves full-process automation and high precision in formwork design for complex curved surface structures, significantly improving the collaborative efficiency of design and construction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of building construction technology, and in particular to a parametric layered molding method for ribbed cooling towers in thermal power plants based on Dynamo. Background Technology

[0002] Hyperbolic cooling towers in thermal power plants are critical large thin-walled structures, typically constructed of reinforced concrete. To enhance the overall rigidity and stability of the structure, the outer wall of the cooling tower is usually designed with vertical reinforcing ribs distributed along the meridian, forming a ribbed cooling tower structure. This structure has a complex hyperboloid geometry, and the presence of reinforcing ribs further increases its irregular shape.

[0003] In the construction of ribbed cooling towers, formwork engineering is a crucial link, and its design and installation accuracy directly affects the forming quality of the concrete structure, construction safety, and project cost. Currently, the design of formwork for such complex structures mainly relies on designers manually drawing and calculating using 2D CAD software combined with engineering experience. This traditional method has significant limitations: First, the design process is cumbersome and inefficient. For each layer of construction, a large number of formwork panels with different curvatures need to be recalculated and drawn, resulting in a huge workload. Second, due to the complex shape of curved formwork, manual calculation and 2D drawings cannot guarantee the accuracy of its processing and installation, easily leading to gaps or misalignments between the formwork and the concrete pouring surface, affecting the structural appearance and quality. Furthermore, the statistics of formwork materials rely entirely on manual counting, which is prone to errors and omissions, hindering cost control. Most importantly, there is a barrier between design information and on-site construction information; design drawings cannot directly and accurately guide on-site measurement and layout work, causing construction accuracy to heavily depend on the experience level of the construction personnel. Therefore, how to achieve automated, high-precision, and information-based mold design for complex structures like ribbed cooling towers is a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to address the deficiencies mentioned in the background art by proposing a parameterized layered modeling method for ribbed cooling towers in thermal power plants based on Dynamo.

[0005] The technical solution adopted in this invention is as follows:

[0006] A parameterized layered modeling method for ribbed cooling towers in thermal power plants based on Dynamo is provided, including the following steps:

[0007] S1: Obtain the geometric control parameters, rib structure parameters, and construction lift height parameters of the ribbed cooling tower; S2: Based on the geometric control parameters and rib structure parameters, automatically generate a three-dimensional solid model of the ribbed cooling tower in the BIM software environment; S3: According to the construction lift height parameters, horizontally cut the three-dimensional solid model along the height direction to obtain multiple layered solids; S4: For any layered solid, automatically generate an inner template that fits its inner surface, and an outer template and rib template that fit its outer surface and rib surface in an integrated manner; S5: Divide the inner template, outer template, and rib template into multiple template units along the circumference, and assign attribute information including its position and size to each template unit to generate formwork matching data that can guide construction.

[0008] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, the geometric control parameters in step S1 include the total height of the tower, the throat height, the throat radius, the tower base radius, and the tower top radius; the rib structure parameters include the number of vertical reinforcing ribs, the cross-sectional width, and the cross-sectional height.

[0009] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, the step S2 of generating the three-dimensional solid model of the ribbed cooling tower specifically includes: generating a hyperbola generatrix according to the geometric control parameters, and generating a tower wall solid by rotating the hyperbola generatrix; generating a single reinforcing rib solid by sweeping operation on the outer surface of the tower wall solid according to the rib structure parameters, and performing array replication on the reinforcing rib solids, and finally merging them into the three-dimensional solid model of the ribbed cooling tower through Boolean operation.

[0010] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, the outer template and rib template are generated in an integrated manner in step S4, specifically by: extracting the top and bottom lines of the outer contour of the layered entity, and generating a template surface that is completely coplanar with the outer surface and rib surface of the layered entity through a lofting operation.

[0011] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, in step S5, the template is divided into multiple template units along the circumferential direction, which is based on the preset standard template unit width. After division, multiple standard template units and a non-standard size closing template unit are formed.

[0012] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, the template data in step S5 includes: a statistical table of the number of template units of each type, and three-dimensional spatial coordinate data of the key corner points of each template unit.

[0013] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes: after generating the template unit, automatically configuring a support system for the template unit according to preset rules, wherein the support system includes vertical keel, horizontal waler and tie rod.

[0014] The present invention provides a parameterized layered modeling method for ribbed cooling towers in thermal power plants based on Dynamo, which has the following advantages compared with the prior art:

[0015] This invention automates the entire process from tower modeling, layer cutting, template configuration to information output by establishing a parametric driven model within a BIM software environment, using the cooling tower's geometric parameters, rib parameters, and construction layering requirements as input. When design parameters change, the entire template configuration scheme can be updated instantly, eliminating the need for extensive manual recalculation and redrawing. This significantly improves the design efficiency of template configurations for complex structures and substantially reduces errors that may be introduced by manual operation.

[0016] This invention directly utilizes a high-precision 3D solid model for layered template generation, particularly through integrated generation of the outer and rib templates. This ensures that the spatial shape of each template segment, especially irregularly shaped curved panels, perfectly matches the designed concrete surface. Simultaneously, the method automatically extracts the 3D spatial coordinates of key points in each template unit, providing direct data support for precise on-site layout using digital measuring equipment such as total stations. This fundamentally guarantees the installation accuracy of the template and the final quality of the concrete molding.

[0017] This invention deeply integrates geometric models with information management, assigning unique attributes such as number, size, area, and location to each template unit during generation. Based on this information, a precise material inventory list can be automatically generated with a single click, providing a reliable basis for material procurement and cost control. This method breaks down data barriers between design, processing, and construction, enabling seamless information transfer and collaborative work, transforming the traditional experience-based construction model into a data-driven, refined, and digital construction model. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a table of cooling tower parameters according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0019] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this embodiment can be combined with each other. The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0020] This invention provides a parametric layered template design method for ribbed cooling towers in thermal power plants based on Dynamo. This method utilizes the embedded visual programming tool Dynamo in a BIM (Building Information Modeling) software platform (such as Autodesk Revit) to automate, parametrically configure, and manage the information of complex ribbed hyperbolic cooling tower structures, greatly improving the efficiency and accuracy of template design.

[0021] The execution environment of this embodiment mainly includes a computer device equipped with BIM modeling software (such as Revit 2020 or later) and a visual programming plugin (Dynamo 2.3 or later). The specific steps of this method will be described in detail below:

[0022] Step 1: Definition and Input of Basic Parameters

[0023] Before starting the mold design, a parameterized driving system needs to be established. This method creates a series of input nodes in the Dynamo environment to receive the core design parameters of the finned cooling tower for thermal power generation (such as...). Figure 1 These parameters are the source data for the entire automation process; changes to them drive automatic updates to all subsequent models and data. Specifically, these fundamental parameters include at least:

[0024] Geometric control parameters: total tower height H, throat height H_throat, throat radius R_throat, base radius R_base, and top radius R_top of the cooling tower. These parameters collectively define the basic shape of the hyperbolic generatrix of the cooling tower.

[0025] Cross-sectional dimension parameter: the thickness T of the tower wall, which can be a constant value or a function T(z) that varies with the height z.

[0026] Rib structure parameters: the number of vertical reinforcing ribs (also called "ribs" or "meridian ribs") on the outer wall of the cooling tower, N_rib, the cross-sectional width of a single rib, W_rib, and the cross-sectional height (i.e., the thickness of the rib) H_rib.

[0027] Construction layering parameter: Construction layer height (or "one-panel formwork height") ΔH. This parameter determines the height of each concrete pour and is the core basis for layered formwork arrangement.

[0028] Template unit parameters: The width W_panel of the standard template unit is used for subsequent normalization and segmentation of the annular template layer.

[0029] In terms of operation, these parameters can be designed as sliders or numerical input boxes that can be manually adjusted in the Dynamo script interface, or linked to an external Excel spreadsheet to achieve batch import and management of parameters, making it easier to cope with different projects or design changes.

[0030] Step 2: Parametric generation of the 3D model of the ribbed cooling tower

[0031] Based on the parameters input in the first step, an accurate 3D solid model of the ribbed cooling tower is automatically generated using Dynamo's geometry node library. This step forms the basis for subsequent layering and model matching.

[0032] First, based on the generatrix equation of the hyperbolic cooling tower and the input geometric control parameters (H, H_throat, R_throat, R_base, R_top), a series of generatrix contour points distributed along the height are generated using the "Point.ByCoordinates" node. Then, these points are fitted into a smooth hyperbolic generatrix using the "NurbsCurve.ByPoints" node. By rotating this generatrix 360 degrees around its central axis (using the "Surface.ByRevolve" or "Solid.ByRevolve" node), the inner and outer basic surfaces of the cooling tower are generated. The inner and outer surfaces are then processed according to the tower wall thickness T(z), and finally, a solid model of the tower wall with accurate thickness is generated using "Solid.ByLoft" or a similar operation.

[0033] Next, the reinforcing ribs are modeled. Based on the number of ribs, N_rib, the angular distribution of each rib on the circumference is calculated (e.g., angular intervals of 360° / N_rib). On the outer surface of the tower, along the meridian direction (i.e., the vertical path from the bottom to the top of the tower), the center path line of the rib is generated using nodes such as "Curve.Project". Then, a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-sectional profile controlled by the W_rib and H_rib parameters is defined. Using the "Solid.BySweep" node, this cross-sectional profile is swept along the center path line on the outer surface of the tower to generate a solid model of a single reinforcing rib. Finally, using the "Geometry.Rotate" node, the single rib solid model is arrayed and copied around the central axis of the tower to generate all N_rib reinforcing ribs. Using the "Solid.Union" operation in Boolean operations, all rib solids are merged with the tower wall solid model to form a complete and accurate 3D solid model of the ribmed cooling tower.

[0034] Step 3: Layered cutting and geometric information extraction of the tower model

[0035] This step involves discretizing the continuous tower model into independent floors (or pouring strips) that meet construction requirements, and extracting the precise geometric information of each floor.

[0036] Using the "Plane.ByOriginNormal" node in Dynamo, a series of parallel horizontal cutting planes are generated, starting from the base plane of the tower and spaced at intervals of the construction layer height ΔH. The number of these planes is determined by the total tower height H and the layer height ΔH (i.e., N_layers=Ceiling(H / ΔH)).

[0037] Using the "Solid.Intersect" node, the ribbed cooling tower solid model generated in the second step is intersected with the series of horizontal cutting planes mentioned above. Each intersection will produce the inner and outer contour lines of that layer, as well as the cross-sectional contour lines of all ribs, at the corresponding cutting plane height. In this way, the entire cooling tower model is precisely divided into multiple independent annular layered solids.

[0038] For each layered entity, the program automatically extracts the inner and outer contour curves of its top and bottom surfaces. These curves are non-coplanar spatial curves on a hyperboloid, containing all the geometric features of that layer. The Dynamo script further parses these curves to obtain key data for template design, such as: the inner and outer circumferences of the top and bottom circles of each layer, the variation of the radius of curvature, and the normal vector at any point, which is crucial for determining the template's mounting angle.

[0039] Step 4: Parametric Design and Configuration of the Layered Template System

[0040] This is the core step of the method, which aims to automatically generate inner and outer templates, rib templates, and related support components for each layered entity.

[0041] First, the inner template is generated. For the i-th layer, using the top and bottom spatial curves of its inner contour, the inner template surface or solid that completely fits the inner surface of the concrete of that layer is generated through the "Surface.ByLoft" or "Solid.ByLoft" operation.

[0042] Secondly, the integrated generation of the outer template and rib template is the key technical challenge and innovation of this solution. For the i-th layer, a complete outer template surface or solid is generated using the top and bottom spatial curves of its outer contour (including the rib protrusions). This solid naturally contains the grooves needed to form the reinforcing ribs. This integrated generation method ensures the geometric continuity and positional accuracy of the rib template and the main template, avoiding the errors that may arise from separate design and reassembly in traditional methods.

[0043] Next, the template is standardized and divided. Since a complete ring of template cannot be used during construction, it needs to be divided into unit panels for easy transportation and installation. Based on the standard template unit width W_panel set in the first step, the program automatically calculates the number of standard panels required for the perimeter of each layer of inner and outer templates. For example, for the outer template, the quantity N_outer_panels = Floor(outer perimeter / W_panel). By dividing the perimeter at equal points or along the arc length, dividing lines or surfaces are generated. Using "Solid.Split" or similar nodes, the entire ring of inner and outer template entities is divided into multiple standard template units. The remainder after dividing the perimeter by the standard width is used to generate a non-standard sized "finishing template" and is individually numbered.

[0044] While generating template units, the Dynamo script can further parameterize and configure the template's support system. For example, on each template unit, vertical stiffeners and horizontal walers are automatically generated according to preset spacing rules. Simultaneously, pre-drilled holes for tie rods are automatically generated at corresponding positions on the inner and outer templates, and a 3D model of the tie rods can be generated. The position, size, and quantity of these components are all related to the dimensions of the template unit and the stress conditions of the tower, achieving collaborative design of the support system.

[0045] Step 5: Information Assignment, Statistics, and Output of Results

[0046] The final step in this approach is information processing and deliverables, which transforms the geometric model into a digital asset that can guide construction.

[0047] Each individual template unit (including standard slabs, end plates, and ribbed templates), keel, waler, tie rod, etc., generated in step four is not a simple geometric shape, but a BIM component endowed with rich information. The Dynamo script automatically adds attribute information to each component, such as: component number (e.g., "L05-O-ST-001", representing layer 5 - outer formwork - standard slab - number 001), layer, type (inner formwork / outer formwork / standard / non-standard), dimensions (length, width, height, arc length), area, weight, material, etc.

[0048] Based on this information, this method can automatically output multiple results:

[0049] 1. 3D Visualization Model: Generates a complete, hierarchical 3D model of the cooling tower formwork. Construction managers can use this model for virtual construction, intuitively check the assembly logic of the formwork, perform collision detection, and use it for construction briefings and scheme demonstrations.

[0050] 2. Template Quantity Statistics Table: Dynamo directly reads information from all template components, generating a detailed material statistics table with a single click, which can be exported to Excel format. The table accurately counts the quantity and total area of ​​templates for each layer and type, as well as the total quantity and length of supporting components, providing precise data for material procurement and cost control.

[0051] 3. 2D Fabrication and Installation Drawings: The script can automatically drive Revit's view and drawing functions to generate dimensioned 2D plan views or elevation views for each type of template unit (especially curved and irregularly shaped panels), serving as the basis for factory fabrication. Simultaneously, it can generate template layout plans and elevation installation drawings for each floor, clearly indicating the template unit's number and precise spatial coordinates.

[0052] 4. Location Data: Extract the three-dimensional spatial coordinates (X, Y, Z) of key corner points of each template unit and generate a coordinate data table. On-site surveyors can directly import this data into surveying equipment such as total stations to achieve rapid and accurate template layout and installation.

[0053] In summary, this invention, by constructing a fully automated process from parameter input to output, solves the problems of low efficiency, susceptibility to errors, reliance on human experience, and difficulty in adapting to design changes inherent in traditional ribbed cooling tower formwork design for thermal power plants. This method not only ensures the accuracy of formwork for complex curved surfaces but also achieves deep integration and seamless transmission of design, processing, and construction information, demonstrating significant technological advancement and practical value.

[0054] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that the invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered in all respects as exemplary and non-limiting, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims are intended to be included within the present invention. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

[0055] Furthermore, it should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative style is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A parameterized layered modeling method for ribbed cooling towers in thermal power plants based on Dynamo, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1: Obtain the geometric control parameters, rib structure parameters, and construction lifting height parameters of the ribbed cooling tower; S2: Based on the geometric control parameters and rib structure parameters, automatically generate a three-dimensional solid model of the ribbed cooling tower in the BIM software environment; S3: Based on the construction layer height parameters, the three-dimensional solid model is horizontally cut along the height direction to obtain multiple layered solids; S4: For any of the layered entities, automatically generate an inner template that fits its inner surface, and an outer template and rib template that fit its outer surface and rib surface in an integrated manner. The integrated generation of the outer template and rib template in step S4 is specifically as follows: extract the top and bottom lines of the outer contour of the layered entity, and generate a complete template surface that is completely coplanar with the outer surface and rib surface of the layered entity through a lofting operation. The outer contour includes rib protrusions. S5: Divide the inner template, outer template, and rib template into multiple template units along the circumference, and assign attribute information including its position and size to each template unit to generate template matching data that can guide construction.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The geometric control parameters mentioned in step S1 include the total height of the tower, the throat height, the throat radius, the tower base radius, and the tower top radius; the rib structure parameters include the number of vertical reinforcing ribs, the cross-sectional width, and the cross-sectional height.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Step S2, generating the three-dimensional solid model of the ribbed cooling tower, specifically includes: A hyperbolic generatrix is ​​generated based on the geometric control parameters, and the tower wall entity is generated by rotating the hyperbolic generatrix. Based on the rib structure parameters, a single reinforcing rib entity is generated on the outer surface of the tower wall entity through a sweeping operation, and the reinforcing rib entities are arrayed and copied, and finally merged into a three-dimensional solid model of the ribbed cooling tower through Boolean operations.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step S5, the template is divided into multiple template units along the circumference. This is done according to the preset standard template unit width. After the division, multiple standard template units and a non-standard size closing template unit are formed.

5. The method according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that, The template data mentioned in step S5 includes: a statistical table of the number of template units of each type, and the three-dimensional spatial coordinate data of the key corner points of each template unit.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: after generating the template unit, automatically configuring a support system for the template unit according to preset rules, wherein the support system includes vertical keel, horizontal waler and tie rod.

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