A cooling tower control method, a cooling tower, and a cooling tower system

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of cooling tower control technology, and discloses a cooling tower control method, a cooling tower, and a cooling tower system. The method includes: acquiring the outlet water temperature of the cooling tower in real time; comparing the outlet water temperature with a preset temperature range; if the outlet water temperature is outside the preset temperature range, adjusting the flow rate of at least one stage of heat exchange medium according to a preset graded adjustment sequence, and returning to the step of "acquiring the outlet water temperature of the cooling tower in real time" after each adjustment until the outlet water temperature is within the preset temperature range; wherein the heat exchange medium includes at least cooling air and hot water entering the tower; the preset graded adjustment sequence is: after the heat exchange medium currently under adjustment reaches its flow limit, if the outlet water temperature is still outside the preset temperature range, then the flow rate adjustment of the next stage of heat exchange medium is initiated. This invention, by adjusting the flow rates of cooling air and hot water entering the tower in stages under different temperature conditions, precisely controls the outlet water temperature while also taking into account rapid response and energy-saving operation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of cooling tower control technology, specifically to a cooling tower control method, a cooling tower, and a cooling tower system. Background Technology

[0002] Cooling towers are widely used heat exchange equipment in industrial circulating water systems. Currently, the control systems of cooling towers widely used in the industrial field mainly adopt contactor control, which uses electrical components such as relays and contactors to control the start and stop of the fan motor and water pump motor. The fan starts when the water temperature reaches the set upper limit and stops when the water temperature drops to the set lower limit. Although this control method is simple in structure and low in cost, it has the following technical drawbacks in practical applications: 1. Low temperature control accuracy: Traditional control can only realize the two states of the fan on / off, and cannot continuously adjust the cooling capacity according to the actual load changes, resulting in large fluctuations in the outlet water temperature of the cooling tower, making it difficult to accurately stabilize within the temperature range required by the process.

[0003] 2. Water loss cannot be measured. During operation, cooling towers will lose water due to evaporation and droplets. However, traditional control systems cannot monitor and measure the inflow and outflow of water in real time, which is not conducive to water resource management and equipment maintenance.

[0004] 3. High energy consumption: Under traditional control methods, the fan usually runs at full speed at its rated speed, maintaining the same operating state even under low load or low temperature conditions, resulting in energy waste.

[0005] 4. Inability to achieve network integration: Traditional cooling tower control systems mostly operate independently and lack data communication capabilities, making it impossible to upload operating parameters to the factory's central monitoring system, which is insufficient to meet the needs of smart factory construction. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of this, the present invention provides a cooling tower control method, a cooling tower, and a cooling tower system to solve the problems of low temperature control accuracy and inability to simultaneously achieve rapid response and energy-saving operation in existing cooling towers.

[0007] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a control method for a cooling tower, applicable to a cooling tower comprising at least two stages of heat exchange media. The method includes: acquiring the outlet water temperature of the cooling tower in real time; comparing the outlet water temperature with a preset temperature range; if the outlet water temperature is outside the preset temperature range, adjusting the flow rate of at least one stage of heat exchange media according to a preset graded adjustment sequence, and returning to the step of "acquiring the outlet water temperature of the cooling tower in real time" after each adjustment until the outlet water temperature is within the preset temperature range; wherein the heat exchange media includes at least cooling air and hot water entering the tower; the preset graded adjustment sequence is as follows: after the heat exchange media currently under adjustment reaches its flow limit, if the outlet water temperature is still outside the preset temperature range, the flow rate adjustment of the next stage of heat exchange media is initiated; when all heat exchange media have reached their respective flow limits and the outlet water temperature is still outside the preset temperature range, an alarm is triggered.

[0008] The cooling tower control method provided by this invention constructs a graded and progressive flow regulation logic by using cooling air and inlet hot water as two-stage heat exchange media, achieving precise closed-loop control of the cooling tower outlet water temperature. During the control process, the system monitors the outlet water temperature in real time and compares it with a preset range. Once a temperature deviation from the preset range is detected, the graded adjustment process of the heat exchange media is automatically initiated: first, the flow rate of the current priority medium is adjusted; after adjustment, the outlet water temperature is immediately re-acquired and it is determined whether it has returned to the preset range; if it has returned, the current state is maintained and monitoring continues; if it has not returned and the current medium has not yet reached its flow limit, the adjustment of that medium continues; when the temperature still does not meet the standard after the current medium is adjusted to its flow limit, the system automatically switches to the next level medium for adjustment. After each adjustment, the temperature is re-acquired, forming a closed-loop feedback. Through this step-by-step, feedback-based control method, the system can accurately match the cooling requirements under different operating conditions, avoiding over-adjustment or under-adjustment. When all heat exchange media have reached their respective flow limits but the outlet water temperature is still outside the preset range, the system triggers an alarm, reminding maintenance personnel to check the equipment status or system load. This control principle, through a multi-media collaborative step-by-step adjustment mechanism, ensures the accuracy of temperature control while avoiding the limitations of single-media adjustment. At the same time, through step-by-step feedback, it ensures that each adjustment is based on real-time temperature data, effectively improving the adaptability and operational stability of the cooling tower under different load conditions.

[0009] In one optional implementation, the preset graded adjustment sequence includes: when the outlet water temperature is higher than the upper limit of the preset temperature range, the hot water flow rate into the tower is adjusted first, and then the cooling air flow rate is adjusted; when the outlet water temperature is lower than the lower limit of the preset temperature range, the cooling air flow rate is adjusted first, and then the hot water flow rate into the tower is adjusted.

[0010] The cooling tower control method provided by this invention employs a differentiated, graded adjustment sequence determined based on the direction of temperature deviation. Under high-temperature conditions, it prioritizes adjusting the inlet hot water flow rate, utilizing the rapid response of the water flow to quickly bring the outlet water temperature back to the preset range, ensuring the cooling effect on downstream equipment. Under low-temperature conditions, it prioritizes adjusting the cooling airflow, reducing fan energy consumption for energy-saving operation while avoiding the risk of pipe icing due to excessively low outlet water temperature. This adjustment method, while ensuring temperature control accuracy, balances the dual objectives of rapid response and energy saving, improving the cooling tower's adaptability and economy under different operating conditions.

[0011] In one optional implementation, when the outlet water temperature is higher than the upper limit of the preset temperature range, the flow rate of at least one stage of heat exchange medium is adjusted according to a preset graded adjustment sequence, and after each adjustment, the process returns to the step of "real-time acquisition of the outlet water temperature of the cooling tower" until the outlet water temperature is within the preset temperature range. This process includes: determining whether the inlet hot water flow rate has reached its own maximum flow rate limit; if the inlet hot water flow rate has not reached its own maximum flow rate limit, increasing the inlet hot water flow rate and returning to the step of "real-time acquisition of the outlet water temperature of the cooling tower"; if the inlet hot water flow rate has reached its own maximum flow rate limit, determining whether the cooling air flow rate has reached its own maximum flow rate limit; if the cooling air flow rate has not reached its own maximum flow rate limit, increasing the cooling air flow rate and returning to the step of "real-time acquisition of the outlet water temperature of the cooling tower".

[0012] In one optional implementation, when the outlet water temperature is lower than the lower limit of a preset temperature range, the flow rate of at least one stage of heat exchange medium is adjusted according to a preset graded adjustment sequence, and after each adjustment, the process returns to the step of "real-time acquisition of the outlet water temperature of the cooling tower" until the outlet water temperature is within the preset temperature range. This process includes: determining whether the cooling air flow rate has reached its own minimum flow rate limit; if the cooling air flow rate has not reached its own minimum flow rate limit, the cooling air flow rate is reduced and the process returns to the step of "real-time acquisition of the outlet water temperature of the cooling tower"; if the cooling air flow rate has reached its own minimum flow rate limit, the process determines whether the inlet hot water flow rate has reached its own minimum flow rate limit; if the inlet hot water flow rate has not reached its own minimum flow rate limit, the inlet hot water flow rate is reduced and the process returns to the step of "real-time acquisition of the outlet water temperature of the cooling tower".

[0013] In one optional implementation, the alarm prompts include high temperature alarms and low temperature alarms. The process of triggering the alarm prompts includes: triggering a high temperature alarm when both the inlet hot water flow rate and the cooling air flow rate reach their respective maximum flow rate limits, and the outlet water temperature is still higher than the upper limit of the preset temperature range; and triggering a low temperature alarm when both the inlet hot water flow rate and the cooling air flow rate reach their respective minimum flow rate limits, and the outlet water temperature is still lower than the lower limit of the preset temperature range.

[0014] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a cooling tower, comprising: a cooling tower body, a fan, a regulating valve, a monitoring module, and a controller, wherein the controller is communicatively connected to the fan, the regulating valve, and the monitoring module, and the controller is used to execute the method described in the first aspect or any corresponding embodiment thereof; the fan is disposed above the cooling tower body and is used to adjust its own rotation speed based on the regulating signal of the controller to change the cooling airflow through the cooling tower body; the regulating valve is disposed on the water inlet pipe of the cooling tower body and is used to adjust its own opening degree based on the regulating signal of the controller to change the inlet hot water flow into the cooling tower body; the monitoring module is used to collect the water temperature and water flow in the water inlet pipe and the water outlet pipe of the cooling tower body.

[0015] The cooling tower provided by this invention combines a control method with a specific actuator. It can automatically adjust the flow rates of cooling air and hot water entering the tower according to changes in the outlet water temperature, stabilizing the outlet water temperature within a preset range. Simultaneously, real-time data acquisition by the monitoring module provides a basis for control decisions. The controller dynamically adjusts the operating status of the actuator based on the feedback data, ensuring the accuracy and timeliness of temperature control. Furthermore, this cooling tower prioritizes adjusting the flow rate of hot water entering the tower for rapid cooling under high-temperature conditions and prioritizes adjusting the flow rate of cooling air to reduce energy consumption under low-temperature conditions, thus reducing operating costs while ensuring cooling effectiveness.

[0016] In one optional implementation, the monitoring module includes: an inlet water thermometer, an inlet water flow meter, an outlet water thermometer, and an outlet water flow meter, wherein the inlet water thermometer and the inlet water flow meter are both installed on the inlet water pipe of the cooling tower body; and the outlet water thermometer and the outlet water flow meter are both installed on the outlet water pipe of the cooling tower body.

[0017] In one alternative implementation, the regulating valve is a three-way valve, with its first port connected to the water source pipeline, its second port connected to the water inlet pipeline of the cooling tower body, and its third port connected to the bypass pipeline.

[0018] In one alternative embodiment, the cooling tower further includes a cooling tower water collection basin, wherein the water inlet of the cooling tower water collection basin is connected to a third interface of a regulating valve via a bypass pipe.

[0019] Thirdly, the present invention provides a cooling tower system, comprising: a plurality of cooling towers according to the second aspect above or any corresponding embodiment thereof, and a host computer monitoring platform, wherein the controller of each cooling tower is communicatively connected to the host computer monitoring platform; the host computer monitoring platform is used to receive and display the operating data of each cooling tower and send control commands to each cooling tower.

[0020] The cooling tower system provided by this invention allows each cooling tower's controller to collect its own operational data in real time and upload it to a host computer monitoring platform via a communication network. The monitoring platform displays and stores the received data from multiple towers, enabling maintenance personnel to remotely monitor the operational status of each tower. Simultaneously, the monitoring platform can send control commands to one or more cooling towers based on global load demands or specific control strategies, adjusting the operating parameters of each tower to achieve load distribution and collaborative operation among multiple towers. When a cooling tower malfunctions or reaches its adjustment limit, the monitoring platform can promptly dispatch other cooling towers to supplement cooling capacity, ensuring the continuity and stability of the overall system operation. This cooling tower system combines independent control of each tower with centralized management, improving operational efficiency and reliability in large-scale cooling scenarios. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating a cooling tower control method according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a detailed flowchart of the control method for a cooling tower according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a diagram illustrating the composition of a cooling tower according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a composition diagram of a cooling tower system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a structural block diagram of a control device for a cooling tower according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the hardware structure of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0023] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, 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 some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0024] It is understood that before using the technical solutions disclosed in the various embodiments of the present invention, users should be informed of the types, scope of use, and usage scenarios of the personal information involved in the present invention and their authorization should be obtained in accordance with relevant laws and regulations through appropriate means.

[0025] This embodiment provides a control method for a cooling tower, applicable to cooling towers comprising at least two stages of heat exchange media, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the method includes: Step S1: Obtain the outlet water temperature of the cooling tower in real time.

[0026] Step S2: Compare the outlet water temperature with the preset temperature range.

[0027] Specifically, the system continuously collects the outlet water temperature data of the cooling tower by using a thermometer installed on the outlet water pipe of the cooling tower. Then, it compares the collected outlet water temperature with the preset temperature range to determine whether the current outlet water temperature is within the preset temperature range.

[0028] Step S3: If the outlet water temperature is outside the preset temperature range, adjust the flow rate of at least one stage of heat exchange medium according to the preset graded adjustment sequence, and return to the "real-time acquisition of cooling tower outlet water temperature" step after each adjustment until the outlet water temperature is within the preset temperature range; wherein, the heat exchange medium includes at least cooling air and hot water entering the tower; the preset graded adjustment sequence is: after the heat exchange medium currently in the adjustment state reaches the flow limit, if the outlet water temperature is still outside the preset temperature range, then start the flow rate adjustment of the next stage of heat exchange medium.

[0029] Specifically, when the system determines that the outlet water temperature is outside the preset temperature range, it initiates a tiered adjustment process. Following a preset tiered adjustment sequence, the system first adjusts the flow rate of the heat exchange medium with the current priority. This heat exchange medium includes at least cooling air and hot water entering the tower. After adjustment, the system returns to step S1 to obtain the outlet water temperature in real time and compares it with the preset temperature range. If the outlet water temperature is still outside the preset temperature range, and the heat exchange medium currently under adjustment has not yet reached its flow limit, the adjustment of that medium continues. If the heat exchange medium currently under adjustment has reached its flow limit, but the outlet water temperature is still outside the preset temperature range, the flow rate adjustment of the next level of heat exchange medium is initiated according to the preset tiered adjustment sequence. This process proceeds step by step, with the outlet water temperature being re-obtained and assessed after each adjustment, until the outlet water temperature falls within the preset temperature range.

[0030] For example, when the outlet water temperature of the cooling tower is higher than the upper limit of the preset temperature range, the system first adjusts the inlet hot water flow rate according to a preset tiered adjustment sequence. The system gradually increases the inlet hot water flow rate, and after each adjustment, the outlet water temperature is re-collected and compared with the preset temperature range. If the outlet water temperature is still higher than the upper limit of the preset temperature range and the inlet hot water flow rate has not yet reached its own flow limit, the inlet hot water flow rate continues to be increased, and the above process is repeated. When the inlet hot water flow rate reaches its own flow limit, if the outlet water temperature is still higher than the upper limit of the preset temperature range, the system automatically starts the adjustment of the next stage of heat exchange medium, namely the cooling air flow rate. The system gradually increases the cooling air flow rate, and similarly, after each adjustment, the outlet water temperature is re-detected and compared with the preset temperature range. If the outlet water temperature drops to within the preset temperature range, the adjustment stops.

[0031] Step S4: When all heat exchange media reach their respective flow limits and the outlet water temperature is still outside the preset temperature range, an alarm is triggered.

[0032] Specifically, once all heat exchange media, including cooling air and hot water entering the tower, have been adjusted to their respective flow limits, the system again acquires the outlet water temperature and compares it with the preset temperature range. If the outlet water temperature is still outside the preset temperature range at this time, it indicates that the cooling tower's adjustment capacity has reached its limit and it cannot adjust itself to bring the outlet water temperature back to the preset temperature range. The system then triggers an alarm, notifying maintenance personnel to intervene and check for equipment malfunctions, abnormal loads, or other external factors to avoid safety issues such as affecting the normal operation of downstream equipment or causing pipe icing due to the continuous deviation of the temperature from the preset temperature range.

[0033] The cooling tower control method provided in this embodiment constructs a graded, progressive flow regulation logic by using cooling air and inlet hot water as two-stage heat exchange media, achieving precise closed-loop control of the cooling tower outlet water temperature. During the control process, the system monitors the outlet water temperature in real time and compares it with a preset range. Once a temperature deviation from the preset range is detected, the graded adjustment process of the heat exchange media is automatically initiated. Through this step-by-step, feedback-based control method, the system can accurately match the cooling requirements under different operating conditions, avoiding over- or under-adjustment. When all heat exchange media reach their respective flow limits but the outlet water temperature is still outside the preset range, the system triggers an alarm, reminding maintenance personnel to check the equipment status or system load. This control principle, through a multi-media collaborative step-by-step adjustment mechanism, ensures the accuracy of temperature control while avoiding the limitations of single-media adjustment. Simultaneously, the step-by-step feedback ensures that each adjustment is based on real-time temperature data, effectively improving the cooling tower's adaptability and operational stability under different load conditions.

[0034] In some optional implementations, the preset graded adjustment sequence includes: when the outlet water temperature is higher than the upper limit of the preset temperature range, the hot water flow rate into the tower is adjusted first, and then the cooling air flow rate is adjusted; when the outlet water temperature is lower than the lower limit of the preset temperature range, the cooling air flow rate is adjusted first, and then the hot water flow rate into the tower is adjusted.

[0035] Specifically, when the outlet water temperature exceeds the upper limit of the preset temperature range, the adjustment process includes: (1) Determine whether the hot water flow rate entering the tower has reached its own maximum flow rate limit.

[0036] (2) If the hot water flow rate into the tower does not reach its own maximum flow rate limit, then increase the hot water flow rate into the tower and return to the step of "real-time acquisition of the outlet water temperature of the cooling tower".

[0037] (3) If the hot water flow rate into the tower has reached its own maximum flow rate limit, then determine whether the cooling air flow rate has reached its own maximum flow rate limit.

[0038] (4) If the cooling airflow does not reach its maximum flow limit, increase the cooling airflow and return to the step of "real-time acquisition of cooling tower outlet water temperature".

[0039] refer to Figure 2 The flow rate of hot water entering the cooling tower is adjusted by regulating the opening of the three-way valve at the inlet of the cooling tower, and the flow rate of cooling air entering the cooling tower is adjusted by regulating the speed of the fan installed in the cooling tower. When the outlet water temperature is higher than the upper limit of the preset temperature range, it is first determined whether the flow rate of hot water entering the tower has reached its own maximum flow limit: if it has not reached the maximum limit, the three-way valve is adjusted to increase the flow rate of hot water entering the tower, thereby enhancing the heat exchange effect. After the adjustment is completed, the process returns to step S1. If the flow rate of hot water entering the tower has reached the maximum limit, it is further determined whether the flow rate of cooling air has reached its own maximum flow limit: if it has not reached the maximum limit, the fan frequency converter is adjusted to increase the cooling air volume, thereby further reducing the outlet water temperature by enhancing the air-cooled heat exchange capacity. After the adjustment is completed, the process returns to step S1.

[0040] It should be noted that this adjustment process involves a tiered adjustment sequence: first, adjusting the three-way valve to increase the inlet water flow, and then adjusting the fan frequency converter to increase the cooling airflow. When the inlet hot water flow has not reached its upper limit, the rapid response characteristic of water flow regulation is prioritized. Once the inlet hot water flow reaches its limit, the system automatically switches to cooling airflow regulation. By utilizing the fast response of the inlet hot water flow, the system can quickly reduce the outlet water temperature, ensuring the cooling effect under high-temperature conditions and ensuring that the system has sufficient cooling capacity under high-temperature conditions until the outlet water temperature returns to the preset range.

[0041] Specifically, when the outlet water temperature is lower than the lower limit of the preset temperature range, the adjustment process includes: (1) Determine whether the cooling airflow has reached its own minimum flow limit.

[0042] (2) If the cooling airflow does not reach its own minimum flow limit, reduce the cooling airflow and return to the step of "real-time acquisition of cooling tower outlet water temperature".

[0043] (3) If the cooling air flow rate has reached its own minimum flow rate limit, then determine whether the hot water flow rate entering the tower has reached its own minimum flow rate limit.

[0044] (4) If the hot water flow rate into the tower does not reach its own minimum flow rate limit, then reduce the hot water flow rate into the tower and return to the step of "real-time acquisition of the outlet water temperature of the cooling tower".

[0045] refer to Figure 2 When the outlet water temperature is lower than the lower limit of the preset temperature range, first determine whether the cooling airflow has reached its own minimum flow limit: if it has not reached the minimum limit, adjust the fan frequency converter to reduce the cooling airflow, thereby reducing the air-cooled heat exchange capacity to raise the outlet water temperature. After adjustment, return to step S1. If the cooling airflow has reached the minimum limit, further determine whether the hot water flow into the tower has reached its own minimum flow limit: if it has not reached the minimum limit, adjust the three-way valve to reduce the hot water flow into the tower, thereby reducing the amount of hot water entering the cooling tower to further weaken the cooling effect. After adjustment, return to step S1.

[0046] It should be noted that this adjustment process involves a tiered adjustment sequence: first, adjusting the fan frequency converter to reduce the cooling airflow, and then adjusting the three-way valve to reduce the inlet water flow. When the cooling airflow has not reached the lower limit, energy-saving operation is achieved by prioritizing the reduction of fan energy consumption. Once the cooling airflow reaches the limit, the system automatically switches to adjusting the inlet hot water flow. Since the fan is the main energy-consuming component, prioritizing the reduction of cooling airflow can directly reduce fan energy consumption and achieve energy-saving operation. At the same time, it avoids the risk of pipe freezing due to excessively low outlet water temperature, ensuring that the system has sufficient adjustment capability under low-temperature conditions until the outlet water temperature returns to the preset range.

[0047] Optionally, the alarm prompts include high temperature alarms and low temperature alarms. The process of triggering the alarm prompts includes: triggering a high temperature alarm when both the inlet hot water flow rate and the cooling air flow rate reach their respective maximum flow rate limits, and the outlet water temperature is still higher than the upper limit of the preset temperature range; and triggering a low temperature alarm when both the inlet hot water flow rate and the cooling air flow rate reach their respective minimum flow rate limits, and the outlet water temperature is still lower than the lower limit of the preset temperature range.

[0048] This embodiment provides a cooling tower, such as Figure 3 As shown, it includes: cooling tower body 1, fan 2, regulating valve 3, and monitoring module 4 (i.e., including...). Figure 3The system includes an inlet water thermometer 41, an inlet water flow meter 42, an outlet water thermometer 43, and an outlet water flow meter 44, and a controller 5. The controller 5 is communicatively connected to the fan 2, the regulating valve 3, and the monitoring module 4. The controller 5 is used to execute the methods described in the above embodiments or any corresponding implementation methods. The fan 2 is located above the cooling tower body 1 and is used to adjust its own speed based on the adjustment signal from the controller 5 to change the cooling airflow through the cooling tower body 1. The regulating valve 3 is located on the inlet water pipe of the cooling tower body 1 and is used to adjust its own opening based on the adjustment signal from the controller 5 to change the inlet hot water flow into the cooling tower body 1. The monitoring module 4 is used to collect the water temperature and water flow in the inlet and outlet water pipes of the cooling tower body 1.

[0049] Figure 3 The monitoring module includes: inlet water thermometer 41, inlet water flow meter 42, outlet water thermometer 43 and outlet water flow meter 44. Inlet water thermometer 41 and inlet water flow meter 42 are both installed on the inlet water pipe of the cooling tower body 1; outlet water thermometer 43 and outlet water flow meter 44 are both installed on the outlet water pipe of the cooling tower body 1.

[0050] Specifically, controller 5 executes the aforementioned graded adjustment method based on the received data. When the outlet water temperature deviates from the preset temperature range, it generates corresponding control signals according to the preset graded adjustment sequence: When enhanced cooling is needed, it prioritizes sending an adjustment signal to regulating valve 3 to increase the opening, thereby increasing the flow rate of hot water into the cooling tower body 1 and rapidly cooling the water by utilizing the fast response of the water flow; if the opening of regulating valve 3 has reached the upper limit but the temperature is still not up to standard, it sends an adjustment signal to fan 2 to increase the speed, thereby increasing the cooling airflow through the cooling tower body 1 and further enhancing the cooling effect. When reduced cooling is needed, it prioritizes sending an adjustment signal to fan 2 to decrease the speed, thereby reducing the cooling airflow for energy-saving operation; if the speed of fan 2 has reached the lower limit but the temperature is still too low, it sends an adjustment signal to regulating valve 3 to decrease the opening, thereby reducing the flow rate of hot water into the tower. After each adjustment, controller 5 re-acquires the outlet water temperature collected by monitoring module 4 for judgment, forming a closed-loop control until the outlet water temperature (i.e., the cold water temperature) stabilizes within the preset temperature range.

[0051] Optionally, Figure 3 In this structure, regulating valve 3 is a three-way valve, with its first port connected to the water source pipeline, its second port connected to the water inlet pipeline of the cooling tower body 1, and its third port connected to the bypass pipeline. The cooling tower also includes a cooling tower water collection basin 6, wherein the water inlet of the cooling tower water collection basin 6 is connected to the third port of regulating valve 3 through a bypass pipeline.

[0052] Figure 3In this system, the water flow ratio from the source water pipeline to the inlet pipe and bypass pipe of the cooling tower body 1 is controlled by adjusting the opening of the regulating valve. When enhanced cooling is needed, the regulating valve increases the water flow to the inlet pipe of the cooling tower body 1, allowing more hot water to enter the cooling tower for heat exchange and lowering the outlet water temperature. When reduced cooling is needed, the regulating valve decreases the water flow to the inlet pipe of the cooling tower body 1, allowing some hot water to bypass the heat exchange process of the cooling tower and mix directly with the cold water output from the cooling tower body 1 in the collection basin 6, thereby increasing the final water temperature entering the water supply system. Through this combination of a three-way valve and bypass pipe, the system can flexibly adjust the actual amount of hot water entering the cooling tower for heat exchange without changing the total water supply, achieving precise control of cooling capacity.

[0053] The cooling tower provided in this embodiment combines a control method with a specific actuator. It can automatically adjust the flow rates of cooling air and hot water entering the tower based on changes in the outlet water temperature, stabilizing the outlet water temperature within a preset range. Simultaneously, real-time data acquisition from the monitoring module provides a basis for control decisions. The controller dynamically adjusts the operating status of the actuator based on the feedback data, ensuring the accuracy and timeliness of temperature control. Furthermore, under high-temperature conditions, this cooling tower prioritizes adjusting the flow rate of hot water entering the tower for rapid cooling, while under low-temperature conditions, it prioritizes adjusting the flow rate of cooling air to reduce energy consumption, thus reducing operating costs while ensuring cooling effectiveness.

[0054] This embodiment provides a cooling tower system, such as Figure 4 As shown, it includes: multiple cooling towers according to the above embodiments or any corresponding implementation methods, and a host computer monitoring platform, wherein the controller of each cooling tower is communicatively connected to the host computer monitoring platform; the host computer monitoring platform is used to receive and display the operating data of each cooling tower, and send control commands to each cooling tower.

[0055] Specifically, Figure 4In this system, each cooling tower's controller acts as the central hub, communicating with various sensors such as inlet and outlet water thermometers and flow meters to collect real-time operational data including inlet and outlet water temperatures and flow rates. Simultaneously, it connects to actuators like fan inverters and three-way regulating valves, generating control commands based on the collected data and a preset hierarchical adjustment sequence. This commands adjust the fan inverters to change the cooling airflow and the three-way regulating valve openings to change the inlet water flow. Each cooling tower's controller uploads its operational data to a host computer monitoring platform via a communication network. This platform, acting as the system application layer, uniformly displays, stores, and records data from each tower, allowing maintenance personnel to remotely view the real-time status and historical data of each cooling tower. Furthermore, the monitoring platform can send control commands to each cooling tower based on overall load demand, enabling load distribution and collaborative operation among multiple towers. When a cooling tower reaches its adjustment limit or malfunctions, the monitoring platform can promptly dispatch other cooling towers to supplement cooling capacity, ensuring the continuity and stability of the overall system operation.

[0056] The cooling tower system provided in this embodiment allows each cooling tower's controller to collect its own operating data in real time and upload it to a host computer monitoring platform via a communication network. The monitoring platform displays and stores the received data from multiple towers, enabling maintenance personnel to remotely monitor the operating status of each tower. Simultaneously, the monitoring platform can send control commands to one or more cooling towers based on global load demands or specific control strategies, adjusting the operating parameters of each tower to achieve load distribution and collaborative operation among multiple towers. When a cooling tower malfunctions or reaches its adjustment limit, the monitoring platform can promptly dispatch other cooling towers to supplement cooling capacity, ensuring the continuity and stability of the overall system operation. This cooling tower system combines independent control of each tower with centralized management, improving operational efficiency and reliability in large-scale cooling scenarios.

[0057] This embodiment also provides a control device for a cooling tower, which is used to implement the above embodiments and preferred embodiments; details already described will not be repeated. As used below, the term "module" can refer to a combination of software and / or hardware that performs a predetermined function. Although the device described in the following embodiments is preferably implemented in software, hardware implementation, or a combination of software and hardware, is also possible and contemplated.

[0058] This embodiment provides a control device for a cooling tower, such as... Figure 5 As shown, it includes: The acquisition module 501 is used to acquire the outlet water temperature of the cooling tower in real time.

[0059] The comparison module 502 is used to compare the outlet water temperature with a preset temperature range.

[0060] The adjustment module 503 is used to adjust the flow rate of at least one stage of heat exchange medium according to a preset graded adjustment sequence when the outlet water temperature is outside the preset temperature range, and return to the step of "real-time acquisition of the outlet water temperature of the cooling tower" after each adjustment until the outlet water temperature is within the preset temperature range; wherein, the heat exchange medium includes at least cooling air and hot water entering the tower; the preset graded adjustment sequence is: after the heat exchange medium currently in the adjustment state reaches the flow limit, if the outlet water temperature is still outside the preset temperature range, the flow rate adjustment of the next stage of heat exchange medium is started.

[0061] The alarm module 504 is used to trigger an alarm when all heat exchange media reach their respective flow limits and the outlet water temperature is still outside the preset temperature range.

[0062] The control device for the cooling tower provided in this embodiment of the invention can execute the method provided in any embodiment of the invention, and has the corresponding functional modules and beneficial effects for executing the method. Further functional descriptions of the various modules and units described above are the same as those in the corresponding embodiments described above, and will not be repeated here.

[0063] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0064] The following is a detailed reference. Figure 6 The diagram illustrates a structural schematic suitable for implementing an electronic device according to embodiments of the present invention. The electronic device may include a processor (e.g., a central processing unit, graphics processor, etc.) 001, which can perform various appropriate actions and processes according to a program stored in read-only memory (ROM) 002 or a program loaded from memory 008 into random access memory (RAM) 003. The RAM 003 also stores various programs and data required for the operation of the electronic device. The processor 001, ROM 002, and RAM 003 are interconnected via bus 004. An input / output (I / O) interface 005 is also connected to bus 004.

[0065] Typically, the following devices can be connected to I / O interface 005: input devices 006 including, for example, touchscreens, touchpads, keyboards, mice, cameras, microphones, accelerometers, gyroscopes, etc.; output devices 007 including, for example, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), speakers, vibrators, etc.; memory devices 008 including, for example, magnetic tapes, hard disks, etc.; and communication devices 009. Communication device 009 allows electronic devices to exchange data via wireless or wired communication with other devices. Although Figure 6 Electronic devices with various devices are shown, but it should be understood that it is not required to implement or have all of the devices shown, and more or fewer devices may be implemented or have instead.

[0066] In particular, according to embodiments of the present invention, the processes described above with reference to the flowcharts can be implemented as computer software programs. For example, embodiments of the present invention include a computer program product comprising a computer program carried on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the computer program containing program code for performing the methods shown in the flowcharts. In such embodiments, the computer program can be downloaded and installed from a network via communication device 009, or installed from memory 008, or installed from ROM 002. When the computer program is executed by processor 001, it performs the functions defined in the methods of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0067] Figure 6 The electronic device shown is merely an example and should not be construed as limiting the functionality and scope of use of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0068] This invention also provides a computer-readable storage medium. The methods described above according to embodiments of the invention can be implemented in hardware or firmware, or implemented as computer code that can be recorded on a storage medium, or implemented as computer code downloaded via a network and originally stored on a remote storage medium or a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium and then stored on a local storage medium. Thus, the methods described herein can be processed by software stored on a storage medium using a general-purpose computer, a dedicated processor, or programmable or dedicated hardware. The storage medium can be a magnetic disk, optical disk, read-only memory, random access memory, flash memory, hard disk, or solid-state drive, etc.; further, the storage medium can also include combinations of the above types of memory. It is understood that computers, processors, microprocessor controllers, or programmable hardware include storage components capable of storing or receiving software or computer code, which, when accessed and executed by the computer, processor, or hardware, implements the methods shown in the above embodiments.

[0069] A portion of this invention can be applied as a computer program product, such as computer program instructions, which, when executed by a computer, can invoke or provide the methods and / or technical solutions according to the invention through the operation of the computer. Those skilled in the art will understand that the forms in which computer program instructions exist in a computer-readable medium include, but are not limited to, source files, executable files, installation package files, etc. Correspondingly, the ways in which computer program instructions are executed by a computer include, but are not limited to: the computer directly executing the instructions, or the computer compiling the instructions and then executing the corresponding compiled program, or the computer reading and executing the instructions, or the computer reading and installing the instructions and then executing the corresponding installed program. Here, the computer-readable medium can be any available computer-readable storage medium or communication medium accessible to a computer.

[0070] Although embodiments of the invention have been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and such modifications and variations all fall within the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a cooling tower, characterized in that, The method, applied to a cooling tower comprising at least two stages of heat exchange media, includes: Real-time acquisition of cooling tower outlet water temperature; The outlet water temperature is compared with a preset temperature range; If the outlet water temperature is outside the preset temperature range, adjust the flow rate of at least one stage of heat exchange medium according to the preset graded adjustment sequence, and return to the step of "real-time acquisition of the outlet water temperature of the cooling tower" after each adjustment until the outlet water temperature is within the preset temperature range; wherein, the heat exchange medium includes at least cooling air and hot water entering the tower; the preset graded adjustment sequence is as follows: after the heat exchange medium currently in the adjustment state reaches the flow limit, if the outlet water temperature is still outside the preset temperature range, then start the flow rate adjustment of the next stage of heat exchange medium; An alarm is triggered when all the heat exchange media reach their respective flow limits and the outlet water temperature is still outside the preset temperature range.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The preset hierarchical adjustment sequence includes: When the outlet water temperature is higher than the upper limit of the preset temperature range, the hot water flow rate into the tower is adjusted first, and then the cooling air flow rate is adjusted. When the outlet water temperature is lower than the lower limit of the preset temperature range, the cooling air flow rate is adjusted first, and then the hot water flow rate into the tower is adjusted.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, When the outlet water temperature is higher than the upper limit of the preset temperature range, the process of adjusting the flow rate of at least one stage of the heat exchange medium according to a preset graded adjustment sequence, and returning to the step of "real-time acquisition of the outlet water temperature of the cooling tower" after each adjustment, until the outlet water temperature is within the preset temperature range, includes: Determine whether the inlet hot water flow rate has reached its maximum flow limit. If the hot water flow rate into the cooling tower does not reach its maximum flow rate limit, increase the hot water flow rate into the cooling tower and return to the "Real-time acquisition of cooling tower outlet water temperature" step. If the hot water flow rate into the tower has reached its own maximum flow rate limit, then determine whether the cooling air flow rate has reached its own maximum flow rate limit. If the cooling airflow does not reach its maximum limit, increase the cooling airflow and return to the "Real-time acquisition of cooling tower outlet water temperature" step.

4. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, When the outlet water temperature is lower than the lower limit of the preset temperature range, the process of adjusting the flow rate of at least one stage of the heat exchange medium according to a preset graded adjustment sequence, and returning to the step of "real-time acquisition of the outlet water temperature of the cooling tower" after each adjustment, until the outlet water temperature is within the preset temperature range, includes: Determine whether the cooling airflow has reached its minimum flow limit; If the cooling airflow does not reach its minimum flow limit, reduce the cooling airflow and return to the "Real-time acquisition of cooling tower outlet water temperature" step. If the cooling airflow has reached its own minimum flow limit, then determine whether the hot water flow into the tower has reached its own minimum flow limit. If the hot water flow rate into the cooling tower does not reach its minimum flow rate limit, reduce the hot water flow rate into the cooling tower and return to the "Real-time acquisition of cooling tower outlet water temperature" step.

5. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The alarm notifications include high temperature alarms and low temperature alarms, and the process of triggering the alarm notifications includes: When the inlet hot water flow rate and the cooling air flow rate both reach their respective maximum flow limits, and the outlet water temperature is still higher than the upper limit of the preset temperature range, a high temperature alarm is triggered. When the inlet hot water flow rate and the cooling air flow rate both reach their respective minimum flow limits, and the outlet water temperature is still lower than the lower limit of the preset temperature range, a low temperature alarm is triggered.

6. A cooling tower, characterized in that, include: The cooling tower body, fan, regulating valve, monitoring module, and controller, among which, The controller is communicatively connected to the fan, the regulating valve and the monitoring module, and the controller is used to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5; The fan is positioned above the cooling tower body and is used to adjust its own speed based on the adjustment signal of the controller, so as to change the cooling airflow through the cooling tower body. The regulating valve is installed on the water inlet pipe of the cooling tower body and is used to adjust its opening degree based on the regulating signal of the controller to change the flow rate of hot water flowing into the cooling tower body. The monitoring module is used to collect the water temperature and flow rate in the inlet and outlet pipes of the cooling tower body.

7. The cooling tower according to claim 6, characterized in that, The monitoring module includes: an inlet water thermometer, an inlet water flow meter, an outlet water thermometer, and an outlet water flow meter, wherein, Both the inlet water thermometer and the inlet water flow meter are installed on the inlet water pipe of the cooling tower body; Both the outlet water thermometer and the outlet water flow meter are installed on the outlet water pipe of the cooling tower body.

8. The cooling tower according to claim 6, characterized in that, The regulating valve is a three-way valve, with its first port connected to the water source pipeline, its second port connected to the water inlet pipeline of the cooling tower body, and its third port connected to the bypass pipeline.

9. The cooling tower according to claim 8, characterized in that, The cooling tower further includes: a cooling tower water collection basin, wherein... The inlet of the cooling tower water collection basin is connected to the third interface of the regulating valve through the bypass pipe.

10. A cooling tower system, characterized in that, include: The cooling tower and the host computer monitoring platform according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein, The controllers of each cooling tower are all connected to the host computer monitoring platform. The host computer monitoring platform is used to receive and display the operating data of each cooling tower, and send control commands to each cooling tower.

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