Vertical heat pipe combined counterflow closed cooling tower

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of cooling tower, specifically to a vertical heat pipe composite counterflow closed cooling tower, the tower body, the top of the tower body is provided with an air outlet, the air outlet position is provided with a fan, the bottom of the tower body is provided with a plurality of air inlets on the outer side wall; the lower side of the fan is provided with a water collector; the lower side of the water collector is provided with a spray water system, the spray water system comprises a spray water pipe and a plurality of spray heads which are evenly distributed on the spray water pipe; the lower side of the spray water system is provided with a cooler assembly, the cooler assembly comprises a plurality of parallel cooler coils; a plurality of heat pipes are vertically arranged in the gap between the cooler assembly and the inner side wall of the tower body; by introducing heat pipes and optimizing the spatial layout, a new system with internal energy intelligent management capability is created, which successfully integrates three functions of waste heat recycling, air state active optimization and full passive safety anti-freezing, and has the advantages of low energy consumption, strong applicability and stable operation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of cooling towers, specifically a vertical heat pipe composite counter-flow closed-loop cooling tower. Background Technology

[0002] Evaporative cooling towers, widely used in industrial and building applications, primarily cool process circulating water through direct or indirect heat exchange between water and air. Closed-circuit cooling towers, in particular, are widely adopted in demanding applications due to their advantages such as clean process water, low water consumption, and environmental friendliness. However, traditional closed-circuit cooling towers still face a series of technical bottlenecks and limitations in practical applications: Insufficient climate adaptability: In dry regions, although dry air is conducive to evaporative cooling, conventional closed cooling towers often have lower cooling efficiency than open towers due to their indirect heat exchange structure, making it difficult to fully utilize the cooling potential of dry air; while in high humidity regions, the evaporative driving force of humid air is weak, resulting in a significant decrease in cooling efficiency.

[0003] In cold regions, freeze protection relies on external measures. Existing closed-circuit cooling towers mainly rely on active intervention methods to prevent freezes in low-temperature environments, such as starting and stopping power tracing, adding chemical antifreeze agents such as ethylene glycol, or forcibly maintaining the flow of process water. These methods not only increase operational complexity, energy consumption, and material costs, but may also lead to freezing accidents due to control failures or antifreeze ineffectiveness, affecting system safety and continuous operation.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need for a closed-loop cooling tower technology that can operate efficiently and stably under different climatic conditions, has energy-saving and antifreeze capabilities, and is easy to maintain, in order to overcome the shortcomings of the traditional structure in terms of energy efficiency, adaptability, and reliability.

[0005] Therefore, a vertical heat pipe composite counter-flow closed cooling tower is proposed to address the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In order to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, at least one technical problem raised in the background art is solved.

[0007] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve its technical problem is as follows: A vertical heat pipe composite counterflow closed cooling tower of the present invention includes a tower body, an air outlet is opened at the top of the tower body, a fan is provided at the air outlet, and multiple air inlets are provided on the outer side wall at the bottom of the tower body; a water collector is provided below the fan; a spray water system is provided below the water collector, and the spray water system includes a spray water pipe and multiple spray heads evenly distributed on the spray water pipe; The spray water system is equipped with a cooler assembly below it. The cooler assembly includes multiple cooler coils connected in parallel. The water inlet end of the cooler coil is connected to the hot water inlet pipe on the side wall of the tower body, and the water outlet end of the cooler coil is connected to the cold water outlet pipe on the side wall of the tower body. Multiple heat pipes are vertically arranged in the gap between the cooler assembly and the inner wall of the tower. Each heat pipe has metal fins welded to its outer surface. Adjacent heat pipes are spaced apart and arranged in rows. The upper half of each heat pipe overlaps with the cooler coil, and the lower half of each heat pipe is located near the air inlet.

[0008] Preferably, the bottom of the tower body is provided with a water collection tank for collecting the spray water that falls after heat exchange is completed; the water collection tank is provided with a water inlet connected to an external water supply system; The water collection tank is equipped with an overflow outlet, which is located on the side of the water inlet; the bottom of the water collection tank is equipped with a drain outlet.

[0009] Preferably, a spray pump is provided on one side of the water collection tank, with the inlet port of the spray pump connected to the water collection tank and the outlet port of the spray pump connected to the spray water pipe.

[0010] Preferably, the plurality of metal fins on each heat pipe are arranged in a spiral shape, and each metal fin is fan-shaped, with the lower end of the metal fin positioned above the upper end of the metal fin below it.

[0011] Preferably, each metal fin has multiple flow channels on its upper surface, with one side of each flow channel penetrating the edge of the high-end portion of the metal fin and the other side of each flow channel penetrating the edge of the low-end portion of the metal fin.

[0012] Preferably, the water collector is provided in half, with the two halves assembled together at an obtuse angle, and the lower edge of each half of the water collector is located above the gap between the heat pipe and the inner wall of the tower.

[0013] Preferably, each half of the water collector has a row of guide rods on its lower surface. One end of the guide rod extends to the high end of the water collector, and the other end extends to the low end of the water collector. A cone is fixed to the cone, with the tip of the cone pointing downwards and pointing to the gap between the heat pipe and the inner wall of the tower.

[0014] Preferably, a crossbar runs through multiple cones on the same side of the water collector, and the end of the crossbar is fixed to the outer wall of the water collector.

[0015] Preferably, a replacement window is provided on the part of the tower body opposite to the row of heat pipes. A cover plate is installed in the replacement window. Multiple claws for fixing the heat pipes are provided on the inner side wall of the upper half of the cover plate, and an air inlet is provided on the inner side wall of the lower half of the cover plate.

[0016] Preferably, the inner wall of the cover plate is provided with a plurality of vertical reinforcing ribs, and the upper and lower ends of each vertical reinforcing rib protrude from the upper and lower edges of the cover plate, respectively.

[0017] The advantages of this invention are: 1. In this invention, the design of the vertical heat pipe composite counter-flow closed cooling tower is not a simple improvement of the traditional cooling tower, but rather a new system with intelligent internal energy management capabilities created by introducing heat pipes and optimizing their spatial layout. It successfully integrates three major functions: waste heat recovery and utilization, active optimization of air conditions, and fully passive safety antifreeze, and has the advantages of low energy consumption, strong applicability, and stable operation.

[0018] 2. In this invention, a vertical heat pipe composite counter-flow closed cooling tower is designed. Through innovative structural design and the principle of collaborative operation under different working conditions, it has achieved comprehensive and groundbreaking technological progress compared with traditional evaporative cooling towers. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the tower body in this invention; Figure 2 This is a front view of the tower body in this invention; Figure 3 for Figure 2 A cross-sectional view along the AA direction; Figure 4 for Figure 2 Cross-sectional view along the BB direction; Figure 5 This is a front sectional view of the tower body in this invention; Figure 6 This is a perspective view of the metal fins in this invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the arrangement of metal fins on the heat pipe in this invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the top structure of the water collector in this invention; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the bottom structure of the water collector in this invention; Figure 10 This is a side view of the water collector in this invention; Figure 11 This is a perspective view of the fit between the cone and the crossbar in this invention; Figure 12 This is a perspective view of the fit between the cover plate and the tower body in this invention; Figure 13 This is a perspective view of the fit between the cover plate and the heat pipe in this invention; Figure 14 This is a perspective view of the cover plate in this invention.

[0020] In the diagram: 1. Tower body; 2. Fan; 3. Air inlet; 4. Water collector; 5. Spray water pipe; 6. Spray head; 7. Cooler coil; 8. Hot water inlet pipe; 9. Cold water outlet pipe; 10. Heat pipe; 11. Metal fins; 12. Water collection tank; 13. Water inlet; 14. Overflow outlet; 15. Sewage outlet; 16. Spray pump; 17. Guide channel; 18. Guide rod; 19. Conical body; 20. Horizontal bar; 21. Cover plate; 22. Claw; 23. Vertical reinforcing rib. Detailed Implementation

[0021] To make the technical means, creative features, objectives and effects of this invention easier to understand, the invention will be further described below in conjunction with specific embodiments. Example 1

[0022] Reference Figure 1 - Figure 5 A vertical heat pipe composite counter-flow closed-loop cooling tower includes a tower body 1, with an air outlet at the top of the tower body 1 and a fan 2 at the air outlet. Multiple air inlets 3 are located on the outer side wall of the bottom of the tower body 1. A water collector 4 is located below the fan 2. A spray water system is located below the water collector 4, including spray water pipes 5 and multiple spray heads 6 evenly distributed on the spray water pipes 5. A cooler assembly is located below the spray water system, including multiple parallel cooler coils 7. The inlet end of the cooler coils 7 is connected to a hot water inlet pipe 8 on the side wall of the tower body 1, and the outlet end of the cooler coils 7 is connected to a cold water outlet pipe 9 on the side wall of the tower body 1. A vertically arranged [structure / structure] is installed in the gap between the cooler assembly and the inner side wall of the tower body 1. Multiple heat pipes 10 are provided, each with metal fins 11 welded to its outer surface. Adjacent heat pipes 10 are spaced apart and arranged in rows. The upper half of each heat pipe 10 overlaps with the cooler coil 7, and the lower half of each heat pipe 10 is located near the air inlet 3. A water collection tank 12 is provided at the bottom of the tower body 1 to collect the spray water that falls after heat exchange. The water collection tank 12 is provided with a water inlet 13 connected to an external water supply system. An overflow outlet 14 is provided on the water collection tank 12, and the overflow outlet 14 is located on one side of the water inlet 13. A drain outlet 15 is provided at the bottom of the water collection tank 12. A spray pump 16 is provided on one side of the water collection tank 12. The inlet port of the spray pump 16 is connected to the water collection tank 12, and the outlet port of the spray pump 16 is connected to the spray water pipe 5. This equipment is a vertical square counter-flow closed cooling tower 1, which adopts a modular layered integrated design. The tower body 1 is arranged vertically from top to bottom as follows: top fan 2, water collector 4, spray water system, cooler coil 7-vertical heat pipe 10 composite heat exchange zone, air inlet grille, and water collection tank 12. The overall structure is compact and the layout is adapted to the counter-flow heat exchange flow field.

[0023] One or more fans 2 are installed at the top of the tower body 1 to induce airflow. The impeller diameter of the fan 2 is adapted to the air outlet size of the tower body 1. Driven by the fan 2, a stable airflow from bottom to top is formed inside the tower. The water collector 4 is located between the fan 2 and the spray water system and is laid horizontally across the entire cross-section of the tower body 1. Its function is to capture and recover water droplets rising with the hot and humid air, effectively reducing the water consumption of the cooling tower, where the water consumption is droplet loss. Above the core heat exchange zone, there is a spray water system, which includes a spray pump 16, a spray water pipe 5 and evenly distributed spray heads 6. The spray pump 16 transports water from the water collection tank 12 to the top of the tower and sprays it evenly through the spray heads 6, forming a continuous and uniform falling water film on the outer wall of the cooler coil 7 and the outer surface of the vertical heat pipe 10. The composite heat exchange zone of cooler coil 7 and vertical heat pipe 10 is the core heat exchange unit of the equipment. It integrates cooler coil 7 and vertically set heat pipe 10 and is the key structure to achieve closed isolation and enhanced heat exchange of heat pipe 10. Cooler coil 7 is composed of serpentine or parallel cooler coils 7. High-temperature process circulating water flows into the coil from the hot water inlet pipe 8 located on the side wall or top of the tower body 1. After flowing in the cooler coil 7 and releasing heat, it becomes low-temperature water and flows out from the cold water outlet pipe 9, returning to the cooled equipment. The outer wall of the coil is the main sensible heat and latent heat exchange surface. Vertical heat pipes 10 are arranged in an array at intervals and are evenly distributed along the circumference of the tower body 1 in the area between the cooler coil 7 and the tower body 1 wall, forming a compact layout of "tower wall - heat pipes 10 - cooler coil 7". The evaporation section of the heat pipe 10, which is the heat absorption end, is located at the lower part of the tower body 1, near the bottom air inlet 3. An air inlet grille is provided at the air inlet 3 to filter the air. The air inlet 3 allows the evaporation section to be directly exposed to the lowest temperature ambient air entering through the grille, while also being able to fully contact the falling spray water. The condensing end of the heat pipe 10, i.e. the heat dissipation end, extends upward and is located in the gap between the inner side of the tower body 1 wall and the outer side of the cooler coil 7, and is directly below the top spray water system. This position ensures that the condensing end is completely immersed in the spray water curtain that is sprayed evenly from top to bottom, and is also surrounded by the humid air that has been preliminarily heated and flows through the cooler coil 7 from the bottom. The bottom of the tower body 1 is a water collection tank 12, which is used to collect the spray water that falls after heat exchange is completed, and is connected to the spray pump 16 through pipeline to form a spray water circulation loop; the bottom of the water collection tank 12 is also equipped with a water inlet 13, which is connected to the external water supply system and automatically replenishes water in conjunction with the liquid level sensor; the drain outlet 15 is located at the lowest point of the tank and regularly discharges the deposited impurities; the core function of the overflow outlet 14 is to ensure the stability of the liquid level in the water collection pan and the safe operation of the equipment.

[0024] Detailed explanation and working principle of heat pipe 10 assembly: (1) Overview of heat pipe 10: The gravity vertical heat pipe 10 is a high-efficiency passive two-phase heat transfer device. Its core feature is that it uses the phase change (evaporation and condensation) of the working fluid to quickly transfer heat. The condensed liquid working fluid returns to the evaporation section by its own gravity, without the need for additional power or capillary wick structure. Therefore, it has the advantages of strong heat transfer capacity, rapid thermal response, simple structure, reliable operation and maintenance-free operation. The basic structure and composition are as follows: the sealed shell constitutes the body of the heat pipe 10, which is usually a metal round tube (such as copper tube, steel tube, aluminum tube, etc.). The inside is evacuated to a high vacuum state to avoid oxidation of the working fluid or mixing with air, which would affect the phase change efficiency. Phase change working fluid: encapsulated in a tube shell, selected according to the operating temperature range, such as refrigerant, ammonia, etc.; the working fluid has a lower boiling point under low pressure and is prone to phase change; Evaporation section and condensation section: Based on the installation position and function of heat pipe 10 in the tower, the lower part is the evaporation section (heat absorption section) and the upper part is the condensation section (heat release section). In pure heat pipe 10, there is usually no need to install complex capillary wicks on the inner wall of the tube shell. Metal fins 11: Metal fins 11 are welded on the evaporation section and the condensation section. The surface of the fins is sprayed with a hydrophilic coating to increase the heat exchange area to enhance heat exchange and ensure the continuity of the spray water film. The core working principle of the cooling tower is the innovative integration of indirect evaporative cooling and the phase change heat transfer mechanism of heat pipe 10. The medium to be cooled and the evaporative cooling medium (circulating water, air) are completely isolated through solid heat exchange surfaces (the walls of cooler coil 7 and heat pipe 10), and do not come into direct contact. Cooling is achieved solely through sensible heat exchange and latent heat transfer, while the efficient phase change heat transfer of heat pipe 10 amplifies the effect of indirect evaporative cooling. The following is a detailed explanation of the complete workflow in stages: (I) Working principle under high temperature conditions (when the ambient temperature is high): Based on the "air drying empowerment" enhanced cooling mode of waste heat recovery, the spray system is turned on under high temperature conditions. This invention innovatively realizes the recovery and reuse of waste heat through the heat pipe 10, and actively modifies the air intake state, thereby achieving enhanced cooling in the main heat exchange zone that surpasses that of traditional cooling towers. Its working principle and process are as follows: 1. Initial state and thermodynamic basis of the system: Ambient air enters the tower body 1 from the bottom air inlet grille as the cooling medium. The high-temperature process water to be cooled circulates in the closed cooler coil 7. Spray water is sprayed down from the top of the tower body 1. The key is that the spray return water falling from the coil area to the bottom of the tower body 1, as well as the humid and hot air sinking from the coil heat exchange area, serve as heat carriers inside the system, and their temperatures are significantly higher than the temperature of the original ambient air entering from the air inlet grille. 2. Evaporation section of heat pipe 10—a waste heat recovery unit covering air inlet 3. The evaporation section of heat pipe 10 is horizontally arranged above the air inlet grille, forming a heat exchange interface. Its main source of heat acquisition is the higher temperature spray return water and the sinking humid air, rather than the lower temperature air inlet. In this area, the pipe wall of the evaporation section is first heated by the above-mentioned high temperature medium, so that its surface temperature is higher than the temperature of the air inlet flowing through it. According to the second law of thermodynamics, heat is spontaneously transferred from the high temperature pipe wall to the low temperature air inlet, so that the air inlet is preheated before entering the main heat exchange zone. At the same time, the working fluid inside heat pipe 10 absorbs heat from the higher temperature pipe wall and evaporates. The core of this process is to efficiently intercept and recover the medium and high temperature waste heat that should have been discarded or diluted inside the system, and convert it into effective energy to drive the circulation of heat pipe 10. The preheating of the air inlet is a direct manifestation and incidental effect of this energy recovery process. 3. Heat pipe 10 condensing section—the "drying" transformation station for air state: The working fluid vapor of heat pipe 10, carrying waste heat, rises to the condensing section located above the condensing section of the cooler coil 7. Here, the working fluid condenses and releases the latent heat of phase change. The condensing section is arranged in the preheated air flow channel. Due to the heat release during condensation, its own temperature is higher than the temperature of the air flowing through it. Therefore, heat is continuously transferred from the condensing section to the air, which is subjected to intense sensible heat heating. This heating process reduces the relative humidity of the air under the premise that the absolute moisture content of the air increases only slightly, thereby transforming it into high-temperature dry air. This fundamental change in air state means that the difference between its wet-bulb temperature and dry-bulb temperature (i.e., the evaporation driving force) is enhanced, laying the foundation for its efficient cooling capacity in subsequent stages. 4. Cooler Coil 7 – Explosive Evaporative Cooling and Core Heat Exchange: The modified high-temperature dry air continues to flow upward and encounters the sprayed water film covering the outer wall of the cooler coil 7. At this time, the wet-bulb temperature of the dry air is significantly lower than the water film temperature, and a huge evaporation driving force is formed between the two, driving the water film surface to evaporate violently. The strong evaporative heat absorption effect causes the water film temperature to drop rapidly until it approaches the wet-bulb temperature of the air, thereby achieving deep cooling of the water film. At this time, the temperature of the cooled water film is lower than the temperature of the process water flowing inside the cooler coil 7. Therefore, heat is spontaneously transferred from the high-temperature process water through the wall of the cooler coil 7 to the low-temperature water film, thereby achieving efficient cooling of the process water. 5. Waste heat circulation and system closed loop: After the core heat exchange is completed, the spray water that has absorbed heat and increased in temperature falls down, while the air becomes a high temperature and high humidity state and is discharged by the fan 2. The water droplets and some of the residual heat carried in the humid air still have a higher temperature than the newly entered ambient air when they reach the bottom of the tower body 1, so they can be recycled and reused by the evaporation section of the heat pipe 10. This forms an efficient and self-driven waste heat recovery and reuse closed loop in the whole system. The working principle of this high-temperature operation reveals its core advantage: it transforms the "waste heat" that is difficult to utilize in traditional cooling towers into "useful work" through heat pipe 10, that is, the driving energy used to create dry air. Finally, by utilizing this artificially created dry air in the coil heat exchange zone, it stimulates an evaporative cooling intensity far exceeding that of the conventional system, thereby achieving a significant improvement in the overall energy efficiency and ultimate cooling capacity of the system.

[0025] (II) Working principle of low-temperature antifreeze operation (when the ambient temperature is low and there is a risk of freezing): Under low-temperature conditions, the spray system is shut down and the system switches to a pure dry (sensible heat) operation mode. The core task of this invention is to establish a passive, efficient, and zero-energy-consumption "anti-freeze heat dissipation channel" using the heat pipe 10 in this mode, fundamentally preventing the cooling coil 7 and its internal process water from freezing. The key to its successful operation lies in the stable operating temperature difference created and maintained by the unique layout of "the evaporation section facing the cold air at the bottom" and "the condensation section contacting the relatively warm area at the top". 1. System status and antifreeze challenges: When the ambient temperature drops to near or below freezing point, the spray system is shut off to prevent water flow from freezing. At this time, cooling relies solely on the sensible heat exchange between the low-temperature ambient air and the cooler coil 7. The residual heat continuously released by the low-temperature process water flowing in the cooler coil 7 keeps the temperature of itself and its surrounding area (defined as the "risk zone") above freezing point, but still close to freezing point. The core challenge is to prevent the temperature of this "risk zone" from dropping below freezing point as it continues to dissipate heat to a colder environment. 2. Activation and operation of the antifreeze mechanism of heat pipe 10: Through its specific spatial layout and physical characteristics, heat pipe 10 achieves fully passive antifreeze. The evaporation section, as the "cold energy sensing and heat collection end", covers the air inlet grille and is completely exposed to the low-temperature airflow. Although the initial temperature of its metal body is close to the temperature of the cold air, its temperature is rapidly raised to a level significantly higher than the air inlet temperature due to its close coupling with the higher-temperature "risk zone" above through heat conduction, natural convection and radiation. As a result, a stable temperature difference is formed between the surface of the evaporation section and the flowing cold air. According to the laws of thermodynamics, heat is spontaneously transferred from the higher-temperature evaporation section pipe wall to the lower-temperature air inlet, causing the low-boiling-point working fluid inside the pipe to absorb heat and evaporate. The antifreeze cycle of heat pipe 10 is thus passively activated by a small temperature difference without any external energy or control signal. The condensation section serves as the "heat release and temperature anchoring point." The condensation section of heat pipe 10 is located in the upper part of tower body 1, close to the cooler coil 7 area. Under low-temperature conditions, this area is closer to the internal heat source of cooler coil 7, and its temperature is higher than that of the bottom air inlet area, but it is still within the safe range that needs to be maintained. The working fluid vapor rising from the evaporation section encounters the relatively low temperature of the condensation section pipe wall (its ambient temperature is lower than the vapor temperature) here, thereby releasing the latent heat of vaporization and condensing into liquid. The released heat is absorbed by the surrounding air. This process is equivalent to setting up an additional passive heat dissipation surface near cooler coil 7, which helps to maintain the temperature of this area and ensures that the phase change cycle of heat pipe 10 can continue. The working fluid reflux and circulation are maintained. The condensed liquid working fluid relies entirely on gravity to flow back to the bottom evaporation section along the wall of heat pipe 10, completing a closed, unpowered phase change heat transfer cycle. As long as there is a positive temperature difference between the evaporation section and the air inlet, and between the working fluid vapor and the condensation section environment, the cycle will continue to operate stably. 3. Overall Anti-freeze Logic and Technical Effectiveness: The entire anti-freeze process achieves intelligent control of the temperature field in key areas within the tower, actively extracting heat. The evaporation section, acting as a "cold index," continuously extracts heat from the "risk zone" thermally connected to it, effectively preventing the continuous temperature drop caused by heat dissipation into the cold environment. Highly efficient heat transfer and dissipation: the extracted heat is rapidly transported to the condensation section for release through the working fluid phase change, increasing the system's internal heat dissipation path and efficiency. Dynamic temperature locking and safety assurance: the above processes prevent the "risk zone" (especially the bottom and surrounding area of ​​cooler coil 7) from continuously cooling down, dynamically locking its temperature at a safe equilibrium temperature above the freezing point. This ensures that the metal wall temperature of cooler coil 7 remains above 0°C, thus, according to heat transfer principles, the temperature of the process water flowing inside must also be above the freezing point, reducing the risk of freezing. Under low-temperature conditions, the unique layout and fully passive working mode of heat pipe 10 achieve the purpose of active and passive antifreeze. It does not require electric heat tracing, antifreeze, or continuous low flow operation. It constructs an antifreeze protection system with advanced intervention, absolute reliability, and zero operating cost based solely on physical principles. This is especially suitable for the year-round safe operation needs of the frigid regions of northern my country and solves the long-standing problem of winter operation of traditional closed cooling towers. Through the aforementioned innovative structural design and the principle of collaborative operation under different working conditions, the vertical heat pipe 10 composite counter-flow closed-loop cooling tower of this invention represents a technological advancement compared to traditional evaporative cooling towers (including open-loop and conventional closed-loop cooling towers). Its beneficial effects are specifically reflected in the following multiple dimensions: 1. Geographical adaptability expansion, in arid regions such as the Northwest. While traditional open cooling towers have high evaporative cooling efficiency due to dry air, they have inherent disadvantages such as easy pollution of circulating water, scaling, large drift losses, and high water consumption. Although conventional closed cooling towers ensure water quality, their indirect evaporative cooling efficiency is usually lower than that of open towers under the same conditions. This invention perfectly combines the advantages of both: by recovering waste heat through the heat pipe 10 system and extremely drying the incoming air, the indirect evaporative cooling intensity of the coil area is stimulated in the dry air to a level close to or even exceeding that of direct cooling in open towers, while ensuring the absolute cleanliness and low loss of the process water system. In coastal and southern regions with high humidity, the efficiency of traditional evaporative cooling towers is greatly reduced due to high air humidity. The "air drying empowerment" mechanism of the heat pipe 10 of this invention can actively reduce the relative humidity of the air entering the coil area, weaken the adverse effects of high humidity environment on cooling efficiency, and thus maintain excellent and stable cooling performance in humid areas. In the frigid northern regions, traditional evaporative cooling towers face a serious risk of freezing in winter and require additional protection. The heat pipe 10 of this invention has an autonomous antifreeze mode that provides low-energy and reliable antifreeze protection, alleviating the problem of safe operation of equipment in the cold season. 2. Improvement in overall energy efficiency Under high-temperature conditions, this invention recovers the waste spray return water and medium-low temperature heat energy from the humid air in traditional systems and converts it into effective energy to enhance the driving force of evaporative cooling. This achieves gradient utilization of energy and internal system circulation, resulting in significantly better heat dissipation capacity (or energy consumption under the same heat dissipation requirements) than traditional closed-circuit cooling towers under the same input power consumption, and a substantial improvement in the comprehensive energy efficiency ratio (COP). Energy consumption is optimized throughout the year; during transitional seasons, its high efficiency reduces the high-frequency operation time of fans and pumps; in winter, there is zero energy consumption under antifreeze conditions, making the energy-saving effect even more significant over the entire year; water conservation and environmental protection are achieved by reducing evaporative water consumption, theoretically reducing the amount of evaporation required to complete the same cooling task due to improved heat exchange efficiency; drift loss is reduced, with the closed design combined with a high-efficiency water collector essentially eliminating water droplet drift; and antifreeze contamination is eliminated, with the passive physical antifreeze mechanism completely replacing the use of antifreeze such as ethylene glycol, avoiding potential chemical leakage pollution and subsequent treatment issues, demonstrating outstanding environmental friendliness. 4. Enhanced system reliability, maintainability, and lifespan. (1) The lifespan of core components is extended. The closed-loop system eliminates the blockage of debris and contact with corrosive media, protecting valuable process equipment (such as the main heat exchanger). For heat exchange components, the heat pipe 10 shares the heat load of the cooler coil 7, reducing its average operating temperature and thermal stress, and slowing down the scaling and corrosion rate on the outer wall of the cooler coil 7. The heat pipe 10 itself has no moving parts and has an extremely long service life. (2) Stable and reliable operation. Heat pipe 10 does not require external control, responds quickly, and has strong adaptability to operating conditions, reducing system fluctuations or protective shutdowns caused by sudden environmental changes. (3) Reduced maintenance costs, no need to maintain the antifreeze system, maintenance-free heat pipe 10, and water treatment costs of closed system are much lower than those of open system, which greatly reduces the maintenance complexity and cost throughout the entire life cycle; 5. Advantages in space utilization and system integration The system enhances the three major functions of heat exchange, waste heat recovery, and active antifreeze. It is highly integrated into the standard tower structure through the vertical heat pipe array 10, without increasing the floor space, demonstrating extremely high space utilization and design integration. In summary, this invention is not a simple improvement on a traditional cooling tower, but rather a revolutionary spatial layout that introduces heat pipe 10 to create a new system with intelligent internal energy management capabilities. It successfully integrates three major functions: waste heat recovery and utilization, active optimization of air conditions, and fully passive safety antifreeze, and has the advantages of low energy consumption, strong applicability, and stable operation. Example 2

[0026] Reference Figure 6 and Figure 7 Compared with Embodiment 1, as another embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of metal fins 11 on each heat pipe 10 are arranged in a spiral shape, and each metal fin 11 is fan-shaped, with the lower end of the metal fin 11 positioned above the upper end of the metal fin 11 below it. Compared with the traditional annular metal fins 11, the shape of each metal fin 11 designed in this embodiment 2, as well as its arrangement on the surface of the heat pipe 10, can increase the heat exchange surface of the heat pipe 10. There is partial overlap between multiple metal fins 11 at the same height on each heat pipe 10, and the area of ​​the overlapping part is larger than that of the traditional metal fins 11, which improves the heat exchange effect and efficiency of the heat pipe 10. Multiple flow channels 17 are formed on the upper surface of each metal fin 11. One side of each flow channel 17 extends through the edge of the high-end portion of the metal fin 11, and the other side extends through the edge of the low-end portion of the metal fin 11. The core heat exchange of the heat pipe 10 (especially the condenser section) relies on the formation of a continuous, uniform, and sufficient water film on its surface by sprayed water. Heat is carried away through water film evaporation and sensible heat exchange with the pipe wall. Traditional smooth or flat fins are prone to causing sprayed water to accumulate and drip, resulting in uneven distribution or the formation of "dry spots," which limits the heat exchange efficiency. However, in this second embodiment, the flow channels 17 provide a structured and pre-defined flow path for the falling sprayed water. The water will preferentially flow along the channels rather than arbitrarily spreading on the fin surface, eliminating "dry spots" and "wet spots." Through the guidance of the channels 17, the heat can be maximized. Even in high-temperature areas (such as near the root of heat pipe 10), a stable water flow coverage can be obtained, avoiding localized high temperatures caused by water film breakage, which would affect the heat transfer performance of heat pipe 10. The water film is homogenized, and the water flows in the channel, making it easier to form a stable and continuous thin water film, increasing the effective wetting area, thereby increasing the effective area for evaporation and sensible heat exchange. The contact time between the water flow and the fins (heat exchange time) is extended. The spiral or inclined guide channel 17 increases the flow path length of the sprayed water on the fin surface. Compared with vertical dripping, the water flow needs to spiral or meander downwards along the tortuous channel, which significantly increases the contact time between the water and the surface of the metal fins 11, allowing the water more time to absorb heat (sensible heat exchange) and evaporate (latent heat exchange), thereby improving the heat exchange of a single water flow and the heat dissipation efficiency of the condenser end of heat pipe 10. Example 3

[0027] Reference Figure 8 - Figure 11 Compared with Embodiment 1, as another embodiment of the present invention, the water collector 4 is provided in half, the two halves of the water collector 4 are assembled together at an obtuse angle, and the lower edge of each half of the water collector 4 is located above the gap between the heat pipe 10 and the inner wall of the tower body 1. The two halves of the water collector 4 are joined together to form an obtuse-angle structure, guiding the water flow to the dripping position. Specifically, hot and humid air rises and adheres to the water collector 4, accumulating into water droplets. The water droplets flow along the inclined direction of the water collector 4, and finally drip from the lower edge of each half of the water collector 4, avoiding the cooling coil 7 and heat pipe 10. If the water droplets drip directly onto the surface of the cooling coil 7, local "dry spots" or areas with too thin a water film will be formed on the surface of the coil. These areas cannot effectively evaporate and dissipate heat, causing the local pipe wall temperature to rise sharply (forming "hot spots"), which seriously reduces the overall heat exchange efficiency. If water droplets fall directly onto the surface of heat pipe 10, they will interfere with the function of heat pipe 10. The function of the condensing section (upper part) is to release the latent heat of condensation of the working fluid into the air in a high-temperature, dry air environment, thereby maintaining the circulation of heat pipe 10. If water droplets of lower temperature fall on it, local cooling will occur. The cold water will instantly lower the temperature of the outer wall of the condensing section of heat pipe 10 in a localized area, weakening the heat release. This directly inhibits the intensity of condensation heat release at that point. It will also disrupt the working fluid circulation. Local overcooling may cause the working fluid vapor to prematurely over-condense at this point, disrupting the uniform flow and phase change equilibrium of the working fluid throughout the entire heat pipe 10, and reducing the overall heat transfer power of heat pipe 10.

[0028] Each half of the water collector 4 has a row of guide rods 18 on its lower surface. One end of the guide rod 18 extends to the high end of the water collector 4, and the other end of the guide rod 18 extends to the low end of the water collector 4. A cone 19 is fixed to the cone 19, with the tip of the cone 19 pointing downwards and pointing to the gap between the heat pipe 10 and the inner wall of the tower body 1. The guide rod 18, acting as a pre-set "track" or "groove," forces the collected water droplets to flow in a designated direction, from the high end to the low end of the water collector 4. The cone 19 is installed at the end of the guide rod 18 with its tip pointing downwards, forming a "drip point." The tip of the cone 19 is precisely positioned, pointing towards the gap between the heat pipe array 10 and the inner wall of the tower body 1. This gap is a non-heat exchange area, from which water can fall directly into the bottom water collection tank 12 without obstruction, completely avoiding the heat pipes 10 and the cooler coil 7 below. At the same time, the guide rod 18 is welded to the lower surface of the frame of the water collector 4 to support the blades inside the water collector 4 and improve the overall strength of the water collector 4.

[0029] A crossbar 20 runs through multiple cones 19 on the same side of the water collector 4. The end of the crossbar 20 is fixed to the outer wall of the water collector 4. The crossbar 20 is used to pass through the cones 19 and fix adjacent cones 19. When the fan 2 is running, the airflow speed is high and the turbulence is strong. The independent guide rods 18 and cones 19 are prone to vibration, swaying or even resonance in the high-speed airflow. The crossbar 20 rigidly connects the cones 19 in the same row into an integral frame, which greatly enhances the structural rigidity of the entire guide system, effectively suppresses vibration, and prevents fatigue fracture or loosening of connections caused by long-term shaking. Example 4

[0030] Reference Figure 12 - Figure 14Compared with Embodiment 1, as another embodiment of the present invention, a replacement window is opened on the part of the tower body 1 opposite to the row of heat pipes 10. A cover plate 21 is installed in the replacement window. Multiple claws 22 for fixing the heat pipes 10 are provided on the inner side wall of the upper part of the cover plate 21, and an air inlet 3 is opened on the inner side wall of the lower part of the cover plate 21. The core function of the detachable cover plate 21 is to realize the convenient installation, maintenance and replacement of the heat pipe 10 module. The heat pipe 10 is the core heat transfer element. Long-term operation may be subject to failure (decrease in vacuum), corrosion or physical damage. In traditional design, replacing the heat pipe 10 often requires large-scale disassembly of the side plate of the tower body 1, which is a large amount of work, time-consuming and costly. Modular quick installation, by opening a replacement window aligned with the arrangement of heat pipes 10 and equipping it with a cover plate 21 with claws 22, the heat pipes 10 are modularized. During maintenance, only the cover plate 21 needs to be opened or removed to inspect, disassemble or install a single heat pipe or the entire row of heat pipes 10.

[0031] The inner wall of the cover plate 21 is provided with multiple vertical reinforcing ribs 23. The upper and lower ends of each vertical reinforcing rib 23 protrude from the upper and lower edges of the cover plate 21, and can be fastened into the replacement window. The vertical reinforcing ribs 23 are like a "keel" for the cover plate 21, which enhances its rigidity against bending and bulging, and prevents the cover plate 21 from deforming, making abnormal noise or fatigue damage under long-term load. The protruding parts at both ends of the reinforcing ribs act as positioning pins or guide rails. During installation, simply align the protruding ends with the upper and lower edges of the replacement window and "fasten" them in, so that the cover plate 21 can automatically and accurately reach the designed position.

[0032] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. Various changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the present invention as claimed. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A vertical heat pipe composite counter-flow closed-loop cooling tower, characterized in that: The system includes a tower body, with an air outlet at the top and a fan at the outlet. Multiple air inlets are located on the outer side wall at the bottom of the tower body. A water collector is located below the fan. A spray water system is located below the water collector. The spray water system includes a spray water pipe and multiple spray heads evenly distributed on the spray water pipe. The spray water system is equipped with a cooler assembly below it. The cooler assembly includes multiple cooler coils connected in parallel. The water inlet end of the cooler coil is connected to the hot water inlet pipe on the side wall of the tower body, and the water outlet end of the cooler coil is connected to the cold water outlet pipe on the side wall of the tower body. Multiple heat pipes are vertically arranged in the gap between the cooler assembly and the inner wall of the tower. Each heat pipe has metal fins welded to its outer surface. Adjacent heat pipes are spaced apart and arranged in rows. The upper half of each heat pipe overlaps with the cooler coil, and the lower half of each heat pipe is located near the air inlet.

2. The vertical heat pipe composite counter-flow closed-loop cooling tower according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the tower is equipped with a water collection tank to collect the spray water that falls after heat exchange; the water collection tank is equipped with a water inlet that connects to an external water supply system. The water collection tank is equipped with an overflow outlet, which is located on the side of the water inlet; the bottom of the water collection tank is equipped with a drain outlet.

3. A vertical heat pipe composite counter-flow closed-loop cooling tower according to claim 2, characterized in that: A spray pump is installed on one side of the water collection tank. The inlet port of the spray pump is connected to the water collection tank, and the outlet port of the spray pump is connected to the spray water pipe.

4. A vertical heat pipe composite counter-flow closed-loop cooling tower according to claim 1, characterized in that: The multiple metal fins on each heat pipe are arranged in a spiral shape, and each metal fin is fan-shaped, with the lower end of the metal fin positioned above the upper end of the metal fin below it.

5. A vertical heat pipe composite counter-flow closed-loop cooling tower according to claim 4, characterized in that: Multiple flow channels are formed on the upper surface of each metal fin. One side of each flow channel extends through the edge of the high-end part of the metal fin, and the other side of each flow channel extends through the edge of the low-end part of the metal fin.

6. A vertical heat pipe composite counter-flow closed-loop cooling tower according to claim 1, characterized in that: The water collector is configured in half, with the two halves assembled together at an obtuse angle, and the lower edge of each half of the water collector is located above the gap between the heat pipe and the inner wall of the tower.

7. A vertical heat pipe composite counter-flow closed-loop cooling tower according to claim 6, characterized in that: Each half of the water collector has a row of guide rods on its lower surface. One end of the guide rod extends to the high end of the water collector, and the other end extends to the low end of the water collector. A cone is fixed to the cone, with the tip of the cone pointing downwards and pointing to the gap between the heat pipe and the inner wall of the tower.

8. A vertical heat pipe composite counter-flow closed-loop cooling tower according to claim 7, characterized in that: A crossbar runs through multiple cones on the same side of the water collector, and the end of the crossbar is fixed to the outer wall of the water collector.

9. A vertical heat pipe composite counter-flow closed-loop cooling tower according to claim 1, characterized in that: Replacement windows are provided on the part of the tower body opposite to the row of heat pipes. A cover plate is installed inside the replacement window. Multiple claws for fixing heat pipes are provided on the inner side wall of the upper half of the cover plate, and an air inlet is provided on the inner side wall of the lower half of the cover plate.

10. A vertical heat pipe composite counter-flow closed-loop cooling tower according to claim 9, characterized in that: The inner wall of the cover plate is provided with multiple vertical reinforcing ribs, and the upper and lower ends of each vertical reinforcing rib protrude from the upper and lower edges of the cover plate, respectively.

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