Cooling tower fan hybrid drive system

Abstract

The utility model discloses a cooling tower fan hybrid drive system relates to control system technical field. Specifically include: the cooling tower body, the tuber, first end is connected in the water collecting pool of cooling tower body bottom, and the second end is connected in the water distribution spare of cooling tower body, the circulating pump is connected in the tuber, is used for with the liquid in the water collecting pool through the tuber and is sent to the water distribution spare, the water turbine is located in the tuber, and can rotate under the drive of liquid in the tuber, is equipped with the transmission shaft on the water turbine, and the one end away from the water turbine on transmission shaft is equipped with the gearbox, and the gearbox is connected in the cooling tower body's radiator fan, to drive radiator fan rotation, and photovoltaic module is connected in the drive motor of fan, and photovoltaic system is used to convert solar energy into electric energy and store, when the power of water turbine is unusual, provides power for radiator fan through the stored electric energy. It is designed to maximize the use of the abundant energy in the cooling water system, while ensuring the stability and reliability of the cooling tower operation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of control system technology, and in particular to a hybrid drive system for cooling tower fans. Background Technology

[0002] Cooling towers, as highly efficient heat exchange devices, are widely used in various fields such as air conditioning and refrigeration, industrial refrigeration, metallurgy, power, and chemical industries. Their main function is to discharge excess heat generated in the system into the atmosphere through heat exchange with the air, thereby reducing the temperature of the process medium and achieving thermal balance in the system. In the context of current energy shortages and industrial energy conservation efforts, energy-saving optimization and operational efficiency improvement of cooling towers have become important directions for industry research and engineering practice.

[0003] In practical applications, common mechanical ventilation cooling towers mostly use electric fans for forced ventilation to improve the heat exchange efficiency between air and cooling water, achieving good cooling results. This traditional method, using electric motors as the power source for the fans, has the advantages of simple control and stable operation. When designing the cooling water circulation system, to ensure stable operation under various extreme conditions, a certain safety margin is usually configured for the cooling tower and water pump. That is, under rated operating conditions, the water pump flow rate, head, and cooling tower heat exchange capacity configured in the system will be higher than the actual average demand. While this design can improve system reliability, it also brings the problem of excess energy during system operation. If not utilized, this excess energy will cause unnecessary energy waste and increased operating costs.

[0004] To fully utilize the surplus energy in the system, some projects have recently explored using water turbines as the power source for cooling tower fans. By converting excess water kinetic energy into mechanical energy, the water turbine drives the cooling tower fans, reducing reliance on electricity and enabling "self-driving" operation of the cooling tower, thus demonstrating significant energy-saving potential. This cooling tower water turbine drive technology, based on the energy recovery concept, improves the overall energy efficiency of the system to a certain extent and represents an effective path for green and energy-saving development.

[0005] However, the normal operation of a water turbine drive system highly depends on a stable and sufficient surplus energy in the cooling water circulation system, specifically, the water pressure and flow rate must be maintained above the set drive thresholds. When the system load decreases or external operating conditions change, causing a drop in circulating water flow, the water turbine output power is insufficient to maintain the normal speed of the fan, thus affecting the heat exchange capacity of the cooling tower and even causing a decrease in equipment cooling efficiency, failing to meet the temperature control requirements of the production process. Furthermore, the water turbine-driven fan has weak speed regulation capability and poor adaptability to load changes, making it difficult to meet the cooling tower's airflow regulation needs under different operating conditions.

[0006] Therefore, how to maximize the utilization of the surplus energy in the cooling water system while ensuring the stability and reliability of the cooling tower operation is a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved in this field. Utility Model Content

[0007] The main purpose of this invention is to provide a hybrid drive system for cooling tower fans, which aims to maximize the utilization of surplus energy in the cooling water system while ensuring the stability and reliability of cooling tower operation.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model proposes a hybrid drive system for a cooling tower fan, comprising:

[0009] Cooling tower body;

[0010] The pipe body has its first end connected to the water collection pool at the bottom of the cooling tower body, and its second end connected to the water distribution component of the cooling tower body.

[0011] A circulating pump, connected to the pipe body, is used to transport liquid in the water collection tank to the water distribution component through the pipe body;

[0012] A water turbine, located within the pipe body, rotates under the influence of the liquid within the pipe. The water turbine has a drive shaft, and a gearbox is located at the end of the drive shaft furthest from the water turbine. The gearbox is connected to a cooling fan in the cooling tower body to drive the cooling fan to rotate.

[0013] A photovoltaic module is connected to the drive motor of the wind turbine. The photovoltaic system is used to convert solar energy into electrical energy and store it. When the power of the water turbine is abnormal, the stored electrical energy provides power to the cooling fan.

[0014] In one embodiment of this application, a first valve is provided on the pipe body, and the first valve is located between the inlet of the circulating pump and the water collection tank.

[0015] In one embodiment of this application, a second valve is provided on the pipe body, and the second valve is located between the outlet of the circulating pump and the water turbine.

[0016] In one embodiment of this application, a temperature sensor for detecting the water temperature in the water collection tank is provided in the water collection tank, and a control unit is provided on the cooling tower body. The control unit adjusts the opening of the second valve according to the detection value of the temperature sensor to change the output power of the water turbine.

[0017] In one embodiment of this application, the pipe body is further covered with a heat exchanger for exchanging heat with the component to be cooled, and the heat exchanger is located between the second valve and the water turbine.

[0018] In one embodiment of this application, the photovoltaic module includes:

[0019] Photovoltaic panels are used to convert solar energy into electrical energy; and

[0020] A battery energy storage unit is connected to the photovoltaic panel and is used to store the electrical energy output by the photovoltaic panel.

[0021] In one embodiment of this application, a third valve is further provided on the pipe body, and the third valve is located between the heat exchanger and the water turbine.

[0022] In one embodiment of this application, the temperature sensor is one of a resistance temperature detector (RTD), a thermocouple, a thermistor, or a semiconductor temperature sensor.

[0023] Using the above technical solution, the water turbine drives the fan based on the kinetic energy of the cooling water, which can fully recover the energy of the circulating water and reduce the overall energy consumption of the system; the photovoltaic modules provide green energy reserves, ensuring the uninterrupted operation of the cooling tower fan when the water turbine fails, thus enhancing the redundancy and stability of the system. Attached Figure Description

[0024] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first embodiment of the present utility model;

[0026] 10. Cooling tower body; 11. Water distribution unit; 12. Water collection tank; 13. Cooling fan; 21. Water turbine; 22. Drive shaft; 23. Gearbox; 31. First valve; 32. Circulation pump; 33. Second valve; 34. Pipe body; 35. Third valve; 40. Heat exchanger; 50. Temperature sensor; 60. Control unit; 71. Photovoltaic panel; 72. Battery energy storage unit; 73. Drive motor. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this utility model clearer, the present utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the following specific embodiments are only used to explain this utility model and do not constitute a limitation on this utility model.

[0028] like Figure 1 As shown, in order to achieve the above objectives, this utility model proposes a hybrid drive system for a cooling tower fan, comprising:

[0029] Cooling tower body 10;

[0030] The pipe body 34 has its first end connected to the water collection pool 12 at the bottom of the cooling tower body 10, and its second end connected to the water distribution component 11 of the cooling tower body 10.

[0031] A circulating pump 32 is connected to the pipe body 34 and is used to transport the liquid in the water collection tank 12 to the water distribution component 11 through the pipe body 34.

[0032] A water turbine 21 is disposed inside the pipe body 34 and can rotate under the influence of the liquid inside the pipe body 34. A drive shaft 22 is provided on the water turbine 21, and a gearbox 23 is provided at one end of the drive shaft 22 away from the water turbine 21. The gearbox 23 is connected to a cooling fan 13 of the cooling tower body 10 to drive the cooling fan 13 to rotate.

[0033] A photovoltaic module is connected to the drive motor 73 of the wind turbine. The photovoltaic system is used to convert solar energy into electrical energy and store it. When the power of the water turbine 21 is abnormal, the stored electrical energy provides power to the cooling fan 13.

[0034] Specifically, the cooling tower fan hybrid drive system includes a cooling tower body 10, a pipe body 34, a circulating pump 32, a water turbine 21, a drive shaft 22, a gearbox 23, a cooling fan 13, photovoltaic modules, and a drive motor 73 for the fan. The cooling tower body 10 has a tower structure with a water collection pool 12 at the bottom and a cooling fan 13 at the top, used to cool the cooling water through air cooling to achieve temperature reduction. The pipe body 34 is a closed pipe structure, with one end connected to the water collection pool 12 at the bottom of the cooling tower body 10 and the other end connected to the water distribution component 11 in the middle of the cooling tower body 10, used to transport the cooling water in the water collection pool 12 to the water distribution component 11 through a circulation path, and then spray it downwards from the water distribution component 11 to complete the heat exchange and cooling process. The circulating pump 32 is mounted on and connected to the pipe body 34. The suction port of the circulating pump 32 is connected to the water collection tank 12, and the outlet of the circulating pump 32 is connected to the middle section of the pipe body 34. The circulating pump 32 is used to provide the power for transporting circulating water, so that the cooling water is drawn from the water collection tank 12 into the pipe body 34 and sent to the water distribution component 11.

[0035] The turbine 21 is installed inside the pipe body 34, located downstream of the outlet of the circulating pump 32. The turbine 21 includes several blades that rotate under the influence of the cooling water flow. A drive shaft 22 is fixedly connected to the turbine 21, extending along the rotation direction of the turbine 21. One end of the drive shaft, away from the turbine 21, exits the pipe body 34 and connects to a gearbox 23. The gearbox 23 is a mechanical speed-changing mechanism, installed outside the cooling tower body 10, and connected to the cooling fan 13 located at the top of the cooling tower body 10 via a coupling. The gearbox 23 adjusts the output speed according to the input speed of the turbine 21, thereby achieving efficient drive of the cooling fan 13. When the cooling water flows through the turbine 21, it drives the turbine 21 to rotate. The turbine 21 drives the cooling fan 13 through the drive shaft 22 and the gearbox 23, achieving fan drive without electrical energy, thus effectively recovering the level or pressure energy of the circulating water.

[0036] The cooling tower fan hybrid drive system also includes photovoltaic (PV) modules. These PV modules are installed on the exterior of the cooling tower body 10 and include solar panels, an inverter, a battery energy storage unit 72, and a control module. The PV modules are connected to the fan drive motor 73 via wires. Under sunlight, the PV modules convert solar energy into direct current (DC) through the solar panels. This DC power is then converted to alternating current (AC) by the inverter and stored in the battery energy storage unit 72. The fan drive motor 73 is electrically connected to the output of the PV modules via the electronic control unit. When the water turbine 21 fails to drive the fan properly due to insufficient water flow, blockage, or other abnormal conditions, the electronic control unit automatically switches the fan drive mode through control logic. The PV modules then output electrical energy to supply the fan drive motor 73, ensuring continuous fan operation and maintaining the stability of the cooling tower system.

[0037] In this cooling tower fan hybrid drive system, the water turbine 21 uses the kinetic energy of the circulating water flow to achieve the primary drive of the cooling fan 13, and the photovoltaic module provides an auxiliary electric drive mode to achieve energy complementary configuration, which not only reduces the traditional power consumption, but also improves the operational reliability and energy utilization efficiency of the cooling system.

[0038] Using the above technical solution, the water turbine 21 realizes the fan drive based on the kinetic energy of cooling water, which can fully recover the energy of circulating water and reduce the overall energy consumption of the system; the photovoltaic module provides green energy reserves, ensuring the uninterrupted operation of the cooling tower fan when the water turbine 21 fails, and enhancing the redundancy and stability of the system.

[0039] In one embodiment of this application, a first valve 31 is provided on the pipe body 34, and the first valve 31 is located between the inlet of the circulating pump 32 and the water collection tank 12.

[0040] Specifically, a first valve 31 is provided on the pipe body 34. The first valve 31 is located on the section of the pipe body 34 between the inlet of the circulating pump 32 and the collection tank 12. The first valve 31 is fixedly installed on the outer wall of this section of the pipe body 34 and communicates with the inner cavity of the pipe body 34. It is used to control the flow rate of liquid from the collection tank 12 into the circulating pump 32. The first valve 31 is connected to the pipe body 34 by a flange or welding to ensure sealing performance and facilitate maintenance. The inlet of the circulating pump 32 is connected to the collection tank 12 through this section of the pipe body 34. The first valve 31 plays a regulating and shut-off role in this flow path. When the first valve 31 is open, the liquid in the collection tank 12 can flow freely into the circulating pump 32, which pressurizes it and continues to deliver it to the subsequent components of the system. When the first valve 31 is closed or partially closed, it can prevent or limit the flow of liquid into the circulating pump 32, avoiding backflow or dry running of liquid when the system is not in operation, and facilitating system inspection and maintenance.

[0041] By adopting the above technical solution, by setting a first valve 31 on the pipe body 34 between the inlet of the circulating pump 32 and the water collection tank 12, the flow rate of the circulating pump 32 can be effectively regulated and controlled, thereby improving the safety and reliability of the system operation.

[0042] In one embodiment of this application, a second valve 33 is provided on the pipe body 34, and the second valve 33 is located between the outlet of the circulating pump 32 and the water turbine 21.

[0043] Specifically, a second valve 33 is provided on the pipe body 34. The second valve 33 is located on the section of the pipe body 34 between the outlet of the circulating pump 32 and the turbine 21. The second valve 33 is fixedly installed on the outer wall of this section of the pipe body 34 and communicates with the inner cavity of the pipe body 34. It is used to regulate or cut off the flow of liquid from the circulating pump 32 to the turbine 21. The second valve 33 is fixed to the pipe body 34 by threaded connection, flange connection, or welding to ensure a firm installation and good sealing performance. The opening and closing state of the second valve 33 directly affects the inlet flow of the turbine 21, thereby indirectly regulating the operating state of the turbine 21. When the second valve 33 is open, the liquid pressurized and output by the circulating pump 32 can flow smoothly into the turbine 21, driving the turbine 21 to rotate. When the second valve 33 is closed or partially open, it can block or restrict the flow of liquid to the turbine 21 for system operation regulation or shutdown maintenance.

[0044] By adopting the above technical solution, a second valve 33 is installed between the outlet of the circulating pump 32 and the turbine 21, which enables precise control of the water intake state of the turbine 21 and improves the system's operational regulation capability and safety.

[0045] In one embodiment of this application, a temperature sensor 50 for detecting the water temperature in the water collection tank 12 is provided in the water collection tank 12, and a control unit 60 is provided on the cooling tower body 10. The control unit 60 adjusts the opening of the second valve 33 according to the detection value of the temperature sensor 50 to change the output power of the water turbine 21.

[0046] Specifically, the water collection tank 12 is equipped with a temperature sensor 50 for detecting the water temperature within the tank. The temperature sensor 50 is installed on the inner wall or bottom of the water collection tank 12, with the sensor probe directly contacting the liquid in the tank to collect water temperature data in real time. The cooling tower body 10 is equipped with a control unit 60, which is connected to the temperature sensor 50 via wires or wireless communication to receive the water temperature readings transmitted by the temperature sensor 50. The control unit 60 contains a processing module and an execution module. The processing module analyzes and judges the received temperature values ​​and generates control commands based on a preset temperature threshold range. The execution module adjusts the opening of the second valve 33 according to the control commands. The second valve 33 and the control unit 60 are mechanically linked through an electric actuator or servo mechanism. When the water temperature is high, the control unit 60 controls the second valve 33 to increase its opening, so that the circulating liquid flows into the water turbine 21 more quickly, increasing the input flow of the water turbine 21 and thus increasing the output power of the water turbine 21. When the water temperature is low, the control unit 60 controls the second valve 33 to decrease its opening, reducing the flow of liquid entering the water turbine 21 and reducing the output power of the water turbine 21, thereby making the fan operation more energy-efficient.

[0047] By adopting the above technical solution, the opening degree of the second valve 33 can be controlled by the linkage between the temperature sensor 50 and the control unit 60, which enables dynamic adjustment of the output power of the water turbine 21 and allows the system to intelligently respond to the operating status according to the water temperature change of the water collection pool 12.

[0048] In one embodiment of this application, the pipe body 34 is further covered and connected with a heat exchanger 40 for exchanging heat with the component to be cooled. The heat exchanger 40 is located between the second valve 33 and the water turbine 21.

[0049] Specifically, a heat exchanger 40 is also attached to the pipe body 34. The heat exchanger 40 is located on the section of the pipe body 34 between the second valve 33 and the turbine 21. The heat exchanger 40 covers this section of the pipe body 34 and is used for heat exchange with the component to be cooled. The heat exchanger 40 can be a shell-and-tube heat exchanger, a plate heat exchanger, or other heat exchange structures suitable for liquid media. Its heat exchange surface forms a heat exchange loop with the component to be cooled. When the circulating liquid passes through the heat exchanger 40, it absorbs heat from the component to be cooled, thereby reducing the temperature of the component and increasing the temperature of the liquid. The liquid after heat exchange continues to flow along the pipe body 34 and enters the turbine 21 to drive its operation. The location of the heat exchanger 40 between the second valve 33 and the turbine 21 ensures that the liquid after heat exchange has sufficient temperature rise to increase its kinetic energy and further improve the driving efficiency of the turbine 21.

[0050] By adopting the above technical solution, by setting a heat exchanger 40 between the second valve 33 and the water turbine 21, the heat of the components to be cooled is absorbed by the liquid before entering the water turbine 21, which effectively improves the overall energy utilization rate of the system.

[0051] In one embodiment of this application, the photovoltaic module includes:

[0052] Photovoltaic panel 71, used to convert solar energy into electrical energy; and

[0053] The battery energy storage unit 72 is connected to the photovoltaic panel 71 and is used to store the electrical energy output by the photovoltaic panel 71.

[0054] Specifically, the photovoltaic module includes a photovoltaic panel 71 and a battery energy storage unit 72. The photovoltaic panel 71 is installed outside or near the cooling tower system and consists of multiple photovoltaic cells, capable of converting received solar energy into direct current (DC) energy through photoelectric conversion. The battery energy storage unit 72 is electrically connected to the photovoltaic panel 71 via wires. The battery energy storage unit 72 contains a battery module for storing the DC energy output by the photovoltaic panel 71. The battery energy storage unit 72 may also include a battery management circuit for monitoring parameters such as battery charging status, voltage, current, and temperature to ensure the safe and stable energy storage process. When the photovoltaic panel 71 is exposed to sunlight, the generated DC power is transmitted to the battery energy storage unit 72 via wires for charging. After reaching its set energy storage capacity, the battery energy storage unit 72 can output electrical energy for system use.

[0055] By adopting the above technical solution, the photovoltaic panel 71 achieves efficient conversion of solar energy, and the battery energy storage unit 72 stores electrical energy, ensuring that the system still has a backup power source when there is no sunlight or the main power fails. It has the advantages of clean energy utilization, strong system operation independence and improved operation continuity.

[0056] In one embodiment of this application, a third valve 35 is also provided on the pipe body 34, and the third valve 35 is located between the heat exchanger 40 and the water turbine 21.

[0057] Specifically, a third valve 35 is also provided on the pipe body 34. The third valve 35 is located on the pipe connection section between the heat exchanger 40 and the turbine 21. The third valve 35 is installed on the outer wall of this connection section and is used to control the flow of liquid between the heat exchanger 40 and the turbine 21. The third valve 35 can be an electric valve, a manual valve, or a pneumatic valve, and can be opened, closed, or adjusted according to the system operation requirements. When the third valve 35 is open, the liquid in the heat exchanger 40 can establish a heat exchange cycle with the turbine 21 to achieve heat transfer; when the third valve 35 is closed, the liquid passage between the heat exchanger 40 and the turbine 21 is cut off, facilitating system maintenance or operation mode switching. The location of the third valve 35 ensures flow control before the liquid enters the turbine 21 and plays a regulating role in the heat exchange process.

[0058] By adopting the above technical solution, and by setting a third valve 35 between the heat exchanger 40 and the water turbine 21, the liquid heat exchange path can be effectively controlled, thereby enhancing the flexibility and safety of system operation.

[0059] In one embodiment of this application, the temperature sensor 50 is one of a resistance temperature detector (RTD) sensor, a thermocouple sensor, a thermistor sensor, or a semiconductor temperature sensor 50.

[0060] Specifically, the temperature sensor 50 is one of a resistance temperature detector (RTD) sensor, a thermocouple sensor, a thermistor sensor, or a semiconductor temperature sensor. The temperature sensor 50 responds to changes in external temperature through a sensing element and converts these temperature changes into an electrical signal output for subsequent temperature data acquisition and processing. The temperature sensor 50 can be a RTD sensor, which measures temperature by utilizing the characteristic that its resistance changes with temperature; or a thermocouple sensor, which reflects temperature changes by the thermoelectric potential generated between the terminals of two different metal conductors; or a thermistor sensor, which detects changes in resistance value at different temperatures using a highly sensitive thermistor material; or a semiconductor temperature sensor, which measures temperature by utilizing the sensitivity of the voltage or current of a semiconductor junction to temperature. The type of temperature sensor 50 is selected based on the specific application scenario and temperature range to achieve high-precision real-time monitoring of the temperature of the target area.

[0061] By adopting the above technical solution, different types of temperature sensors 50 can be flexibly selected according to actual needs, which can improve the system's adaptability and temperature measurement accuracy in various operating environments. It has the advantages of diverse detection methods, fast response, accurate measurement and strong system compatibility.

[0062] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and does not limit the patent scope of the present utility model. All equivalent structural transformations made under the inventive concept of the present utility model using the contents of the present utility model specification and drawings, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A hybrid drive system for a cooling tower fan, characterized in that, include: Cooling tower body; The pipe body has its first end connected to the water collection pool at the bottom of the cooling tower body, and its second end connected to the water distribution component of the cooling tower body. A circulating pump, connected to the pipe body, is used to transport liquid in the water collection tank to the water distribution component through the pipe body; A water turbine is installed inside the pipe and can rotate under the drive of the liquid inside the pipe. The water turbine is equipped with a drive shaft, and a gearbox is installed at the end of the drive shaft away from the water turbine. The gearbox is connected to the cooling fan of the cooling tower body to drive the cooling fan to rotate. as well as A photovoltaic module is connected to the drive motor of the wind turbine. The photovoltaic system is used to convert solar energy into electrical energy and store it. When the power of the water turbine is abnormal, the stored electrical energy provides power to the cooling fan.

2. The cooling tower fan hybrid drive system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The pipe body is equipped with a first valve, which is located between the inlet of the circulating pump and the water collection tank.

3. The cooling tower fan hybrid drive system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The pipe body is equipped with a second valve, which is located between the outlet of the circulating pump and the water turbine.

4. The cooling tower fan hybrid drive system as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The water collection tank is equipped with a temperature sensor for detecting the water temperature in the water collection tank. The cooling tower body is equipped with a control unit. The control unit adjusts the opening of the second valve according to the detection value of the temperature sensor to change the output power of the water turbine.

5. The cooling tower fan hybrid drive system as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The pipe body is also covered with a heat exchanger for exchanging heat with the component to be cooled. The heat exchanger is located between the second valve and the turbine.

6. The cooling tower fan hybrid drive system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The photovoltaic module includes: Photovoltaic panels are used to convert solar energy into electrical energy; and A battery energy storage unit is connected to the photovoltaic panel and is used to store the electrical energy output by the photovoltaic panel.

7. The cooling tower fan hybrid drive system as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The pipe body is also equipped with a third valve, which is located between the heat exchanger and the water turbine.

8. The cooling tower fan hybrid drive system as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The temperature sensor is one of the following: resistance temperature detector (RTD), thermocouple, thermistor, or semiconductor temperature sensor.

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