An intercooling system water supply pipeline
By designing equal-length supply and return water branch pipes, combined with hyperbolic cosine curve axis and interconnected pipe valve structure, the problems of gravity drainage and uneven flow distribution in the water supply pipeline of the indirect cooling tower were solved, achieving stable system operation and isolation of fault sections, and reducing the risk of freezing and corrosion.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- HESHENG POWER (SHANSHAN) CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-08-01
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-23
AI Technical Summary
The existing design of the water supply pipeline of the indirect cooling tower does not fully consider the gravity drainage requirements, which means that the medium in the pipe cannot be completely emptied when the unit is shut down, resulting in the risk of freezing and corrosion. At the same time, uneven flow distribution leads to local overheating.
The system employs a design with equal-length inlet and outlet branch pipes, combined with a hyperbolic cosine curve axis and interconnected pipe valve structure to ensure uniform flow distribution and isolation of faulty sections. Modular redundant control ensures continuous system operation.
It effectively reduces downtime losses, lowers the risk of freezing and corrosion, improves the utilization of finned tube bundles and the uniformity of flow distribution, and ensures that the system does not need to be shut down during maintenance.
Smart Images
Figure CN224398438U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of water circulation technology for intercooling towers, and in particular to a water supply pipeline for an intercooling system. Background Technology
[0002] Indirect air-cooling systems (also known as indirect cooling systems) are crucial cooling equipment for large generator sets, chemical plants, and other applications. Their core function is to efficiently dissipate process heat through indirect heat exchange between air and a cooling medium (usually water). The water supply pipeline system, a key component within the indirect cooling tower, is responsible for transporting high-temperature media (from a hot water source, such as the turbine exhaust condenser) to the heat dissipation unit (finned tube bundle) and then returning the cooled, low-temperature media to the hot water source for recycling.
[0003] Currently, common indirect cooling tower water supply piping systems typically introduce high-temperature media into the tower through an inlet water header, and then distribute the media to various finned tube bundles for heat dissipation. The cooled media, after heat dissipation, is then transported out of the tower through a return water header.
[0004] However, the existing design of the water supply pipeline for indirect cooling systems has certain shortcomings in practice: the routing of the water supply pipeline as it branches off to the periphery of the tower and the return pipeline as it converges to the center of the tower may not be optimized. Furthermore, it fails to adequately consider the need for gravity drainage, resulting in the inability to completely drain the medium from the pipes during shutdown, posing a risk of freezing or corrosion. Utility Model Content
[0005] To address the above issues and overcome the shortcomings of existing technologies, this utility model provides a water supply pipeline for an indirect cooling system. This utility model employs equal-length supply and return branch pipes to form a symmetrical network, eliminating flow distribution deviations. The return branch pipe's axis is a hyperbolic cosine curve, creating a continuous gravity drainage slope to reduce the risk of liquid accumulation and freezing. Modular redundant control is achieved through first and second interconnecting pipes with valves, enabling fault isolation and cross-zone scheduling of the cooling medium, ensuring continuous system operation during maintenance.
[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution:
[0007] This utility model provides a water supply pipe for an indirect cooling system, installed inside an indirect cooling tower, comprising:
[0008] A main water inlet pipe, the inlet end of which is connected to a hot water source;
[0009] The water supply branch pipe extends radially along the indirect cooling tower, with its inlet end connected to the water supply main pipe and its outlet end connected to the inlet end of the finned tube bundle with heat dissipation function.
[0010] The first interconnecting pipe connects at least two of the water supply branch pipes;
[0011] The return water branch pipe converges radially along the indirect cooling tower, and its inlet end is connected to the outlet end of the finned tube bundle.
[0012] The second interconnecting pipe connects at least two of the aforementioned return water branch pipes;
[0013] A return water main pipe, wherein the inlet end of the return water main pipe is sealed and connected to the outlet end of the return water branch pipe;
[0014] in,
[0015] Each of the water supply branch pipes extending from the water supply main pipe to the finned tube bundle has the same length; each of the water return branch pipes extending from the finned tube bundle to the water return main pipe has the same length.
[0016] Furthermore, a valve is installed on the second interconnecting pipe.
[0017] Furthermore, a valve is installed on the first interconnecting pipe.
[0018] Furthermore, the first interconnecting pipes that connect to each adjacent water supply branch pipe have the same length.
[0019] Furthermore, the second interconnecting pipes that connect to each adjacent return water branch pipe have the same length.
[0020] Furthermore, as the return water branch pipe extends from the finned tube bundle toward the inner axis of the indirect cooling tower, its cross-section continuously shifts downward in the vertical plane.
[0021] Furthermore, the return water branch pipe is curved, and its axis is a part of the curve equation y=[exp(x)+exp(-x)] / 2.
[0022] Furthermore, the outer sides of the return water branch pipe, the second interconnecting pipe, and the return water main pipe are provided with heat insulation cotton.
[0023] This utility model has at least the following advantages or beneficial effects:
[0024] This invention incorporates valves on the first and second interconnecting pipes, enabling controllable connectivity between the water supply branch pipes and the return branch pipes. When some finned tube bundles or branch pipes require maintenance, the faulty section can be isolated by closing the corresponding valves, eliminating the need to shut down the entire system and reducing downtime losses to some extent.
[0025] Furthermore, this invention ensures consistent flow resistance in each branch pipe, mitigating to some extent the uneven flow distribution problem caused by differences in branch pipe lengths in traditional designs. It also ensures uniform distribution of the cooling medium to each finned tube bundle, improving the utilization rate of the finned tube bundle and reducing localized overheating to some extent.
[0026] Furthermore, the return water branch pipe adopts a curved design with its axis following a hyperbolic cosine function curve, ensuring that its cross-section continuously slopes downwards along the flow direction. This structure conforms to fluid dynamics characteristics and can appropriately reduce local eddies and flow resistance. More importantly, it creates a natural slope, ensuring that the medium inside the pipe can be completely drained by gravity when the system is shut down, which can reduce the risk of freezing and corrosion caused by liquid accumulation to a certain extent. Attached Figure Description
[0027] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.
[0028] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the water supply pipeline for the indirect cooling system;
[0029] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the AA section;
[0030] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the curve of the axis of the return water branch pipe at point B;
[0031] Figure label:
[0032] 1-Finned tube bundle; 2-Inlet water main pipe; 3-Inlet water branch pipe; 4-First interconnecting pipe; 5-Return water branch pipe; 6-Second interconnecting pipe; 7-Return water main pipe; 8-Second valve; 9-First valve; 10-Valve; 11-Valve. Detailed Implementation
[0033] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.
[0034] It should be noted that the following detailed descriptions are exemplary and intended to provide further illustration of this application. Unless otherwise specified, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains.
[0035] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to this application. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components, and / or combinations thereof.
[0036] In this utility model, terms such as "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front", "back", "vertical", "horizontal", "side", and "bottom" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only used to facilitate the description of the structural relationship of the various parts or elements of this utility model and do not specifically refer to any part or element in this utility model. They should not be construed as limiting this utility model.
[0037] In this utility model, terms such as "fixed", "connected", and "linked" should be interpreted broadly, indicating that it can be a fixed connection, an integral connection, or a detachable connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. For relevant scientific researchers or technicians in this field, the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model can be determined according to the specific circumstances, and should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model.
[0038] The embodiments of this utility model will be described in detail below.
[0039] This utility model embodiment discloses a water supply pipe for an indirect cooling system, installed inside an indirect cooling tower, used to input and output cooling medium to a finned tube bundle 1 with heat dissipation function. In this embodiment, the cooling medium is water. The specific details of this embodiment are as follows:
[0040] Figure 1 This is a top view of the water supply pipe of the intercooling system according to an embodiment of the present utility model. The dashed line in the figure can be understood as the projection of the axis of the return water branch pipe 5 onto the horizontal plane. Figure 2 for Figure 1 Section AA of the central section. Specifically, the water supply pipeline of this indirect cooling system mainly includes the following six parts: main water supply pipe 2, branch water supply pipe 3, first interconnecting pipe 4, return water branch pipe 5, second interconnecting pipe 6, and return water main pipe 7. The structure of each part and the connection and functional relationship between each part are further described in detail below.
[0041] Water supply header 2 has its inlet end connected to a hot water source and its outlet end located inside the cooling tower. Water supply header 2 is used to supply hot water to the cooling tower.
[0042] Water supply branch pipe 3 extends radially from the main water supply pipe 2 to the finned tube bundle 1 along the indirect cooling tower. The inlet end of water supply branch pipe 3 is connected to the outlet end of the main water supply pipe 2, allowing hot water to flow from the main water supply pipe 2 into multiple water supply branch pipes 3. All water supply branch pipes 3 are of the same length, ensuring that the distance traveled by the hot water from the main water supply pipe 2 to the finned tube bundle 1 is the same, thus mitigating the problem of uneven flow distribution that might occur due to differences in the length of the water supply branch pipes 3. Furthermore, the central angles between adjacent water supply branch pipes 3 are the same, meaning that the area of the finned tube bundle 1 connected to each adjacent water supply branch pipe 3 is the same size. This allows for even distribution of hot water to each area of the finned tube bundle, appropriately improving the utilization rate of the finned tube bundle and reducing localized overheating to some extent.
[0043] In addition, each water supply branch pipe 3 is equipped with a valve 11 at the end near the water supply main pipe 2. This valve 11 can control the water flow rate of the water supply branch pipe 3 it is located in. Therefore, when a finned tube bundle 1 in a certain area fails, it is only necessary to shut down the water supply branch pipe 3 in that area, without having to shut down the entire system, thus reducing downtime losses to a certain extent.
[0044] The first interconnecting pipe 4 is arc-shaped, with both ends of each first interconnecting pipe 4 located near the outlet of an adjacent water supply branch pipe 3 and connected to it. All first interconnecting pipes 4 are of the same length and form a ring when combined. Each first interconnecting pipe 4 has a first valve 9 at both ends, which controls the water flow rate within its respective pipe. Therefore, when a water supply branch pipe 3 malfunctions, simply closing the valve 11 near its inlet and opening the first valves 9 on the first interconnecting pipes 4 on both sides of the malfunctioning branch pipe 3 allows hot water from other water supply branch pipes 3 to be diverted to the finned tube bundle area corresponding to the malfunctioning branch pipe 3. In this way, even when a water supply branch pipe 3 malfunctions, the finned tube bundle 1 corresponding to that branch pipe 3 can still dissipate heat from the hot water in other water supply branch pipes 3.
[0045] Return water branch pipe 5, the inlet end of which is connected to the finned tube bundle 1 and extends into the cooler tower. Return water branch pipe 5 is used to discharge the cooled water output from the finned tube bundle 1 after heat dissipation from the cooler tower. As return water branch pipe 5 extends from the finned tube bundle 1 into the cooler tower, its pipe axis forms a concave curve, that is, as return water branch pipe 5 extends from the finned tube bundle into the inner axis of the cooler tower, its cross-section continuously shifts downwards in the vertical plane, such as... Figure 2 As shown. The axis of each return branch pipe 5 is a part of the curve equation y=[exp(x)+exp(-x)] / 2, and the shape of this curve in the coordinate system is as follows. Figure 3As shown. In this way, on the one hand, under the action of gravity, the tension inside the return water branch pipe 5 always acts along the tangent of the curve, thus maximizing the utilization of the material properties of the return water branch pipe 5 and enhancing the stability of the pipeline to a certain extent; on the other hand, the curve design of the return water branch pipe 5 forms a continuous slope, ensuring that the water inside it can be drained under the action of gravity.
[0046] The lengths of each return water branch pipe 5 along the axis are the same, which to some extent alleviates the problem of uneven flow distribution caused by the difference in length of the return water branch pipe 5, which increases the working pressure of its upstream finned tube bundle 1.
[0047] In addition, each return water branch pipe 5 is equipped with a valve 10 near its outlet end, which controls the water flow rate of its respective return water branch pipe 5. Thus, the water flow rate of the return water branch pipe 5 is controlled based on the heat dissipation effect of the finned tube bundle 1 upstream of the return water branch pipe 5. When valve 10 reduces the water flow rate of the return water branch pipe 5, the heat dissipation time of the finned tube bundle 1 increases; when valve 10 increases the water flow rate of the return water branch pipe 5, the heat dissipation time of the finned tube bundle 1 decreases. This allows for adaptation to different heat dissipation efficiencies of the finned tube bundle 1 under different temperatures in summer or winter.
[0048] The second interconnecting pipe 6 is arc-shaped, with each end of it connected to an adjacent return water branch pipe 5, located outside the valve 10 on that return water branch pipe 5, and communicating with it. All second interconnecting pipes 6 are of the same length and form a ring when combined. Each second interconnecting pipe 6 has a second valve 8 at both ends, which controls the water flow rate within its respective pipe. Therefore, when a finned tube bundle 1 upstream of a return water branch pipe 5 malfunctions, reducing the water flow rate, the second valve 8 on the connected second interconnecting pipes 6 can be opened to provide an output pipeline for cold water on both sides of the return water branch pipe 5, thereby alleviating some of the pipeline's operating pressure.
[0049] The return water main pipe 7 is connected to the outlet end of each return water branch pipe 5, and transmits the cold water output from the return water branch pipe 5 to the outside of the cooling tower.
[0050] In addition, insulation cotton is provided on the outside of the return water branch pipe 5, the second interconnecting pipe 6, and the return water main pipe 7 to prevent the cold water output after being cooled by the finned tube bundle 1 from being affected by the high temperature environment, thereby weakening the cooling effect.
[0051] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.
Claims
1. A water supply pipe for an indirect cooling system, installed inside an indirect cooling tower, for inputting and outputting a cooling medium to a finned tube bundle (1) with heat dissipation function, characterized in that, include: Water supply main pipe (2), the inlet end of which is connected to a hot water source; Water supply branch pipe (3) extends radially along the indirect cooling tower, with its inlet end connected to the water supply main pipe (2) and its outlet end connected to the inlet end of the finned tube bundle (1) with heat dissipation function. The first interconnecting pipe (4) connects at least two of the water supply branch pipes (3); Return water branch pipe (5), the return water branch pipe (5) converges radially along the intercooler tower, and its inlet end is connected to the outlet end of the finned tube bundle (1); The second interconnecting pipe (6) connects at least two of the return water branch pipes (5); The return water main pipe (7) has its inlet end sealed to the outlet end of the return water branch pipe (5); in, Each of the water supply branch pipes (3) extending from the water supply main pipe (2) to the finned tube bundle (1) has the same length; each of the water return branch pipes (5) extending from the finned tube bundle (1) to the water return main pipe (7) has the same length.
2. The water supply pipeline of the intercooling system according to claim 1, characterized in that, A second valve (8) is provided on the second interconnecting pipe (6).
3. The water supply pipeline of the intercooling system according to claim 1, characterized in that, A first valve (9) is provided on the first interconnecting pipe (4).
4. The water supply pipeline of the intercooling system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first interconnecting pipes (4) that connect to each adjacent water supply branch pipe (3) have the same length.
5. The water supply pipeline of the intercooling system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second interconnecting pipes (6) that connect to each adjacent return water branch pipe (5) are of the same length.
6. The water supply pipeline of the intercooling system according to claim 1, characterized in that, As the return water branch pipe (5) extends from the finned tube bundle (1) toward the inner axis of the indirect cooling tower, its cross-section continuously moves downward in the vertical plane.
7. The water supply pipeline of the intercooling system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The return water branch pipe (5) is curved, and its axis is part of the curve equation y=[exp(x)+exp(-x)] / 2.
8. The water supply pipeline of the intercooling system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The return water branch pipe (5), the second interconnecting pipe (6), and the return water main pipe (7) are provided with heat insulation cotton on the outside.