A freeze protection system for a cooling tower float and ball valve

Abstract

This utility model discloses a cooling tower float valve antifreeze system, belonging to the field of cooling tower technology. It includes a heating device for heating water in a collection tank. The float valve device is located at the outlet of the water supply pipe. The float valve device includes a valve body and a float connected to a valve stem. A crank arm is provided at the end of the valve stem, and the crank arm is rotatably connected to an extension pipe. The extension pipe is fixed to the side of the valve body. The top of the crank arm extends into the extension pipe, and a movable slider is provided inside the extension pipe. The top of the crank arm is located on one side of the slider, and the other side of the slider is opposite to a limiting baffle, which is fixed inside the extension pipe. The beneficial effects of this utility model include: when the cooling tower is shut down, the float valve is below the liquid surface, and the electric heating element heats the water in the collection tank, ensuring that the water does not freeze and preventing the float valve from freezing. The float valve can also automatically switch between cooling tower shutdown and startup in winter, eliminating the need for manual de-icing operations and improving the operating efficiency of the cooling tower in winter.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to an antifreeze system for a cooling tower float valve, belonging to the field of cooling tower technology. Background Technology

[0002] In industrial sectors such as data centers, energy and power, and metallurgical manufacturing, cooling towers are crucial equipment for ensuring equipment heat dissipation and maintaining stable system operation. Their core function is to achieve evaporative heat exchange through direct contact between circulating water and air, with the air carrying away water vapor to dissipate heat. Because circulating water is continuously lost during evaporation, failure to replenish it in time will cause the water level in the cooling tower's collection tank to drop, affecting heat exchange efficiency. Therefore, an automatic water replenishment system is necessary to maintain a stable water level.

[0003] Currently, the industry widely adopts float valves as the core device for automatic water replenishment in cooling towers. This device, with its advantages of simple structure, low cost, and no need for complex electrical control systems, uses the buoyancy of the float as the water level changes to automatically open and close the water replenishment channel, thus actuating the valve stem. It can stably adapt to the water replenishment needs of cooling towers under normal temperature conditions, making it the most widely used water replenishment solution.

[0004] However, in northern my country during winter, although outdoor temperatures often drop below 0°C, data centers require continuous cooling, and processes in metallurgical manufacturing need to maintain stable operating conditions, requiring cooling towers in related factories to operate intermittently. At this time, the shortcomings of float valves become apparent: in low-temperature environments, residual water inside the valve body easily freezes, freezing the clearance between the valve stem and the valve body, preventing the valve stem from rising and falling normally, and thus preventing the valve from opening to replenish water. After water replenishment is interrupted, the water level in the collection tank will continue to decrease as the circulating water evaporates. When the water level falls below the suction port of the circulating pump, the pump will draw in air, causing cavitation. Cavitation not only causes wear on the pump impeller and increased vibration and noise, but may also damage the circulating pump seals. In severe cases, it can directly cause the circulating pump to shut down, thereby interrupting the cooling tower's heat dissipation function, affecting the normal operation of industrial equipment, and even causing production losses.

[0005] Chinese utility model patent application number 2012201715050 discloses a diaphragm float valve. Although the patent mentions that the float valve has antifreeze properties, its applicable scenario is insulated water tank, which cannot cope with the low temperature freezing problem in the open environment of cooling tower water collection tank. Moreover, the diaphragm structure is prone to aging and damage during frequent start-stop operation. Utility Model Content

[0006] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, the purpose of this invention is to provide a cooling tower float valve antifreeze system that prevents icing and ensures the normal operation of the float valve in winter.

[0007] The technical solution of this utility model is: a cooling tower float valve antifreeze system, including a heating device for heating the water in the water collection tank, the float valve device being located at the outlet of the water supply pipe, the float valve device including a valve body and a float connected to a valve stem, the valve stem end being provided with a crank arm, the crank arm being rotatably connected to an extension pipe, the extension pipe being fixed to the side of the valve body, the top end of the crank arm extending into the extension pipe, the extension pipe being provided with a movable slider, the top end of the crank arm being located on one side of the slider, the other side of the slider being opposite to a limiting baffle, the limiting baffle being fixed inside the extension pipe.

[0008] The float is connected to the connecting rod, and the end of the valve stem is set in the middle of the connecting rod through a connecting sleeve. The screw passes through the connecting sleeve and extends into the connecting rod to fix the valve stem to the connecting rod.

[0009] The valve body has a movable valve core in its inner cavity. The valve core is connected to a push rod by a spring. The push rod passes through a limiting baffle and is connected to a slider. The inner cavity connects the valve body inlet and outlet. The valve core is positioned opposite to the valve body inlet. The valve body inlet is opened and closed by moving the valve core.

[0010] The heating device is located in the piping trench below the water collection tank, and the piping trench is connected to the water collection tank above.

[0011] The heating device is an electric heating tube, which is fixed to the bottom of the piping trench.

[0012] The water supply pipeline includes a straight pipe a with a water supply inlet flange at one end, the straight pipe a being connected to a straight pipe b via a connector, and the top end of the straight pipe b being connected to an elbow, the elbow being used to connect to the valve body inlet.

[0013] The connector is an internal thread connector, and its two ends are threaded to the straight pipe a and the straight pipe b, respectively.

[0014] The elbow is a right-angle elbow.

[0015] The float valve device is located above the piping trench.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this utility model include: By using a phase baffle to limit the rotation angle of the crank arm, the highest position that the valve stem and float can rotate to is limited, ensuring that the highest position is between the shutdown water level and the operating water level. In this way, when the system is off, the float valve is below the liquid surface, and the electric heating tube heats the water in the collection tank to prevent the water from freezing and thus prevent the float valve from freezing and breaking. The float valve can also achieve automatic switching between cooling tower shutdown and startup in winter without the need for manual de-icing operations, thereby improving the operating efficiency of the cooling tower in winter. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the application of this utility model; Figure 2 This is a structural view of the float valve of this utility model.

[0018] The attached figures are labeled as follows: 1. Water collection tank; 2. Valve body; 3. Valve stem; 4. Float; 5. Crank arm; 6. Extension pipe; 7. Sliding block; 8. Limiting baffle; 9. Connecting rod; 10. Connecting sleeve; 11. Valve core; 12. Spring; 13. Push rod; 14. Piping groove; 15. Electric heating element; 16. Water inlet flange; 17. Straight pipe a; 18. Connector; 19. Straight pipe b; 20. Elbow. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The following is in conjunction with the appendix Figure 1-2 Further explanation of this utility model: A cooling tower float valve antifreeze system includes an electric heating tube 15 for heating water in a water collection tank 1. The electric heating tube 15 is fixed to the bottom of a piping trough 14, which is connected to the water collection tank 1 at the top. Water can flow between the piping trough 14 and the water collection tank 1. A float valve device is located at the outlet of the water supply pipe. The float valve device includes a valve body 2 and a float 4 connected to a valve stem 3. A crank arm 5 is provided at the end of the valve stem 3. The crank arm 5 is rotatably connected to an extension pipe 6. The extension pipe 6 is fixed to the side of the valve body 2. The top end of the crank arm 5 extends into the extension pipe 6. A movable slider 7 is provided inside the extension pipe 6. The top end of the crank arm 5 is located on one side of the slider 7. When the crank arm 5 rotates, it can contact the slider 7 and push the slider 7 to move. The other side of the slider 7 is opposite to a limiting baffle 8. The slider 7 can contact the limiting baffle 8 by moving. The limiting baffle 8 is fixed inside the extension pipe 6 and limits the movement stroke of the slider, thereby limiting the rotation of the crank arm 5.

[0020] The float 4 is connected to the connecting rod 9. The end of the valve stem 3 is set in the middle of the connecting rod 9 through the connecting sleeve 10. The screw passes through the connecting sleeve 10 and extends into the connecting rod 9 to fix the valve stem 3 and the connecting rod 9.

[0021] The inner cavity of the valve body 2 is provided with a movable valve core 11. The valve core 11 is connected to a push rod 13 via a spring 12. The push rod 13 passes through a limiting baffle 8 and is connected to a slider 7. The inner cavity connects the inlet and outlet of the valve body 2. The valve core 11 is positioned opposite to the inlet of the valve body 2. The opening and closing of the inlet of the valve body 2 is achieved by moving the valve core 11. Figure 2As shown, when the float 4 rises with the liquid level, it drives the valve stem 3 to rotate clockwise. The valve stem 3 drives the crank arm 5 to rotate clockwise, and the upper end of the crank arm 5 pushes the slider 7 to the right. The slider 7 compresses the spring 12 through the push rod 13, which in turn pushes the valve core 11 to the right. After the valve core 11 moves a certain distance, it closes the valve body inlet, thus closing the valve body and shutting off the water supply pipeline. The spring 12 increases the flexibility of the contact between the valve core 11 and the valve body inlet, avoiding damage to the valve core 11 caused by frequent rigid contact, and thus preventing the water supply pipeline from continuously entering the water collection tank due to incomplete closure of the valve body inlet. When the cooling tower is shut down, the water flowing through the packing is delayed in entering the water collection tank, and the liquid level in the water collection tank continues to rise. The slider 7 moves to the right to the limit baffle 8. Due to the limit effect, the slider 7 cannot move further to the right, so the valve stem 3 cannot continue to rotate, and the float 4 stops floating, keeping the float 4 below the liquid level. The electric heating tube 15 heats the water, keeping the water temperature above the freezing point, preventing the float 4 from freezing in winter. After the cooling tower is started, the water collection tank 1 supplies water to the cooling tower, and the liquid level in the water collection tank 1 drops. When the liquid level drops below the limit height of the float ball 4, the float ball 4 can float with the liquid surface, allowing staff to inspect and observe. In winter, when the cooling tower is turned on and off, no additional operation is required on the float ball valve, thus improving the working efficiency of the cooling tower.

[0022] The water replenishment pipeline includes a straight pipe a17 with a water replenishment inlet flange 16 at one end. The straight pipe a17 is connected to a straight pipe b19 via a connector 18. The top end of the straight pipe b19 is connected to an elbow 20, which is a right-angle elbow used to connect to the inlet of the valve body 2. The water replenishment inlet flange 16 is connected to the customer's water supply pipeline. When the water level in the water collection tank 1 is too low, the float valve opens, and water is replenished to the water collection tank 1 through the water replenishment pipeline.

[0023] The connector 18 is an internal thread connector 18, and both ends of the internal thread connector 18 are threaded to the external threads of the straight pipe a17 and the straight pipe b19, respectively.

[0024] The float valve device is located above the piping trench 14, allowing the heated water to flow more quickly and directly upwards to the float 4, preventing the float 4 from freezing in winter.

[0025] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the technical principles of the present utility model, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A freeze protection system for a float valve of a cooling tower, the system comprising: The device includes a heating device for heating the water in the collection tank (1). The float valve device is located at the outlet of the water supply pipe. The float valve device includes a valve body (2) and a float (4) connected to the valve stem (3). The valve stem (3) has a crank arm (5) at its end. The crank arm (5) is rotatably connected to the extension pipe (6). The extension pipe (6) is fixed to the side of the valve body (2). The top of the crank arm (5) extends into the extension pipe (6). The extension pipe (6) has a movable slider (7). The top of the crank arm (5) is located on one side of the slider (7). The other side of the slider (7) is opposite to the limiting baffle (8). The limiting baffle (8) is fixed inside the extension pipe (6).

2. The freeze protection system for a cooling tower float valve according to claim 1, wherein, The float (4) is connected to the connecting rod (9). The end of the valve stem (3) is set in the middle of the connecting rod (9) through the connecting sleeve (10). The screw passes through the connecting sleeve (10) and extends into the connecting rod (9) to fix the valve stem (3) and the connecting rod (9).

3. The freeze protection system for a cooling tower float valve according to claim 1, wherein, The inner cavity of the valve body (2) is provided with a movable valve core (11). The valve core (11) is connected to the push rod (13) through the spring (12). The push rod (13) passes through the limiting baffle (8) and is connected to the slider (7). The inner cavity connects the inlet and outlet of the valve body (2). The valve core (11) is set opposite to the inlet of the valve body (2). The opening and closing of the inlet of the valve body (2) is realized by the movement of the valve core (11).

4. The freeze protection system for a cooling tower float valve according to claim 1, wherein, The heating device is located in the piping trench (14) below the water collection tank (1), and the piping trench (14) is connected to the water collection tank (1) above.

5. The cooling tower float valve antifreeze system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The heating device is an electric heating tube (15), which is fixed to the bottom of the piping groove (14).

6. The cooling tower float valve antifreeze system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water supply pipeline includes a straight pipe a (17) with a water supply inlet flange (16) at one end. The straight pipe a (17) is connected to a straight pipe b (19) through a connector (18). The top end of the straight pipe b (19) is connected to an elbow (20). The elbow (20) is used to connect to the inlet of the valve body (2).

7. The cooling tower float valve antifreeze system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The connector (18) is an internal thread connector (18), and the two ends of the internal thread connector (18) are threadedly connected to the straight pipe a (17) and the straight pipe b (19) respectively.

8. The cooling tower float valve antifreeze system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The elbow (20) is a right-angle elbow.

9. The cooling tower float valve antifreeze system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The float valve device is located above the piping trench (14).

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