Evaporative cooling air cooled heat exchanger

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of evaporative cooling air cooling type heat exchanger, it is related to air cooling type heat exchange device technical field, it includes shell, and fixedly arranged in the heat exchange tube bundle and fin of shell, shell is on the opposite two side walls perpendicular to heat exchange tube axis, respectively fixedly arranged with the suction fan and cooling air inlet that communicate inside and outside, cooling air inlet is provided with cooling assembly, cooling assembly includes wheel shaft that is rotatably arranged on shell side wall by support, the inboard end of wheel shaft is coaxially connected with wet curtain wheel, the wheel body of wet curtain wheel is provided with porous hygroscopic material, the inboard end of wheel shaft is coaxially connected with wind power driven impeller, shell side is fixedly arranged with the water tank of top opening, water tank is below wet curtain wheel, for storing cooling water, the lower wheel body of wet curtain wheel is immersed below liquid level in water tank;It solves the problem that the existing spray humidification device production cost is high, easy to block in long-term use, needs regular cleaning or maintenance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of air-cooled heat exchange devices, and in particular to an evaporative cooling air-cooled heat exchanger. Background Technology

[0002] Air-cooled heat exchangers are a widely used heat exchange device. Their core principle is to use a fan to drive ambient air to flow over the surface of the heat exchange tube bundle, which is at a higher temperature. The heat of the heat medium is continuously removed through convective heat transfer between the air and the tube wall, thereby achieving the purpose of cooling. However, in summer or high-temperature areas, the ambient temperature rises significantly, which can easily lead to a reduction in the temperature difference between the air and the heat source, resulting in a decrease in heat exchange efficiency, and sometimes it is difficult to meet the process cooling requirements.

[0003] Existing methods typically involve installing a spray humidification device at the air inlet. This involves directly spraying atomized water vapor into the incoming airflow using a water pump and nozzles. The temperature of the incoming air is lowered by utilizing the physical property that water molecules absorb a large amount of heat from the air when they evaporate. However, this cooling device has significant limitations: Firstly, it requires a dedicated water pump, high-pressure pipeline, and control system, resulting in high initial investment and installation costs. Furthermore, continuous spraying of cooling water consumes a significant amount of electricity, increasing production costs. Secondly, the spray nozzles are prone to scaling or clogging during long-term use, requiring regular cleaning or maintenance. Utility Model Content

[0004] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this utility model provides an evaporative cooling air-cooled heat exchanger, which solves the problems of high production costs, easy clogging after long-term use, and the need for regular cleaning or maintenance of existing spray humidification devices.

[0005] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an evaporative cooling air-cooled heat exchanger includes a shell, and a heat exchange tube bundle and fins fixedly disposed within the shell: On the opposite side walls of the shell perpendicular to the axis of the heat exchange tube bundle, there are respectively fixed suction fans and cooling air inlets that connect the inside and outside. Cooling components are provided at the cooling air inlets. The cooling assembly includes: The axle is rotatably mounted on the side wall of the housing via a bracket; The wet curtain wheel is coaxially and fixedly connected to the side wall of the wheel axle, and the wheel body of the wet curtain wheel is provided with porous moisture-absorbing material; The wind-driven impeller is coaxially sleeved and fixed to the inner end of the wheel shaft; The top-opening water tank is fixedly installed on one side of the shell and located below the wet curtain wheel. It is used to store cooling water, and the lower part of the wet curtain wheel is submerged below the liquid level in the water tank.

[0006] The technical principle of this utility model is as follows: When in use, the suction fan is started, and air enters the housing from the cooling air inlet to cool the heat exchange tube bundle and fins; at the same time, the airflow entering the housing drives the impeller to rotate, which in turn drives the wet curtain wheel connected to it to rotate synchronously. The lower part of the wet curtain wheel is continuously immersed in the water tank to absorb cooling water. As it rotates, it carries the water into the airflow, so that the air entering the housing is humidified when it flows through the wet curtain wheel. The water evaporates and absorbs the sensible heat of the air, thereby reducing the inlet air temperature and enhancing the overall heat exchange effect.

[0007] Furthermore, the porous moisture-absorbing material includes at least one of honeycomb paper curtain, ceramic fiber, metal foam, or hydrophilic polymer foam.

[0008] Furthermore, the wet curtain wheel is provided with a water storage structure, which includes a water storage tank and a water storage hole that are radially disposed on the surface or inside of the wheel body.

[0009] Furthermore, an annular groove is fixedly arranged around the cooling air inlet of the housing, and the annular groove is spaced apart from the wet curtain wheel, so that the rim of the wet curtain wheel can enter the annular groove and rotate freely therein.

[0010] Furthermore, the bottom of the annular groove is connected to the opening of the water tank.

[0011] Furthermore, a drive motor is fixedly mounted on the outside of the bracket, and the output end of the drive motor is connected to the wheel axle through a one-way bearing.

[0012] Furthermore, the number of cooling air inlets and suction fans is at least one, and they are arranged facing each other.

[0013] Furthermore, the water tank has an inlet pipe and a drain pipe connected to both sides, and an overflow pipe connected to one side of the water tank near the top.

[0014] Compared with existing technologies, this utility model has the following advantages: By coaxially connecting the wind-driven impeller and the wet curtain wheel and placing them in the air inlet channel, the airflow during the operation of the exhaust fan can automatically drive the impeller and the wet curtain wheel to rotate, achieving automatic cooling without the need for an additional power mechanism. The structure is simple and convenient, and the production cost is low. By continuously absorbing cooling water from the water tank and releasing it in the airflow under centrifugal force, the air entering the shell is continuously humidified and cooled during the flow, improving the heat transfer temperature difference between the air and the heat exchange tube bundle. By combining wet curtain evaporative cooling with forced air convection heat exchange, this device can operate stably even in high-temperature environments, with a simple structure, reliable operation, and low maintenance cost. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of an embodiment of the present utility model.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a side cross-sectional structural diagram of an embodiment of the present utility model.

[0017] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 4 for Figure 3 An enlarged schematic diagram of the structure at point A.

[0019] In the above figures: 1. Shell; 11. Heat exchange tube; 12. Fin; 13. Cooling air inlet; 131. Annular groove; 14. Liquid inlet pipe; 15. Liquid outlet pipe; 16. Support leg; 2. Cooling assembly; 21. Axle; 211. Bracket; 22. Wet curtain wheel; 221. Water storage tank; 222. Water storage hole; 23. Wind-driven impeller; 231. Connecting plate; 24. Drive motor; 25. One-way bearing; 3. Suction fan; 4. Water tank; 41. Water inlet pipe; 42. Drain pipe; 43. Overflow pipe. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The technical solution of this utility model will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0021] like Figure 1-4 As shown in the figure, this utility model embodiment proposes an evaporative cooling air-cooled heat exchanger, which includes a shell 1, and heat exchange tube bundles and fins 12 fixedly disposed in the shell 1. Several support legs 16 for support are fixedly disposed at the bottom of the shell 1. The heat exchange tube bundle includes multiple heat exchange tubes 11 arranged in an equidistant array. The heat exchange tubes 11 are horizontally fixedly disposed in the shell 1, and air passages are formed between adjacent heat exchange tubes 11. Several fins 12 are vertically fixed on the outer wall of the heat exchange tubes 11 and arranged at equal intervals, and air channels are formed between adjacent fins 12. Furthermore, liquid inlet pipes 14 and liquid outlet pipes 15 are respectively connected to both sides of the shell 1. The liquid inlet pipe 14 is connected to the feed end of the heat exchange tube bundle, and the liquid outlet pipe 15 is connected to the discharge end of the heat exchange tube bundle. The heat exchange medium enters the shell 1 from the liquid inlet pipe 14 and is diverted to flow in each heat exchange tube 11, and finally collects and is discharged from the liquid outlet pipe 15 to increase the heat exchange area and improve the heat exchange efficiency.

[0022] In this exemplary embodiment, furthermore, on opposite side walls perpendicular to the axis of the heat exchange tube bundle, the housing 1 is respectively fixedly provided with an exhaust fan 3 and a cooling air inlet 13 communicating with the inside and outside. Preferably, the number of cooling air inlets 13 and exhaust fans 3 is at least one, and they are arranged facing each other, so that the cooling airflow can penetrate the entire heat exchange tube bundle vertically, ensuring that the airflow distribution is uniform and without dead corners. When there are multiple cooling air inlets 13 and exhaust fans 3 are arranged at equal intervals along the extension direction of the heat exchange tube 11. In practical applications, the fin spacing 12, the heat exchange tube spacing 11, and the tube bundle length can be flexibly adjusted according to the physical properties and process requirements of the heat exchange medium. For applications with large heat exchange requirements, a series cooling channel with progressively decreasing temperature can be constructed by extending the heat exchange tube bundle and correspondingly increasing the number of cooling air inlets 13 and exhaust fans 3 arranged along the tube bundle direction to achieve a better cooling effect.

[0023] In this exemplary embodiment, a cooling assembly 2 is further provided at the cooling air inlet 13. The cooling assembly 2 includes a wheel axle 21, which is rotatably mounted on the side wall of the housing 1 via a bracket 211. A wet curtain wheel 22 is coaxially fixedly connected to the side wall of the wheel axle 21 via several connecting plates 231. A wind-driven impeller 23 is coaxially sleeved and fixed to the inner end of the wheel axle 21. The wheel body of the wet curtain wheel 22 is surrounded by a porous moisture-absorbing material. The porous structure helps to quickly absorb water under capillary action, reducing the liquid adhesion force that needs to be overcome when the wheel body leaves the liquid surface. The porous moisture-absorbing material includes at least one of honeycomb paper curtain, ceramic fiber, metal foam, or hydrophilic polymer foam. Among them, honeycomb paper curtain is inexpensive, has excellent water absorption, a large specific surface area, and high evaporation efficiency, and can be used as the preferred material to achieve the basic invention objective. Ceramic fiber is resistant to high temperature, corrosion, has a long service life, and is not prone to bacterial growth, making it suitable for long-term stable operation under harsh conditions. Metal foam has extremely high structural strength, good thermal conductivity, and is also suitable for... With evaporative cooling and a certain sensible heat exchange capacity, it can withstand the centrifugal force generated by the high-speed rotation of the wet curtain wheel 22, reducing the risk of wheel breakage and making it suitable for high-load, high-speed scenarios. The hydrophilic polymer foam is lightweight, flexible, and easy to process into specific shapes. The above material properties can be combined, and porous moisture-absorbing materials can be flexibly selected according to actual process requirements. In other embodiments, the wheel body of the wet curtain wheel 22 can also be made of lightweight, high-strength materials such as modified plastic fibers or aluminum-based composite foam to reduce wheel weight and starting torque. This can significantly reduce rotational inertia while ensuring sufficient water absorption and structural stability, allowing the wind-driven impeller 23 to drive the wet curtain wheel 22 to rotate more smoothly under the action of the intake airflow. Furthermore, the wind-driven impeller 23 is preferably an axial flow impeller. Its specific airfoil profile and installation angle can efficiently convert air kinetic energy into rotational mechanical energy in the stable airflow established by the suction fan 3, providing abundant and continuous driving torque.

[0024] In this exemplary embodiment, a water tank 4 is further fixedly installed on one side of the housing 1. The water tank 4 is located below the wet curtain wheel 22 and is used to store cooling water. The top of the water tank 4 is open, and the lower part of the wet curtain wheel 22 is submerged below the liquid surface in the water tank 4. The liquid level needs to be set and maintained according to the actual situation to avoid insufficient water absorption due to too low a water level and to prevent increased rotational resistance due to too high a water level.

[0025] When this utility model is in use, the suction fan 3 is started, and air enters the housing 1 from the cooling air inlet 13 to cool the heat exchange tube bundle and fins 12. At the same time, the airflow entering the housing 1 drives the wind-driven impeller 23 to rotate, which in turn drives the wet curtain wheel 22 connected to it to rotate synchronously. The lower part of the wet curtain wheel 22 is continuously immersed in the water tank 4 to absorb cooling water. As it rotates, it carries the water into the airflow, so that the air entering the housing 1 is humidified when it flows through the wet curtain wheel 22. The water evaporates and absorbs the sensible heat of the air, thereby reducing the inlet air temperature. Then, this pre-cooled air continues to flow through the surface of the heat exchange tube bundle and fins 12. Through the dual effects of water evaporation and forced convection, the heat exchange efficiency is significantly improved, and the overall heat exchange effect is enhanced.

[0026] This invention connects the wind-driven impeller 23 and the wet curtain wheel 22 coaxially and places them in the air inlet channel. This allows the airflow to automatically drive the impeller and wet curtain wheel 22 to rotate during the operation of the suction fan 3. Automatic cooling can be achieved without the need for an additional power mechanism. The structure is simple and convenient, and the production cost is low. The wet curtain wheel 22 continuously absorbs cooling water from the water tank 4 and releases it in the airflow under centrifugal force. This ensures that the air entering the housing 1 is continuously humidified and cooled during the flow, which improves the heat transfer temperature difference between the air and the heat exchange tube bundle. By combining wet curtain evaporative cooling with forced air convection heat transfer, this device can operate stably in high-temperature environments. It has a simple structure, reliable operation, and low maintenance cost.

[0027] like Figure 1-4 As shown, in another embodiment, the surface or interior of the wet curtain wheel 22 is provided with a water storage structure, which includes a strip-shaped water storage tank 221 extending radially along the wheel body and a porous water storage hole 222 distributed throughout the interior of the wheel body. Based on the above configuration, the water storage tank 221 and the water storage hole 222 can quickly absorb and store a large amount of cooling water after entering the water tank 4. As the wheel body rotates to the upper position, under the action of centrifugal force, the water stored inside is evenly thrown out and diffused, forming a fuller and more evenly distributed water film. This enables a continuous and enhanced evaporative cooling effect during the stable rotation of the wet curtain wheel 22 driven by the wind-driven impeller 23, effectively improving the cooling range and overall heat exchange performance on the air inlet side.

[0028] like Figure 1-4As shown, in another embodiment, an annular groove 131 is fixedly arranged around the cooling air inlet 13 of the housing 1. The annular groove 131 is spaced apart from the wet curtain wheel 22, and the rim of the wet curtain wheel 22 can enter the annular groove 131 and rotate freely therein. At the same time, the bottom of the annular groove 131 is connected to the opening of the water tank 4. Based on the above arrangement, the annular groove 131 constitutes a water collection and flow guiding structure around the wet curtain wheel 22. When the wet curtain wheel 22 throws the cooling water outward due to centrifugal force during high-speed rotation, the groove can effectively receive and collect these splashed water droplets, preventing them from spreading disorderly in all directions. At the same time, the bottom of the groove is connected to the water tank 4 to form a return channel, guiding the collected cooling water back to the water tank 4 for recycling. The annular groove 131 not only significantly reduces the unnecessary consumption of cooling water, but the water accumulated inside it can also form a continuously humid microenvironment around the air inlet channel, further enhancing the heat exchange effect between air and water, making the cooling process more thorough.

[0029] like Figure 1-4 As shown, in another embodiment, a drive motor 24 is fixedly mounted on the outer side of the bracket 211. The output end of the drive motor 24 is connected to the axle 21 via a one-way bearing 25. Specifically, the output shaft of the drive motor 24 is connected to the inner ring of the one-way bearing 25 via a coupling. The outer ring of the one-way bearing 25 is coaxially fixed with the axle 21 of the wet curtain wheel 22. The transmission direction of the one-way bearing 25 is set as follows: when the drive motor 24 starts, its torque is transmitted to the axle 21 via the one-way bearing 25; when the drive motor 24 is not working and the wet curtain wheel 22 is driven by wind, the axle 21 can rotate freely beyond the inner ring of the one-way bearing 25. Based on the above settings, when the ambient airflow is insufficient or enhanced cooling is required, the drive motor 24 starts and the one-way bearing 25 is connected to the inner ring of the axle 21. 5. The torque is directly transmitted to the axle 21, driving the wet curtain wheel 22 to accelerate to a speed exceeding that of the wind-driven impeller 23, thereby significantly enhancing its centrifugal water-throwing capacity and surface evaporation intensity. Specifically, when the motor is not working, the one-way bearing 25 is in the "overtaking" state, and the wet curtain wheel 22 can be freely driven to rotate by the wind impeller. The motor shaft does not generate any resistance, achieving basic evaporative cooling and saving energy consumption. When the motor is working, the one-way bearing 25 is in the "engaged" state, and the motor's power can be fully transmitted to the wet curtain wheel 22, driving it to rotate at a higher and more precise speed, providing greater cooling capacity. This hybrid drive mode retains the economy of wind-driven operation and allows for on-demand start and stop of the motor to increase the adaptability of the device.

[0030] like Figure 1-4As shown, in another embodiment, an inlet pipe 41 and a drain pipe 42 are respectively connected to both sides of the water tank 4, and an overflow pipe 43 is connected to one side of the water tank 4 near the top. Each pipe is equipped with a valve that can control the opening and closing. The inlet pipe 41 can be equipped with a float valve mechanism, which controls the opening and closing of the water inlet passage through the linkage of the float arm, thereby keeping the liquid level in the water tank 4 stable at the set height and ensuring that the immersion depth of the wet curtain wheel 22 is constant. The overflow pipe 43 can automatically discharge excess water when the float valve or other water level control mechanism malfunctions and causes excessive water intake, so as to avoid the liquid level in the water tank 4 being too high, which would increase the rotation resistance of the wet curtain wheel 22 or cause water overflow and damage to the equipment.

[0031] In other embodiments, a detachable dustproof net or louvered dust collector can be installed on the outside of the cooling air inlet 13 to intercept lint and suspended particles in the air, reducing dust accumulation on the surface of the wet curtain wheel 22 and the heat exchange tube bundle. The above-mentioned additional structures are all conventional configurations in the art, and the present invention does not limit their specific forms. At the same time, structures that may come into contact with cooling water, such as the shell 1, fins 12, heat exchange tubes 11 and wind-driven impeller 23, must use waterproof materials or undergo waterproof treatment to avoid corrosion during long-term use.

[0032] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this utility model and are not intended to limit it. Although this utility model has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of this utility model without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of this utility model, and all such modifications or substitutions should be covered within the scope of the claims of this utility model.

Claims

1. An evaporative cooling air-cooled heat exchanger, comprising a shell (1), and heat exchange tube bundles and fins (12) fixedly disposed within the shell (1), characterized in that: The shell (1) has a suction fan (3) and a cooling air inlet (13) that connect the inside and outside respectively fixed on the opposite side walls perpendicular to the axis of the heat exchange tube bundle. A cooling component (2) is provided at the cooling air inlet (13). The cooling assembly (2) includes: A wheel axle (21) is rotatably mounted on the side wall of the housing (1) via a bracket (211); The wet curtain wheel (22) is coaxially fixedly connected to the side wall of the wheel axle (21), and the wheel body of the wet curtain wheel (22) is provided with porous moisture-absorbing material; The wind-driven impeller (23) is coaxially sleeved and fixed to the inner end of the wheel shaft (21); A top-opening water tank (4) is fixedly installed on one side of the housing (1) and located below the wet curtain wheel (22) for storing cooling water. The lower part of the wet curtain wheel (22) is submerged below the liquid level in the water tank (4).

2. The evaporative cooling air-cooled heat exchanger as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The porous moisture-absorbing material includes at least one of honeycomb paper curtain, ceramic fiber, metal foam, or hydrophilic polymer foam.

3. The evaporative cooling air-cooled heat exchanger as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The wet curtain wheel (22) is provided with a water storage structure, which includes a water storage tank (221) and a water storage hole (222) that are radially arranged on the surface or inside of the wheel body.

4. The evaporative cooling air-cooled heat exchanger as described in claim 1, characterized in that: An annular groove (131) is fixedly arranged around the cooling air inlet (13) of the housing (1). The annular groove (131) is spaced apart from the wet curtain wheel (22). The rim of the wet curtain wheel (22) can enter the annular groove (131) and rotate freely therein.

5. The evaporative cooling air-cooled heat exchanger as described in claim 4, characterized in that: The bottom of the annular trough (131) is connected to the opening of the water tank (4).

6. The evaporative cooling air-cooled heat exchanger as described in claim 1, characterized in that: A drive motor (24) is fixedly installed on the outside of the bracket (211), and the output end of the drive motor (24) is connected to the wheel axle (21) through a one-way bearing (25).

7. The evaporative cooling air-cooled heat exchanger as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The number of cooling air inlets (13) and suction fans (3) is at least one, and they are arranged facing each other.

8. The evaporative cooling air-cooled heat exchanger as described in claim 1, characterized in that: Water tank (4) has an inlet pipe (41) and a drain pipe (42) connected to both sides, and an overflow pipe (43) connected to one side of the water tank (4) near the top.

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