Cooling tower filler unit and cooling tower

Abstract

To make it possible to suitably secure cooling performance of a cooling tower by preventing fillers from being damaged by an impact load caused by earthquake motion, etc.SOLUTION: A plurality of filler units 16 for a cooling tower 10 are installed in the cooling tower, and each comprise: a frame body 21 for forming an internal space 20 having a hexahedron shape; a plurality of block-like fillers 18 arranged in the internal space of the frame body, and for cooling warm water on a high-temperature side by exchanging heat with air on a low-temperature side; and side plates 22 arranged in the internal space of the frame body, and for supporting side surfaces 30C of a filler group 30 constituted in such a manner that the plurality of fillers are arranged in the internal space.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a filler unit for a cooling tower and a cooling tower equipped with a plurality of such filler units. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, cooling towers have been used in air conditioning systems, industrial facilities, and the like as equipment for cooling circulating hot water. One typical type of cooling tower is the counterflow type. The cooling tower 100 shown in FIG. 12 is a counterflow type cooling tower, and includes a blower fan 102 and a sprinkler system 103 installed at the top of a casing 101, a cold water tank 104 installed at the bottom of the casing 101, and multiple fillers 105, which allow water and air to flow through, stacked and installed in the vertical center of the casing 101. Each filler 105 is formed in a block shape, and multiple fillers 105 are stacked loosely within the casing 101.

[0003] When the cooling tower 100 is operating, hot water is sprayed from the sprinkler device 103 onto the filler material 105 below. At the same time, the blower fan 102 is driven, and air (outside air) is introduced into the casing 101 through the louvers 106 of the casing 101, and this air rises within the filler material 105. Therefore, the hot water is cooled by heat exchange with the air within the filler material 105, and becomes cold water, which is stored in the cold water tank 104. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-158330 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 58-112865 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] As an example of construction and assembly for multiple fillers installed inside a cooling tower, Patent Document 1 discloses a system in which support members are provided on a frame that forms a hexahedral internal space to prevent the internal fillers from shifting position, and these support members support the fillers horizontally.

[0006] In a typical industrial cooling tower, multiple block-shaped fillers are stacked without being fixed together, as described above. Therefore, in the event of an earthquake, excessive loads may act on the fillers at the horizontal ends of the stacked structure, potentially damaging these fillers. If the fillers are damaged, blockage of the flow paths in the fillers and a decrease in heat transfer performance may occur, resulting in a loss of cooling function as a cooling tower.

[0007] The embodiments of the present invention have been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aim to provide a cooling tower filler unit and a cooling tower that can prevent damage to the filler due to impact loads caused by earthquake motions and the like, and can ensure good cooling performance of the cooling tower. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A cooling tower filler unit in an embodiment of the present invention is a cooling tower filler unit that is installed in a plurality of units within a cooling tower, and is configured to include a frame body that forms a hexahedral internal space, a plurality of block-shaped fillers that are arranged in the internal space of the frame body and cool hot water on the high-temperature side by heat exchange with air on the low-temperature side, and a support member that is installed in the internal space of the frame body and supports sides of a filler group configured by arranging a plurality of the fillers in the internal space. A support plate for supporting the upper surface or the lower surface of the filler group is installed in the internal space of the frame, and this support plate is made of a porous material. This is characterized by the fact that

[0009] The cooling tower in an embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that a blower fan that creates an upward current of air and a sprinkler device that sprays warm water and causes it to flow downward are installed at the top of the casing, a cold water tank that stores cold water that has been cooled from the warm water is installed at the bottom of the casing, and a plurality of filling material units of the cooling tower described in the embodiment are mounted in the vertical center of the casing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the embodiment of the present invention, damage to the filler due to impact loads caused by earthquake motion or the like can be prevented, and the cooling performance of the cooling tower can be ensured satisfactorily. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a cooling tower equipped with a filler unit according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the filler unit of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a single filler material in FIGS. 2 and 3; [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the single filler of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a filler unit of a cooling tower according to a second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the support plate of FIGS. 6 and 7; [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a filler unit of a cooling tower according to a third embodiment. [Figure 10] 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 9. [Figure 11] XI arrow view of FIG. 9. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional cooling tower. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. [A] First embodiment (Figs. 1 to 5) FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a cooling tower equipped with a filler unit according to a first embodiment. Also, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the filler unit of FIG. 1. The cooling tower 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a counterflow cooling tower that cools warm water, which is circulating water in air conditioning equipment, industrial equipment, etc., by heat exchange with air (outside air). The cooling tower 10 is configured such that a blower fan 12, a sprinkler system 13, and a drift eliminator 14 are installed in the upper part of a casing 11, a cold water tank 15 is installed in the lower part of the casing 11, and a plurality of filler units 16 are installed in the vertical center of the casing 11. The casing 11 is grounded to the ground G.

[0013] The blower fan 12 draws in air (outside air) through the louvers 17 of the casing 11, creating an upward current of air within the casing 11. The sprinkler device 13 sprinkles circulating hot water, causing it to flow down into the filler 18 of each filler unit 16. The filler 18 ventilates the upward current of air, and cools the hot water that flows down through heat exchange with the air, turning it into cold water. The cold water tank 15 stores the generated cold water. The drift eliminator 14 captures and removes moisture from the air that has passed through the filler 18, and drops the removed water into the cold water tank 15. The air from which moisture has been removed is discharged from the exhaust port 19 of the casing 11.

[0014] The plurality of filler units 16 are arranged in multiple rows in the horizontal direction relative to the ground G in the vertical center of the casing 11, and are stacked in multiple stages in the vertical direction relative to the ground G. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, each filler unit 16 is configured to have a frame 21 that forms a hexahedral internal space 20, and a plurality of fillers 18 arranged in the internal space 20 of this frame 21, side plates 22 as support members, and horizontal buffer means 23.

[0015] The frame 21 is configured by connecting a plurality of upper beams 25 extending horizontally and perpendicular to one another with respect to the ground G, a plurality of lower beams 26 similarly extending horizontally and perpendicular to one another, and a plurality of pillars 27 extending vertically with respect to the ground G, thereby forming a hexahedral internal space 20. These upper beams 25, lower beams 26, and pillars 27 are configured, for example, from structural steel.

[0016] 4 and 5, the filler 18 is formed as a rectangular parallelepiped block by arranging a plurality of metal or resin corrugated sheets 28 in an upright position with their peaks joined together, and thus has a vertically extending flow passage 29. Hot water (circulating water) on the high temperature side and air on the low temperature side flow inside this flow passage 29, and the hot water is cooled by heat exchange with the air and becomes cold water.

[0017] 2 and 3, a plurality of the fillers 18 are arranged in the internal space 20 of the frame 21 to form a filler group 30. That is, the filler group 30 is formed by stacking a plurality of rows of the fillers 18 arranged in one direction, for example, in the horizontal direction relative to the ground G, in a direction perpendicular to the one direction, for example, in the vertical direction relative to the ground G, in a plurality of stages. The plurality of fillers 18 are arranged in the same direction in the same stage, and are oriented in a direction perpendicular to each other in different stages.

[0018] An upper surface 30A of the filler group 30 (an upper surface of the uppermost filler 18) is supported by the upper beam 25 of the frame body 21, and a lower surface 30B of the filler group 30 (a lower surface of the lowermost filler 18) is supported by the lower beam 26 of the frame body 21. By supporting the upper surface 30A of the filler group 30 by the upper beam 25 of the frame body 21, the filler 18 is prevented from being lifted up due to vertical seismic motion.

[0019] The side plates 22 are made of steel, for example, and are arranged in the internal space 20 of the frame body 21 together with the horizontal buffer means 23. The side plates 22 are in surface contact with the entire area of ​​each of the four opposing side surfaces 30C of the filler group 30, and support the side surfaces 30C of the filler group 30 by the columns 27 of the frame body 21 via the horizontal buffer means 23. The side plates 22, together with the horizontal buffer means 23 and the columns 27 of the frame body 21, support horizontal loads acting on the filler group 30 (including impact loads due to horizontal seismic motion against the ground G).

[0020] The horizontal buffer means 23 is provided between the columns 27 of the frame body 21 and the side plates 22, and buffers and reduces the impact load acting on the fillers 18 due to horizontal seismic motion relative to the ground G. Specifically, the horizontal buffer means 23 is an elastic body such as rubber or a spring, or a damper or other damping device. The impact load caused by horizontal seismic motion acts between the side surfaces of the fillers 18 in the filler group 30 and between the side surface 30C of the filler group 30 and the side plate 22. In particular, the fillers 18 constituting the side surface 30C of the filler group 30 are subjected to a horizontal load equivalent to that of one level of the filler group 30. The horizontal buffer means 23 buffers the impact load caused by horizontal seismic motion, and in particular, buffers and reduces the impact load acting between the fillers 18 constituting the side surface 30C of the filler group 30 and the side plate 22.

[0021] As configured as above, the first embodiment provides the following effects (1) and (2). (1) In the filler unit 16, the entire area of ​​the side surface 30C of the filler group 30, which is formed by arranging multiple fillers 18, is supported by the side plate 22 in surface contact. Therefore, in a cooling tower 10 equipped with multiple filler units 16, the impact load caused by horizontal seismic motion against the ground G is supported by each filler unit 16. This prevents the impact load from concentrating on the fillers 18 located particularly at the horizontal ends of the cooling tower 10 (fillers 18 closest to the casing 11), thereby preventing damage to the fillers 18 that make up the filler unit 16. As a result, the flow path and heat transfer performance of the fillers 18 are maintained, and the cooling performance of the cooling tower 10 can be ensured satisfactorily.

[0022] (2) In the filler unit 16, horizontal buffer means 23 is installed between the side plate 22, which is in surface contact with the side surface 30C of the filler group 30, and the column 27 of the frame body 21. This horizontal buffer means 23 buffers the impact load acting on the filler 18 due to horizontal seismic motion with respect to the ground G, thereby improving the earthquake resistance of the filler unit 16 and, ultimately, the earthquake resistance of the cooling tower 10. This reliably prevents damage to the filler 18 that constitutes the filler group 30 of the filler unit 16, and further ensures the cooling performance of the cooling tower 10.

[0023] [B] Second embodiment (Figs. 6 to 8) Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a filler unit of a cooling tower according to a second embodiment. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in Fig. 6. In this second embodiment, parts similar to those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, and description thereof will be simplified or omitted.

[0024] The filler unit 41 of the cooling tower 40 (Figure 1) of this second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a support plate 42 made of a porous material is provided in the internal space 20 of the frame body 21 to support the upper surface 30A or the lower surface 30B (for example, the upper surface 30A) of the filler group 30, and a vertical buffer means 43 is provided between this support plate 42 and the upper beam 25 of the frame body 21.

[0025] The support plate 42 supports the upper surface 30A of the filler group 30, thereby preventing the filler group 30 from floating up. Furthermore, since the support plate 42 is made of a porous material, the flow of water and air to the fillers 18 that make up the filler group 30 is ensured.

[0026] Specifically, the vertical buffer means 43 is an elastic body such as rubber or a spring, or a damper or other attenuation device. The impact load caused by vertical seismic motion relative to the ground G acts between the upper and lower surfaces of each filler 18 in the filler group 30, and particularly between the fillers 18 constituting the lower surface 30B of the filler group 30 and the lower beams 26 of the frame body 21. The vertical buffer means 43 installed between the support plate 42 and the upper beams 25 of the frame body 21 buffers the impact load caused by the vertical seismic motion, and particularly buffers and reduces the impact load acting between the fillers 18 constituting the lower surface 30B of the filler group 30 and the lower beams 26 of the frame body 21.

[0027] As configured as above, the second embodiment also achieves the same effects as the effects (1) and (2) of the first embodiment, and also the following effects (3) and (4).

[0028] (3) In the filler unit 41, vertical buffer means 43 is installed between the support plate 42 that supports the upper surface 30A of the filler group 30 and the upper beam 25 of the frame body 21. This vertical buffer means 43 buffers the impact load acting on the filler 18 due to seismic motion in the vertical direction relative to the ground G, thereby improving the earthquake resistance of the filler unit 41 and, ultimately, the earthquake resistance of the cooling tower 40. This reliably prevents damage to the filler 18 that constitutes the filler group 30 of the filler unit 41, and further ensures the cooling performance of the cooling tower 40.

[0029] (4) The upper surface 30A of the filler group 30 arranged in the internal space 20 of the filler unit 41 is supported by a support plate 42 made of a porous material, which prevents the filler group 30 from floating up and ensures the flow of water and air to the filler 18 of the filler group 30, thereby avoiding a decrease in the cooling performance of the cooling tower 40.

[0030] [C] Third embodiment (Figs. 9 to 11) Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a filler unit of a cooling tower according to a third embodiment. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in Fig. 9. In this third embodiment, parts similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, and description thereof will be simplified or omitted.

[0031] The filler unit 51 of the cooling tower 50 (Figure 1) of this third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a blocking means 52 extending over the entire width of the side panel 22 is arranged between, for example, the upper part of the side panel 22 and the pillar 27 of the frame body 21, and this blocking means 52 prevents air from flowing into the space S between the side panel 22 and the pillar 27 of the frame body 21.

[0032] The blocking means 52 is preferably an elastic body such as rubber. The blocking means 52 may also extend over the entire width of the side plate 22, for example, between the lower part of the side plate 22 and the pillar 27 of the frame body 21. In this case as well, air is prevented from flowing into the space S between the side plate 22 and the pillar 27 of the frame body 21.

[0033] As configured as above, the third embodiment also achieves the same effects as the effects (1) and (2) of the first embodiment, and also achieves the following effect (5).

[0034] (5) Between the side plate 22 and the pillar 27 of the frame body 21, a blocking means 52 extending over the entire width of the side plate 22 is disposed, and this blocking means 52 prevents air from flowing into the space S between the side plate 22 and the pillar 27 of the frame body 21, thereby increasing the amount of air flowing into each filler 18 in the filler group 30 of the filler unit 51. This improves the heat exchange efficiency between the hot water and air in the filler 18, enhancing the heat transfer performance of the filler 18 and ultimately ensuring even better cooling performance of the cooling tower 50.

[0035] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, changes, and combinations can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, such substitutions, changes, and combinations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the inventions and their equivalents as set forth in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 10...Cooling tower, 11...Casing, 12...Blower fan, 13...Sprinkler device, 15...Cold water tank, 16...Filler unit, 18...Filler, 20...Internal space, 21...Frame, 22...Side plate (support member), 23...Horizontal buffer means, 25...Upper beam, 26...Lower beam, 27...Column, 30...Filler group, 30A...Upper surface, 30B...Lower surface, 30C...Side, 40...Cooling tower, 41...Filler unit, 42...Support plate, 43...Vertical buffer means, 50...Cooling tower, 51...Filler unit, 52...Blocking means, G...Ground, S...Space

Claims

1. A cooling tower filler unit to be installed in a plurality of cooling towers, a frame body that forms an internal space of a hexahedron shape; a plurality of block-shaped fillers arranged in the internal space of the frame, which cool the hot water on the high-temperature side by heat exchange with the air on the low-temperature side; a support member that is installed in the internal space of the frame and supports a side surface of a filler group that is configured by arranging a plurality of the fillers in the internal space, A cooling tower filler unit characterized in that a support plate supporting the upper or lower surface of the filler group is installed in the internal space of the frame, and this support plate is made of a porous material.

2. 2. The cooling tower filler unit according to claim 1, wherein a buffer means is provided within the frame for buffering impact loads acting on the filler.

3. The cooling tower filler unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the buffer means is a horizontal buffer means provided between the support member and the frame body, which buffers the impact load acting on the filler due to horizontal seismic motion relative to the ground.

4. The cooling tower filler unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the filler group is composed of a plurality of fillers arranged in one direction relative to the frame body, stacked in multiple layers in a direction perpendicular to the one direction, and the orientation of the fillers in the multiple layers is arranged perpendicular to each other.

5. 3. A cooling tower filler unit according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower surfaces of the filler group are supported by upper and lower beams of a frame material, respectively.

6. The cooling tower filler unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the buffer means is a vertical buffer means provided between a support plate supporting the upper or lower surface of the filler group and the frame material, and buffers the impact load acting on the filler due to vertical seismic motion relative to the ground.

7. 3. A cooling tower filler unit according to claim 1, wherein a blocking means is disposed between the support member and the frame body, extending over the entire width of the support member to prevent air from flowing into the space between the support member and the frame body.

8. A blower fan that creates an upward current of air and a sprinkler device that sprinkles hot water down are installed on the upper part of the casing. A cold water tank for storing cold water obtained by cooling the hot water is installed at the bottom of the casing, 3. A cooling tower comprising a plurality of cooling tower filler units according to claim 1 or 2 mounted in the vertical center of the casing.

Images