Cooling Tower Buildup Prevention System for High Solids Concentration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern cooling towers face issues with solid buildup on fill material and louvers, which can lead to degradation in evaporative performance and require frequent manual cleaning, especially when operating to concentrate dissolved solids beyond typical limits.

Innovation Solution

A cooling tower design incorporating a buildup prevention system with spray nozzles and a deluge pipe to reduce solid buildup on fill material and louvers, utilizing a wash system that sprays water horizontally and vertically to dissolve and wash away accumulated solids, thereby maintaining high concentrations of dissolved materials without manual pressure washing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If cooling tower operates to concentrate dissolved solids beyond typical limits, then solids concentration capability is improved, but solid buildup on fill material and louvers worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesolids concentrationVSAvoidsolid buildup

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of solid buildup into a beneficial self-cleaning mechanism. Water sprayed onto the fill material and louvers dissolves accumulated solids and washes them away, transforming the potential harm of solid accumulation into a useful cleaning action that enables continuous operation at high solids concentrations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling tower performs self-cleaning through the spray system that automatically dissolves and removes solids from fill material and louvers. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for frequent manual pressure washing and allows the system to maintain optimal performance while operating at elevated solids concentrations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If cooling tower operates to concentrate dissolved solids beyond typical limits, then evaporative performance is improved, but frequency of manual cleaning worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevaporative performanceVSAvoidmanual cleaning frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The spray system converts the harmful solid accumulation into a beneficial self-cleaning process, where water sprayed onto surfaces dissolves and removes solids automatically. This transforms what would require manual intervention into an automated beneficial process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling tower autonomously cleans itself through the spray system that continuously dissolves and washes away solids from fill material and louvers. This self-service capability eliminates scheduled manual cleaning operations and maintains evaporative performance without human intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If buildup prevention system is added to reduce solid buildup, then reliability is improved, but device complexity worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational continuityVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs hydraulic principles by using water spray to dissolve and remove solids from fill material and louvers. This hydraulic approach leverages the natural dissolving action of water on solids, providing a simple yet effective reliability enhancement without complex mechanical components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the physical-chemical parameters of the water (concentration, temperature, flow rate) to optimize its ability to dissolve and remove solids. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves reliable solid buildup prevention while maintaining relatively simple system architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system effectively prevents solid buildup, allowing for continuous operation and reducing water volume needs, eliminating the need for frequent manual cleaning, and enabling high solids concentration beyond typical limits, thus optimizing evaporative performance.

Implementation Method 1

spraying water horizontally and vertically to dissolve and wash away accumulated solids

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDissolution: Solvation

Implementation Method 2

releasing water vertically onto the fill material and/or the louvers to wash the solids away

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdvection: Advection

Implementation Method 3

releasing water vertically onto the fill material and/or the louvers to wash the solids away

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 4

evaporation cooling tower that functions and operates to build-up dissolved solids

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS9573077B2Solids maker cooling tower

Publication Date: 2017.02.21 SPX COOLING TECHNOLOGIES INC

AI summary

A cooling tower that concentrates solids is described, wherein the cooling tower employs a fill material and a set of louvers that are positioned adjacent to the fill material. The cooling tower also employs a buildup prevention system that is permanently affixed to the cooling tower. The build-up prevention system is positioned adjacent to the fill material and configured to reduce solid buildup on the fill material louvers in the set of louvers.