Cooling Tower Plume Abatement via Electrostatic Precipitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cooling towers generate plumes that are perceived as harmful, leading to civil complaints, despite the plumes being harmless, due to the discharge of high-temperature and humid air containing water vapor.
Innovation Solution
A cooling tower design incorporating a wet unit and a dry unit that limit material transfer, a plume generating unit for contacting first and second airs to create a plume, and a plume collecting unit with an electrostatic precipitator to collect and remove the plume before atmospheric discharge, ensuring minimal plume generation and recollection of cooling water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-temperature and humid air is discharged from the cooling tower, then cooling efficiency is improved, but plume is generated causing civil complaints
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling tower is divided into a wet unit and a dry unit with separate air discharge paths. The wet unit discharges high-temperature and humid air that forms plume, while the dry unit discharges air without plume formation, segmenting the harmful effect from the cooling function
Solution Approach 2:
A plume collecting unit with electrostatic precipitator is introduced as an intermediary device between the plume generating unit and the atmosphere. This intermediary collects and removes plume particles through electrostatic attraction, preventing direct discharge to the atmosphere while maintaining cooling efficiency
2Object-generated harmful factors
If plume is collected and removed, then environmental impact is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plume collecting unit is integrated into the existing cooling tower structure, merging the plume removal function with the cooling tower housing. The electrostatic precipitator is combined with the plume generating unit, creating a unified system that reduces complexity compared to separate external systems
Solution Approach 2:
The plume collecting unit serves multiple functions: it collects plume particles, removes them through electrostatic precipitation, and allows cooled air to pass through to the atmosphere. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate systems
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
Effectively reduces plume generation and allows for the recollection of cooling water, minimizing environmental impact and public concerns while maintaining cooling efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling unit disposed inside of the housing and configured to convert high-temperature cooling water into low-temperature cooling water by contacting it with ambient air
Implementation Method 2
contacting it with ambient air to cool down a temperature thereof
Implementation Method 3
the plume is generated by condensation of the cooling water having water as a main component
Implementation Method 4
a plume collecting unit disposed inside or outside of the housing and configured to collect plume generated in the plume generating unit
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling tower having plume abating means is disclosed. The cooling tower disclosed herein includes: a housing; a cooling unit disposed inside of the housing and configured to convert high-temperature cooling water into low-temperature cooling water by contacting it with ambient air, wherein the cooling unit includes a wet unit and a dry unit that limit or block transfer of materials therebetween; a cooling water distributing unit disposed on top of the cooling unit and configured to spray cooling water to at least the wet unit of the cooling unit; a plume generating unit for generating plume by contacting first air discharged from the wet unit with second air discharged from the dry unit; a plume collecting unit disposed inside or outside of the housing and configured to collect plume generated in the plume generating unit; and an exhausting means disposed in a front end or back end of the plume collecting unit.