Cooling Tower Wind Wall System for Water Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
In evaporative heat exchange systems, such as cooling towers, extreme winds and sub-zero temperatures cause water from the rain zone to be blown outside or freeze on inlet louvers, leading to operational and safety issues by blocking airflow.
Innovation Solution
A wind wall system is implemented around the perimeter of the cooling tower, comprising diagonal wind walls that slow and redirect wind velocity, ensuring it points towards the center, preventing water from being blown out or onto inlet louvers, and featuring removable or retractable designs for easy maintenance and operation across seasons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If wind walls are installed to prevent water from being blown out, then water loss is reduced and airflow is maintained, but device complexity increases due to additional structural components
Solution Approach 1:
The wind wall acts as an intermediary structure installed within the cooling tower to block and redirect wind flow. It mediates between the incoming wind and the water droplets, preventing wind from carrying water outside while allowing modified airflow to continue through the tower for cooling purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The wind wall system segments the cooling tower interior into different airflow zones. By dividing the single large tower space into regions separated by wind walls, the system can control wind patterns in each segment, directing them toward the center and preventing water loss in each zone independently.
2Reliability
If wind walls are installed to prevent water from blowing onto inlet louvers, then operational reliability is improved by preventing ice blockage, but ease of operation deteriorates due to installation and maintenance complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The wind wall system incorporates movable or adjustable components that can be dynamically positioned. The wind walls can be installed or removed based on seasonal requirements, allowing the system to adapt to changing operational conditions - providing protection during winter months when ice formation is a risk, and being removable during warmer periods to maintain full operational capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes its configuration parameters based on environmental conditions. During winter operation, wind walls are installed to modify airflow patterns and prevent ice formation. During summer or mild weather, the wind walls can be removed or repositioned to allow unrestricted airflow, thus adapting the system's protective function to seasonal needs.
3Loss of substance
If wind walls redirect wind velocity toward the center, then water is prevented from exiting the tower, but airflow path length increases reducing cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The wind walls redirect airflow from a horizontal path toward the center to a vertical path upward through the tower. By changing the dimension of airflow movement from horizontal to vertical, the system maintains water retention while allowing the air to still reach the fill media for heat exchange, utilizing the vertical space of the tower for cooling purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The wind walls are positioned and angled to create a curvilinear airflow pattern that guides wind in an arc toward the center and then upward. This curved flow path is more efficient than sharp directional changes, maintaining smoother airflow that reduces resistance while still achieving the goal of preventing water from being carried horizontally outside the tower.
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 wind wall system effectively prevents water from exiting the cooling tower, reduces ice formation on louvers, and maintains airflow, ensuring safe and efficient operation during extreme weather conditions.
Implementation Method 1
wind walls where the wind velocity is reduced and guided into each wind wall zone such that the wind air velocity vector points to the center of the wind walls
Implementation Method 2
evaporative liquid from a heat load source is sprayed from the top onto a direct heat exchange surface
Implementation Method 3
air is moved through the direct heat exchanger to transfer heat from the water directly to the leaving air stream
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling tower is provided having a heat exchange section, and a fan for moving air through the heat exchange section. A water distribution assembly provides water onto and through the heat exchange section. An air inlet section is provided through which air is drawn into the cooling tower and the heat exchange section. The air inlet section has outside edges and corners. A wall assembly is provided in the air inlet section, with the wall assembly extending from the corners of the air inlet section inwardly. The water passing through the heat exchange section enters the air inlet section, and exits to a sump beneath the air inlet section. The air inlet section is comprised of a structure having outside edges and corners, and the wall assembly is comprised of a plurality of wall panel sections. Each wall panel section has an outer edge at a corner of the air inlet section, and each wall panel section extends inwardly from the corner of the air inlet section.