Geothermal Cooling Loop for Heat Exchanger Coolant to Reduce Emissions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current cooling systems in petrochemical plants, such as those using cooling towers, face issues with water vapor evaporation and hydrocarbon emissions, leading to inefficiencies and environmental concerns.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a geothermal cooling loop that buries underground conduits beneath the plant to utilize the earth's temperature range of 40°F to 80°F (4°C to 27°C) for cooling the coolant, eliminating the need for utility cooling mediums and reducing hydrocarbon emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a cooling tower system is used to cool the coolant, then the coolant can be cooled for continuous circulation, but water vapor evaporation and hydrocarbon emissions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the cooling tower system from the cooling process. By using the earth's subsurface as the cooling medium instead of atmospheric air cooling towers, the system removes the source of water vapor evaporation and hydrocarbon emissions while maintaining the coolant cooling function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces the earth's subsurface as an intermediary cooling medium. The underground conduit system acts as a mediator between the coolant and the earth's thermal mass, enabling heat transfer without direct atmospheric contact that causes evaporation and emissions.
2Temperature
If a cooling tower water system is used to remove heat from the coolant, then cooling duty is achieved, but the system size and capital costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the large-volume cooling tower structure and replaces it with a compact underground conduit system. The earth's subsurface serves as the cooling medium, eliminating the need for large above-ground water storage and cooling infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the earth's natural subsurface thermal properties as a self-service cooling system. The ground naturally absorbs heat from the coolant through the underground conduits without requiring external cooling towers, water pumps, or complex cooling infrastructure.
3Temperature
If cooling towers are used for coolant cooling, then heat removal is achieved, but operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The earth's subsurface naturally provides cooling capacity through its thermal mass and temperature gradient. The system requires minimal operational energy input compared to mechanical cooling towers, utilizing the earth's natural heat absorption capability to reduce operational costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention removes the energy-intensive cooling tower operation and replaces it with passive underground heat transfer. By eliminating the need for large fans, pumps, and water circulation systems associated with cooling towers, operational energy consumption is significantly reduced.
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
This approach significantly reduces water vapor evaporation and hydrocarbon emissions, enhances cooling efficiency, and decreases the capital and operational costs associated with tower water systems, while maintaining consistent cooling performance independent of atmospheric conditions.
Implementation Method 1
cooling the first warmed coolant in the cooling system to form a cooled coolant having a second temperature
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a process and apparatus for cooling a coolant used in a heat exchange equipment in a plant. The process is performed in a plant having the apparatus disclosed herein. The process and apparatus utilize a geothermal cooling loop for cooling at least a portion of the total amount of coolant circulating in the coolant loop that is used to cool a surface of a heat exchange equipment in the plant.