Heat Pipe Cool Storage System for Dry Cooling Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dry cooling systems for power plants are less efficient than water-cooled systems due to the lower cooling capacity of air compared to water, leading to reduced power generation efficiency and increased capital costs, especially during high ambient temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A heat pipe-thermal storage medium-based cool storage system that stores cold energy at night and uses it to cool incoming warm fluid during the day, reducing the number of air-cooled condenser cells needed and minimizing structure and fan power requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If dry cooling systems are used to reduce water consumption, then water usage is reduced, but cooling efficiency decreases and capital cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-cools the incoming air stream by directing it over the cold storage medium during daytime operation. This preliminary cooling action reduces the temperature of air entering the heat exchanger, thereby improving the temperature differential and heat transfer efficiency during periods when cooling is needed, while still using air as the cooling medium to avoid water consumption.
2Reliability
If air cooled condensers are overdesigned to handle highest ambient temperatures, then reliability is improved, but capital cost increases dramatically
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the temperature parameter of the incoming air stream by pre-cooling it with the cold storage medium. This parameter change allows the heat exchanger to operate more effectively at lower ambient temperatures and reduces the need for excessive heat exchanger area that would be required to handle peak high-temperature conditions, thereby reducing capital cost while maintaining reliability.
3Productivity
If heat transfer enhancement techniques are applied to air cooled condensers, then thermal efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a cold storage medium as an intermediary between the incoming air stream and the heat exchanger. This intermediary pre-cools the air, effectively enhancing the overall heat transfer process without requiring complex modifications to the heat exchanger structure itself, thus improving thermal efficiency while minimizing device complexity.
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 enhances thermal efficiency by efficiently transferring excess heat to a cool storage medium, which is then dissipated at night, reducing the number of air-cooled condenser cells required and lowering costs while maintaining power generation efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the heat pipes contains a selected amount of a heat transfer fluid adapted to transfer heat from the lower evaporator section to the hybrid evaporator/condensing section and the upper condensing section through a vapor/condensation cycle
Implementation Method 2
Each of the heat pipes contains a selected amount of a heat transfer fluid adapted to transfer heat from the lower evaporator section to the hybrid evaporator/condensing section and the upper condensing section through a vapor/condensation cycle
Implementation Method 3
A thermal storage medium is provided in thermal engagement with the hybrid evaporator/condensing section
Data Source
AI summary
A cool storage system comprising which includes a plurality of heat pipes. Each of the heat pipes has a lower evaporator section, a hybrid evaporator/condensing section, and an upper condensing section. The hybrid evaporator/condensing section positioned between the lower evaporator section and the upper condensing section. Each of the heat pipes contains a selected amount of a heat transfer fluid adapted to transfer heat from the lower evaporator section to the hybrid evaporator/condensing section and the upper condensing section through a vapor/condensation cycle, or the heat transfer fluid is vaporized in the hybrid evaporator and condensed in the upper evaporator section. A thermal storage medium is provided in thermal engagement with the hybrid evaporator/condensing section. A heat source is located in said lower evaporator section, and a cooling source, located in said upper condensing section.