Modular Heat Exchange Tower Assembly for Faster Site Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cooling towers are labor-intensive and costly to assemble at job sites due to their large component sizes and shipping inefficiencies, which can be affected by weather and site conditions, leading to quality and performance issues.
Innovation Solution
A modular heat exchange tower design with pre-assembled air inlets and components that can be factory assembled and transported to the site for efficient on-site assembly, reducing labor and time requirements, and minimizing on-site assembly challenges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cooling towers are assembled at job sites using conventional designs, then on-site assembly flexibility is maintained, but assembly time and labor costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling tower is divided into multiple modular components including conical section modules, cylindrical section modules, and distribution system modules that can be pre-assembled in factories and then quickly connected at job sites, reducing on-site assembly time while maintaining flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
Modular components are pre-assembled, pre-sealed, and pre-configured in factory settings before transportation to job sites, allowing for faster on-site installation while ensuring quality control and reducing weather-related delays
2Loss of energy
If cooling towers are assembled at job sites, then shipping costs are reduced, but assembly complexity and labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tower structure is segmented into standardized modular sections that can be transported efficiently and assembled using simplified connection mechanisms, reducing both shipping costs and assembly complexity simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple functional components are merged into integrated modular sections that ship as single units, reducing the number of separate assemblies required at job sites while maintaining shipping efficiency
3Loss of time
If cooling towers are factory assembled, then on-site assembly time is reduced, but shipping efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling tower is divided into compact modular sections with optimized dimensions for efficient transportation, allowing factory pre-assembly of components while maintaining shipping productivity through standardized module sizes
4Strength
If large component sizes are used in cooling towers, then structural integrity is maintained, but shipping and handling become less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The structure is divided into modular sections that maintain required structural integrity through standardized connection systems while being sized for efficient transportation and handling
Solution Approach 2:
Smaller modular components are nested within or attached to larger structural modules during factory assembly, creating compact shipping units that maintain structural integrity when assembled at job sites
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 modular design reduces on-site assembly time, costs, and safety concerns while enhancing shipping efficiency and reducing the risk of transportation issues, resulting in a more efficient and cost-effective cooling solution.
Implementation Method 1
Cooling towers are heat exchangers of a type widely used to emanate low grade heat into the atmosphere
Implementation Method 2
liquid of high temperature is cooled as it flows downwards through fill or packing and is brought into contact with air traveling upwards
Implementation Method 3
The spray nozzles are arranged to evenly distribute the liquid over the top of the fill
Implementation Method 4
The liquid then travels through holes or openings in the bottom of the hot liquid basin to the fill
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a modular heat exchange tower that has a plurality of air inlet modules each having stanchion disposed therein. The modular heat exchange tower also includes a series of heat exchange modules positioned above the air inlet modules along with a series of plenum modules position above said heat exchange modules.