Computer Simulation of Transport Phenomena in Evaporative Cooling Towers

1988 ◽  
Vol 110 (2) ◽  
pp. 190-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Benton ◽  
W. R. Waldrop
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Field Data ◽  
Cooling Tower ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Cooling Towers ◽  
Governing Equations ◽  
Cooling Process ◽  
Transfer Processes ◽  
Finite Integral ◽  
Simultaneous Heat

A computer model of the simultaneous heat, mass, and momentum transfer processes occurring throughout an entire cooling tower is described in this paper. The model includes the flexibility to analyze the several configurations, fill arrangements, and flow distributions commonly used by the power industry. The fundamental governing equations are solved using a finite-integral technique to provide a quasi-two-dimensional description of the flow and cooling process within the tower. The model has been successfully compared with field data from cooling towers at three TVA power plants as well as data from other utilities. Each of these towers was significantly different in design, thereby demonstrating the versatility of the model for correctly predicting the cooling performance of mechanical and natural draft towers, as well as crossflow and counterflow orientations, for a range of meteorological and plant operating conditions.

scholarly journals On Thermal Performance of Seawater Cooling Towers

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mostafa H. Sharqawy ◽  
John H. Lienhard ◽  
Syed M. Zubair
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Conductivity ◽  
Power Generation ◽  
Thermal Performance ◽  
Cooling Tower ◽  
Cooling Towers ◽  
Governing Equations ◽  
Detailed Model ◽  
Salt Deposition ◽  
Transfer Processes ◽  
Mass Transfer Processes

Seawater cooling towers have been used since the 1970’s in power generation and other industries, so as to reduce the consumption of freshwater. The salts in seawater are known to create a number of operational problems including salt deposition, packing blockage, corrosion, and certain environmental impacts from salt drift and blowdown return. In addition, the salinity of seawater affects the thermophysical properties which govern the thermal performance of cooling towers, including vapor pressure, density, specific heat, viscosity, thermal conductivity and surface tension. In this paper, the thermal performance of seawater cooling towers is investigated using a detailed model of a counterflow wet cooling tower. The model takes into consideration the coupled heat and mass transfer processes and does not make any of the conventional Merkel approximations. In addition, the model incorporates the most up-to-date seawater properties in the literature. The model governing equations are solved numerically and its validity is checked by data in the literature. Based on the results of the model, a correction factor is obtained which characterizes the degradation of the cooling tower effectiveness when seawater is used.

scholarly journals On Thermal Performance of Seawater Cooling Towers

2010 ◽  
Vol 133 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mostafa H. Sharqawy ◽  
John H. Lienhard ◽  
Syed M. Zubair
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Conductivity ◽  
Thermal Performance ◽  
Cooling Tower ◽  
Cooling Towers ◽  
Governing Equations ◽  
Detailed Model ◽  
Salt Deposition ◽  
Transfer Processes ◽  
Mass Transfer Processes ◽  
Seawater Salinity

Seawater cooling towers have been used since the 1970s in power generation and other industries, so as to reduce the consumption of freshwater. The salts in seawater are known to create a number of operational problems, including salt deposition, packing blockage, corrosion, and certain environmental impacts from salt drift and blowdown return. In addition, the salinity of seawater affects the thermophysical properties that govern the thermal performance of cooling towers, including vapor pressure, density, specific heat, viscosity, thermal conductivity, and surface tension. In this paper, the thermal performance of seawater cooling towers is investigated using a detailed model of a counterflow wet cooling tower. The model takes into consideration the coupled heat and mass transfer processes and does not make any of the conventional Merkel approximations. In addition, the model incorporates the most up-to-date seawater properties in the literature. The model governing equations are solved numerically, and its validity is checked against the available data in the literature. Based on the results of the model, a correction factor that characterizes the degradation of the cooling tower effectiveness as a function of seawater salinity and temperature approach is presented for performance evaluation purposes.

scholarly journals An analytical model on thermal performance evaluation of counter flow wet cooling tower

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (6 Part A) ◽  
pp. 2491-2501 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Wang ◽  
Pei-Hong Wang ◽  
Zhi-Gang Su
Keyword(s):  
Analytical Model ◽  
Thermal Performance ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Cooling Tower ◽  
Cooling Towers ◽  
Counter Flow ◽  
Water Surface Temperature ◽  
Mass Transfer Processes ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Simultaneous Heat

This paper proposes an analytical model for simultaneous heat and mass transfer processes in a counter flow wet cooling tower, with the assumption that the enthalpy of the saturated air is a linear function of the water surface temperature. The performance of the proposed analytical model is validated in some typical cases. The validation reveals that, when cooling range is in a certain interval, the proposed model is not only comparable with the accurate model, but also can reduce computational complexity. In addition, with the proposed analytical model, the thermal performance of the counter flow wet cooling towers in power plants is calculated. The results show that the proposed analytical model can be applied to evaluate and predict the thermal performance of counter flow wet cooling towers.

An Analytical Approach to the Heat and Mass Transfer Processes in Counterflow Cooling Towers

2006 ◽  
Vol 128 (11) ◽  
pp. 1142-1148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chengqin Ren
Keyword(s):  
Mass Transfer ◽  
Differential Equations ◽  
Heat And Mass Transfer ◽  
Analytical Model ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Cooling Towers ◽  
Accurate Analysis ◽  
Transfer Resistance ◽  
Transfer Processes ◽  
Mass Transfer Processes

Quick and accurate analysis of cooling tower performance, outlet conditions of moist air, and parameter profiles along the tower height is very important in rating and design calculations. This paper developed an analytical model for the coupled heat and mass transfer processes in counterflow cooling towers based on operating conditions more realistic than most conventionally adopted Merkel approximations. In modeling, values of the Lewis factor were not necessarily specified as unity. Effects of water loss by evaporation and water film heat transfer resistance were also considered in the model equations. Within a relatively narrow range of operating conditions, the humidity ratio of air in equilibrium with the water surface was assumed to be a linear function of the surface temperature. The differential equations were rearranged and an analytical solution was developed for newly defined parameters. The analytical model predicts the tower performances, outlet conditions, and parameter profiles quickly and accurately when comparing with the numerical integration of the original differential equations.

scholarly journals Thermal Performance Evaluation of Seawater Cooling Towers

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mostafa H. Sharqawy ◽  
Iqbal S. Husain ◽  
Syed M. Zubair ◽  
John H. Lienhard
Keyword(s):  
Mass Transfer ◽  
Heat And Mass Transfer ◽  
Fresh Water ◽  
Thermal Performance ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Thermal Design ◽  
Cooling Towers ◽  
Detailed Model ◽  
Transfer Processes ◽  
Mass Transfer Processes

Seawater has been used for long time as a cooling fluid in heat exchangers to reduce fresh water usage in industry and power plants. The thermophysical properties of seawater are different from those of fresh water due to the salt content or salinity. This difference is sufficient to affect the heat and mass transfer processes which in turn change the thermal performance. Thermal design of fresh water cooling towers is described in detail in many textbooks and handbooks. However, only a rule of thumb is frequently used for designing of seawater cooling towers. This rule recommends degrading the tower performance by approximately 1% for every 10,000 ppm of salts in the feed water. In this paper, the thermal performance of seawater cooling towers is presented using a detailed model of counterflow wet cooling towers which takes into consideration the coupled simultaneous heat and mass transfer processes and uses state-of-the-art seawater properties from the literature. The model governing equations are solved numerically and the validity of this model is checked using new experimental data that has been measured using a bench top counterflow seawater cooling tower. The effect of the variation of seawater salinity as well as other operating conditions on the effectiveness and Merkel number is investigated.

Improving the energy efficiency of a 110 MW thermal power plant by low-cost modification of the cooling system

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milica Jović ◽  
Mirjana Laković ◽  
Miloš Banjac
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Cooling Tower ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Electric Power System ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Cooling Towers ◽  
Tower System

The electric power system of the Republic of Serbia relies mostly on lignite-fired thermal power plants, with 70% of the total electricity generation. Most of these plants are over 30 years old, and investment in their modernization is necessary. The energy efficiency of the 110 MW coal-fired power plant in which the condenser is cooled by the mechanical draught wet cooling towers system is analyzed in this paper. Attention is primarily devoted to operating conditions of the cold end of the plant, i.e. to the interrelationship of the condenser and cooling towers. Most important parameters that affect the operation of the cooling towers system are ambient air temperature and relative humidity, specific mass flow rate, and temperature of cooled water. With the existing cooling system, the overall energy efficiency of the plant is low, especially in the summer months, even less than 30%, due to adverse weather conditions. By upgrading existing cooling tower system by adaptation of two additional cooling tower cells, overall energy efficiency can be increased by 1.5%. The cooling tower system rehabilitation investments payback period is estimated to be less than one year. Static method for economic and financial assessment is used.

scholarly journals Prediction of Strength Properties of Filling Packets in Selected Cooling Towers

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (21) ◽  
pp. 3840
Author(s):  
Monika Chomiak ◽  
Maciej Rojek ◽  
Józef Stabik ◽  
Małgorzata Szymiczek
Keyword(s):  
Tensile Strength ◽  
Cooling Tower ◽  
Operating Time ◽  
Degradation Process ◽  
Strength Properties ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Polymer Materials ◽  
Cooling Towers ◽  
Reference Samples ◽  
Degree Of Degradation

The operating conditions of thermoplastic polymer materials determine the changes in their functional properties. Accelerated aging tests do not give a full picture of the changes taking place in the polymer material, hence the conclusions drawn on the basis of exposure of these materials to damaging effects in real operating conditions are particularly important. The aim of the study was to determine the degree of degradation of polypropylene films used in the drainage blocks of cooling towers in a selected power plant in the Silesian voivodship, which allowed forecasting the operating time over a period of 10 years. A number of 600 mm high drip blocks were tested, on which 300 mm high blocks were mounted. The tests were carried out on films subjected to the aging process in the conditions of continuous operation of a cooling tower (almost 100% humidity). The water flow is accompanied by heat exchange, the side effect of which is deposits formation on the surface of the drip blocks, negatively affecting the operation of the cooling tower. The degree of degradation resulting from operational aging was assessed on the basis of the strength properties determined in the static tensile test, thermogravimetric analysis and FTIR spectra. Changes in properties during operation were determined on the basis of the obtained results of the strength tests, which were compared with the tensile strength and elongation at break of reference samples (not subjected to aging in the operating conditions of cooling tower drip blocks). The obtained results were related to the properties of the reference samples not subjected to the degradation process. Based on the collected data, the tensile strength and deformation at fracture after a 10-year service life were predicted.

scholarly journals Mitigation of Ground Vibration due to Collapse of a Large-Scale Cooling Tower with Novel Application of Materials as Cushions

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Lin ◽  
Qiheng Zhong
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Cooling Tower ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Ground Vibration ◽  
Cooling Towers ◽  
Vibration Mitigation ◽  
Containment System ◽  
Foamed Concrete ◽  
Tube Assembly

Ground vibration induced by the collapse of large-scale cooling towers in nuclear power plants (NPPs) has recently been realized as a potential secondary disaster to adjacent nuclear-related facilities with demands for vibration mitigation. The previous concept to design cooling towers and nuclear-related facilities operating in a containment as isolated components in NPPs is inappropriate in a limited site which is the cases for inland NPPs in China. This paper presents a numerical study on the mitigation of ground vibration in a “cooling tower-soil-containment” system via a novel application of two materials acting as cushions underneath cooling towers, that is, foamed concrete and a “tube assembly.” Comprehensive “cooling tower-cushion-soil” models were built with reasonable cushion material models. Computational cases were performed to demonstrate the effect of vibration mitigation using seven earthquake waves. Results found that collapse-induced ground vibrations at a point with a distance of 300 m were reduced in average by 91%, 79%, and 92% in radial, tangential, and vertical directions when foamed concrete was used, and the vibrations at the same point were reduced by 53%, 32%, and 59% when the “tube assembly” was applied, respectively. Therefore, remarkable vibration mitigation was achieved in both cases to enhance the resilience of the “cooling tower-soil-containment” system against the secondary disaster.

scholarly journals Experimental evaluations on the outdoor air-based methods for water saving and plume abatement of cooling tower

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 421-426
Author(s):  
Beomjoon Lee ◽  
Chul Woo Roh ◽  
Bong Soo Choi ◽  
Eunseok Wang ◽  
Ho-Sang Ra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Cooling Tower ◽  
Industrial Sector ◽  
Water Saving ◽  
Membrane Module ◽  
Cooling Power ◽  
Cooling Towers ◽  
Outdoor Air ◽  
Operation Rate

Abstract Cooling towers are widely used not only for commercial and industrial purposes but also for cooling power plant. In Korea, coal-fired power plants and nuclear power plants are generally located on the coast, while most combined-power plants are located inland and use cooling towers to condense steam. The operation rate of power plants in Korea highly depends on government energy policies. In the future, it is expected that the need for cooling tower water for inland power plant will increase. Since power plant is one of the massive water-consuming facilities, methods for water saving of cooling tower should be prepared. Also, in the industrial sector, plume is constantly raising social conflicts between residents and manufactures. Basically, similar technologies can be applied to water saving and plume abatement. In this study, the performance of the condensing module (outdoor-air-condensing method) using outside air was tested first. This module has an advantage in that cooling heat source is not necessary. But an excessive increase of fan air volume is required. We tested a membrane-dehumidification method that selectively transfers water vapor by applying a membrane module. The results showed that membrane module required a large amount of energy to generate vapor pressure difference and it had a disadvantage in energy usage. Since the membrane method considered requires a high bypass airflow for higher dehumidification, it also has a disadvantage similar to that of the outdoor air module. Finally, the dehumidification/regeneration module (heat-pump method) gave the best performance in terms of water saving and plume abatement.

scholarly journals DESIGN OF BIOGAS COOLING PROCESSING FROM POME FOR (CSTR) CONTINUOUS STIRRED TANK REACTOR SYSTEM

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-144
Author(s):  
Endro wahju Tjahjono ◽  
Arfiana Arfiana ◽  
Era Restu Finalis ◽  
Ali Nurdin
Keyword(s):  
Cooling Tower ◽  
Biogas Production ◽  
Good Alternative ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Stirred Tank ◽  
Design Calculation ◽  
Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor ◽  
Cooling Process ◽  
Continuous Stirred Tank ◽  
Cooling Air

POME (Palm Oil Mill Effluent) can be used as for biogas production, with the main content of (65%) methane gas (CH4) and 35% Carbon Dioxide (CO2), H2S, and H2O gases. Apart from being a gas fuel and a source of electricity generation, biogas from POME waste as well as a waste processor becomes more environmentally friendly (according to quality standards). In order to support the process production of biogas from POME by using Continuous Stirred Tank Reactors (CSTR), it is necessary to decrease POME’s temperature to meet the requirements of the reactor operating conditions. Cooling process by using a Cooling Tower through direct contact between fluids can be a good alternative to be used as a POME cooling method because of its effectiveness in heat exchange and smaller area needed than an open ponds. The type of cooling tower used is the Induced Draft Cooling Tower. In cooling tower design, the steps involved in determining the basic design, calculation of tower dimensions, basin, fan power, losses, and cooling air requirements. Based on the calculation, the tower dimensions determine a height of 5 m, length of 3.6 m, and width of 2.5 m, while the basin cooling tower dimensions determine a height of 2.7 m, length of 3.6 m, and width of 2.5 m, fan power of 5 hp. The cooling air requirement for the POME cooling process is 82,895.14 kg/hour. Keywords : POME; Cooling Tower; CSTR; Fuel; Biogas

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document