Performance Curves for Mechanical Draft Cooling Towers

1975 ◽  
Vol 97 (4) ◽  
pp. 503-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. F. Hallett
Keyword(s):  
Cooling Tower ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Cooling Towers ◽  
Design Point ◽  
Performance Curves ◽  
Bid Evaluation ◽  
Analytical Verification

This paper presents cooling tower theory and methods for analytical verification of manufacturers’ guaranteed performance curves for mechanical draft cooling towers. Both ASME PTC-23 and Cooling Tower Institute Bulletin ATP-105 are being revised and both test codes have historically used performance curves as a means of evaluating cooling tower capacity. Techniques and methods are given for calculating performance curves for both counterflow and crossflow type cooling towers. These procedures can be used during bid evaluation to assess and predict tower performance at various operating conditions other than the design point.

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.

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.

Mapping and Predicting Air Flows in Gas Turbine Axial Compressors

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. McKee
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Axial Compressor ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Control Panel ◽  
Airflow Rate ◽  
Computer Data ◽  
Design Point ◽  
Axial Compressors ◽  
Performance Curves

Determining the airflow through a gas turbine’s axial compressor is not a simple or one step process as many factors affect flow and there is seldom a flow meter or a means to directly measure airflow rate. Speed of the compressor, inlet pressure and temperature, and resistance or backpressure at the compressor’s outlet all affect the amount of airflow. The type of gas turbine, single or twin spool, the magnitude of power produced, the use of bleed or bypass valves, the power turbine speed, and operating conditions all have influences on the amount of airflow. Despite this, there are several reasons why an estimate of airflow is useful for understanding and describing the behavior and performance of gas turbines. The amount of airflow compared to fuel flow determines the composition and condition of the exhaust gases and is directly related to the turbine’s power output, heat rate, and waste heat recovery potential. A predicted airflow rate and the corresponding axial compressor discharge pressure can be used to identify deterioration in performance and to estimate emission characteristics of a unit. This paper presents an approach based on easily obtained gas turbine data, such as the design point data, test stand data, or manufacturer’s curves for the compressor. Compressor performance curves may be obtained from the manufacturer or by mapping compressor output during normal operations. A great deal of information has been presented in the literature about the performance of gas turbines and axial compressors but this paper focuses on methods that are sufficiently simple and direct that users can obtain an estimate of their unit’s airflow, References 1, 2, and 3. Some manufacturers provide computer data bases or on-line control panel estimates of gas turbine airflow but in these cases, the user has no idea what causes a change. Detailed performance curves for axial compressors are usually not available, however, through the methods presented in this paper, a reasonable approximation of the operating curves can be developed and used to estimate axial compressor airflow over the full range of normal operations. The methods described are based on tracking and mapping a compressor’s operations over a period of time and relating compressor output to other performance parameters and known conditions (design point) in order to establish a normally expected airflow rate.

Case study: Theoretical calculation model and variable condition analysis research on the water-splashing noise for natural draft wet cooling towers

2020 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-145
Author(s):  
Yang Zhouo ◽  
Ming Gao ◽  
Suoying He ◽  
Yuetao Shi ◽  
Fengzhong Sun
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Model ◽  
Sound Pressure Level ◽  
Water Droplet ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Sound Pressure ◽  
Cooling Tower ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Calculation Model ◽  
Pressure Level ◽  
Cooling Towers

Based on the basic theory of water droplets impact noise, the generation mechanism and calculation model of the water-splashing noise for natural draft wet cooling towers were established in this study, and then by means of the custom software, the water-splashing noise was studied under different water droplet diameters and water-spraying densities as well as partition water distribution patterns conditions. Comparedwith the water-splashing noise of the field test, the average difference of the theoretical and the measured value is 0.82 dB, which validates the accuracy of the established theoretical model. The results based on theoretical model showed that, when the water droplet diameters are smaller in cooling tower, the attenuation of total sound pressure level of the water-splashing noise is greater. From 0 m to 8 m away from the cooling tower, the sound pressure level of the watersplashing noise of 3 mm and 6 mm water droplets decreases by 8.20 dB and 4.36 dB, respectively. Additionally, when the water-spraying density becomes twice of the designed value, the sound pressure level of water-splashing noise all increases by 3.01 dB for the cooling towers of 300 MW, 600 MW and 1000 MW units. Finally, under the partition water distribution patterns, the change of the sound pressure level is small. For the R s/2 and Rs/3 partition radius (Rs is the radius of water-spraying area), when the water-spraying density ratio between the outer and inner zone increases from 1 to 3, the sound pressure level of water-splashing noise increases by 0.7 dB and 0.3 dB, respectively.

scholarly journals Cooling tower plume abatement and plume modeling: a review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuo Li ◽  
M. R. Flynn
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Cooling Tower ◽  
Plume Rise ◽  
Cooling Towers ◽  
Moist Air ◽  
Novel Technologies ◽  
Plume Modeling ◽  
Dry Cooling Tower ◽  
Dry Cooling

AbstractVisible plumes above wet cooling towers are of great concern due to the associated aesthetic and environmental impacts. The parallel path wet/dry cooling tower is one of the most commonly used approaches for plume abatement, however, the associated capital cost is usually high due to the addition of the dry coils. Recently, passive technologies, which make use of free solar energy or the latent heat of the hot, moist air rising through the cooling tower fill, have been proposed to minimize or abate the visible plume and/or conserve water. In this review, we contrast established versus novel technologies and give a perspective on the relative merits and demerits of each. Of course, no assessment of the severity of a visible plume can be made without first understanding its atmospheric trajectory. To this end, numerous attempts, being either theoretical or numerical or experimental, have been proposed to predict plume behavior in atmospheres that are either uniform versus density-stratified or still versus windy (whether highly-turbulent or not). Problems of particular interests are plume rise/deflection, condensation and drift deposition, the latter consideration being a concern of public health due to the possible transport and spread of Legionella bacteria.

Predicting cooling tower plume dispersion

1997 ◽  
Vol 211 (4) ◽  
pp. 291-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
B E A Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Cooling Tower ◽  
Industrial Process ◽  
Local Environment ◽  
Meteorological Conditions ◽  
Performance Criteria ◽  
Plume Dispersion ◽  
Cooling Towers ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Operating Characteristics

An assessment of the effects of visible cooling tower plumes on the local environment can be a necessary part of any proposal for a new large industrial process. Predictions of the dispersion of plumes from cooling towers are based on methods developed for chimney emissions. However, the kinds of criteria used to judge the acceptability of cooling tower plumes are different from those used for stack plumes. The frequency of long elevated plumes and the frequency of ground fogging are the two main issues. It is shown that events associated with significant plume visibility are dependent both on the operating characteristics of the tower and on the occurrence of certain meteorological conditions. The dependence on atmospheric conditions is shown to be fairly complex and simple performance criteria based on the exit conditions from the tower are not sufficient for assessments.

Design Point for Predicting Year-Round Performance of Solar Parabolic Trough Concentrator Systems

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Men Wirz ◽  
Matthew Roesle ◽  
Aldo Steinfeld
Keyword(s):  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Specific System ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
Operating Condition ◽  
Average Efficiency ◽  
Design Point ◽  
Yearly Average ◽  
Solar Field

Thermal efficiencies of the solar field of two different parabolic trough concentrator (PTC) systems are evaluated for a variety of operating conditions and geographical locations, using a detailed 3D heat transfer model. Results calculated at specific design points are compared to yearly average efficiencies determined using measured direct normal solar irradiance (DNI) data as well as an empirical correlation for DNI. It is shown that the most common choices of operating conditions at which solar field performance is evaluated, such as the equinox or the summer solstice, are inadequate for predicting the yearly average efficiency of the solar field. For a specific system and location, the different design point efficiencies vary significantly and differ by as much as 11.5% from the actual yearly average values. An alternative simple method is presented of determining a representative operating condition for solar fields through weighted averages of the incident solar radiation. For all tested PTC systems and locations, the efficiency of the solar field at the representative operating condition lies within 0.3% of the yearly average efficiency. Thus, with this procedure, it is possible to accurately predict year-round performance of PTC systems using a single design point, while saving computational effort. The importance of the design point is illustrated by an optimization study of the absorber tube diameter, where different choices of operating conditions result in different predicted optimum absorber diameters.

Design of Cooling Towers by the Effectiveness-NTU Method

1989 ◽  
Vol 111 (4) ◽  
pp. 837-843 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Jaber ◽  
R. L. Webb
Keyword(s):  
Heat Exchanger ◽  
Cooling Tower ◽  
Design Method ◽  
Design Methods ◽  
Parallel Flow ◽  
Basic Method ◽  
Cooling Towers ◽  
Flow Configuration ◽  
Heat Exchanger Design

This paper develops the effectiveness-NTU design method for cooling towers. The definitions for effectiveness and NTU are totally consistent with the fundamental definitions used in heat exchanger design. Sample calculations are presented for counter and crossflow cooling towers. Using the proper definitions, a person competent in heat exchanger design can easily use the same basic method to design a cooling tower of counter, cross, or parallel flow configuration. The problems associated with the curvature of the saturated air enthalpy line are also treated. A “one-increment” design ignores the effect of this curvature. Increased precision can be obtained by dividing the cooling range into two or more increments. The standard effectiveness-NTU method is then used for each of the increments. Calculations are presented to define the error associated with different numbers of increments. This defines the number of increments required to attain a desired degree of precision. The authors also summarize the LMED method introduced by Berman, and show that this is totally consistent with the effectiveness-NTU method. Hence, using proper and consistent terms, heat exchanger designers are shown how to use either the standard LMED or effectiveness-NTU design methods to design cooling towers.

Analysis of Heat, Mass, and Momentum Transfer in the Rain Zone of Counterflow Cooling Towers

1999 ◽  
Vol 121 (4) ◽  
pp. 751-755 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. de Villiers ◽  
D. G. Kro¨ger
Keyword(s):  
Momentum Transfer ◽  
Cooling Tower ◽  
Mechanical Energy ◽  
Performance Evaluations ◽  
Cooling Towers ◽  
Droplet Deformation ◽  
One Dimensional ◽  
Mechanical Energy Loss ◽  
Simplifying Assumptions ◽  
Semi Empirical

The rate of heat, mass, and momentum transfer in the rain zone of three counterflow cooling tower geometries is analyzed using simplifying assumptions and numerical integration. The objective of the analysis is to generate equations for use in a one-dimensional mathematical cooling tower performance evaluations. Droplet deformation is taken into account and momentum transfer is calculated from the air flow’s mechanical energy loss, caused by air-droplet interaction. A comparison of dimensionless semi-empirical equations and experimental data demonstrates the method’s capability to predict the pressure drop in a counterflow rain zone.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document