1 cooling towers: overview cm4120 spring 2008. 2 topics introduction definitions operating...
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Cooling Towers: Overview
CM4120
Spring 2008
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Topics
Introduction Definitions Operating Conditions Basic Components Water Cooling Systems Types
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Introduction
Boxed shaped collection of multilayered wooden slats
Air flow breaks up water as it falls
Design ensures good contact between water and air
Used to remove heat from water
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Key Definitions Wet-bulb temperature = air temperature measured by a
wet-bulb thermometer– simulates effect of evaporative cooling
Dry-bulb temperature = air temperature measured by a dry-bulb thermometer
Approach = difference in wet-bulb temperatures between inlet and outlet called “the approach to the tower”
Latent heat = heat associated with change in state of matter (e.g., liquid to gas phase)
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Operating Conditions
10-20% of heat (sensible heat) removed from contact between water and air
80-90% of heat removed following evaporation
Evaporation is most critical factor affecting tower efficiency!
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Operating Conditions
Factors which affect cooling tower performance:– relative humidity
– temperature
– wind velocity
– tower design
– water contamination
– equipment problems (pump failure)
Let’s discuss these!
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Basic Components
Water distribution system = includes header which distributes (sprays) water from top of tower over splash bars
Fan = induced and forced draft towers use fans to push or pull air
Air intake louvers = louvers on side of towers which direct air into tower (fixed or movable)
Water basin = collects water at bottom of tower prior to discharge
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Basic Components
fill = material inside a tower which redirects air flow and water
column = wooden or metal post which supports tower
stack = hyperbolic towers and chimney towers have huge stacks located at top
make-up water = water which is added due to evaporation and blowdown
splash bars = used to redirect the downward flow of water
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Parallel vs. Series Flow
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Classification of CTs
By direction of air flow– crossflow (airflow is horizontal )
– counterflow (airflow is vertical) designs
By how the air flow is produced – naturally (hyperbolic or chimney towers)
– mechanically (forced draft or induced draft)
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Induced Draft, Cross Flow CT
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Atmospheric Cooling Tower (Natural Draft)
Use natural forces (wind) to move air through CT
Air flows in through the sides, and out the top
Drift eliminators on the top
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Hyperbolic Cooling Tower
Also called chimney CT
Often seen at power plants
Very high flowrates
Air flows up, creating a draft
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Forced Draft Cooling Tower
Fans used to create a draft
Air forced in the bottom, and flows out the top
Typically solid sides
Some recirculation of air possible, harming efficiency
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Induced Draft Cooling Towers
Fans located at the top of the CT
Lifts air out of the CT, preventing recirculation
Probably the most common type used in chemical plants and refineries
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Troubleshooting
Water dissolves many things (especially hot water!)
Water is cooled and results in deposits in tower
Solids concentrate in cooling tower basin
Trivia Question: Are Cooling Towers equipped with automatic sprinklers?
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Problems Faced by Operators
Scale formation - suspended solids form deposits
Corrosion - electrochemical reactions with metal surfaces
Fouling - due to silt, debris, algae
Wood decay - fungi
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Water Composition Control
Suspended solids levels checked by operators (ppm)
Measured values compared to make-up water concentrations
Problem controlled by “blowdown” (i.e., old water replaced with new)
Note: 100 ppm = 100 lbs. suspended solids/1,000,000 lb water
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Water Composition Control (Solutions)
Scale formation– remove scale forming solids with softening agents
– prevent scale forming materials by addition of chemicals
– precipitate scale for removal
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Water Composition Control (Solutions)
Corrosion– add chemical inhibitors (adds thin film to metal)
Fouling– use filtering devices
– use dispersants with filtering devices
Wood decay– use biocides (chlorine or bromine)
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Water Testing (by Operators)
pH of water total dissolved solids (TDS) inhibitor concentration chlorine or bromine concentration precipitant concentration filter and screen checks temperature and humidity
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Humidity Measurements
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Humidity -- Background
Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air
Humidity is described in different ways– "relative humidity," which is the term used most often in
weather information meant for the public– Relative humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air
compared with the amount of vapor needed to make the air saturated at the air's current temperature
Dewpoint temperature gives a much better estimate of the amount of moisture actually present in the air– very important in determining precipitation amounts and even how
comfortable you feel
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Definitions
Absolute humidity: Mass of water vapor in a given volume of air( i.e., density of water vapor in a given parcel, usually expressed in grams per cubic meter)
Dewpoint: Temperature air would have to be cooled to in order for saturation to occur (Assumes there is no change in air pressure or moisture content of the air).
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Definitions
Wet bulb temperature: Lowest temperature that can be obtained by evaporating water into the air at constant pressure.
Name comes from the technique of putting a wet cloth over the bulb of a mercury thermometer and then blowing air over the cloth until the water evaporates. Since evaporation takes up heat, the thermometer will cool to a lower temperature than a thermometer with a dry bulb at the same time and place. Wet bulb temperatures can be used along with the dry bulb temperature to calculate dew point or relative humidity.
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Definitions
Relative humidity: The amount of water vapor actually in the air divided by the amount of water vapor the air can hold. Relative humidity is expressed as a percentage and can be computed in a variety of ways.
One way is to divide the actual vapor pressure by the saturation vapor pressure and then multiply by 100 to convert to a percent.
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Sling Psychrometer
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Humidity Determination
From wet and dry bulb temperatures
Use psychrometric charts– find intersection of wet and dry bulb
temperature lines– can read humidity from chart (y-axis)
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END LECTURE!