Numerical Investigation on the Influence of Mechanical Draft Wet-Cooling Towers on the Cooling Performance of Air-Cooled Condenser with Complex Building Environment

Jun, Fan; Dong, Haotian; Xu, Xiangyang; Teng, De; Yan, Bo; Zhao, Yuanbin

doi:10.3390/en12234560

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 21 publications

(22 reference statements)

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“…CFD modeling has been used to further investigate the plume volume, length, and width with and without a wind velocity, which has also inspired other studies on plume volume flux [3][4][5][6]. Takata et al used a Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes model to predict wind effects on a rising visible plume from an MDCT in the absence of nearby buildings [3], while Fan et al similarly modeled an MDCT near a complex building environment [7]. Chahine et al simulated plume dispersals from four large, collocated natural draft cooling towers to determine the long-range visual impact of the facility [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Mechanical Draft Cooling Tower Thermal Emissions from Visual Images of Plumes

et al. 2023

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Using a one-dimensional code, we computed the power (enthalpy discharge rate) of a twelve-cell mechanical draft cooling tower (MDCT) using over two hundred visible condensed water vapor plume volume measurements derived from images, weather data, and tower operating conditions. The plume images were simultaneously captured by multiple stationary digital cameras surrounding the cooling tower. An analysis technique combining structure from motion (SfM), a neural-network-based image segmentation algorithm, and space carving was used to quantify the volumes. Afterwards, the power output was computed using novel techniques in the one-dimensional code that included cooling tower exhaust plume adjacency effects implemented with a modified version of the entrainment function, weather data averaged from eleven stations, and fan operations at the times when plume volumes were measured. The model was then compared with the averaged observed power output, and it validated well with an average error ranging from 6 to 12%, depending on the meteorological data used in the simulations. This methodology can possibly determine power plant fuel consumption rates by applying visible imagery.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Mechanical Draft Cooling Tower Thermal Emissions from Visual Images of Plumes

et al. 2023

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“…The authors concluded that the use of deflectors can reduce the effect of wind on cooling tower operation to a minimum. One can also encounter the results of research on the impact on operation of cooling towers located close to one another and with accompanying industrial facilities [21,22]. The effect of wind on the level of cooling in zones of cooling towers operated in different ways in relation to the wind direction has also been evaluated [23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Weather Conditions on the Operation of Power Unit Cooling Towers 905 MWe

et al. 2021

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The paper presents the results of measurements and calculations concerning the influence of weather conditions on the operation of wet cooling towers of 905 MWe units of the Opole Power Plant (Poland). The research concerned the influence of temperature and relative humidity of air, wind and power unit load on the water temperature at the outlet from the cooling tower, the level of water cooling, cooling efficiency and cooling water losses. In the cooling water loss, the evaporation loss stream and the drift loss stream were distinguished. In the analyzed operating conditions of the power unit, for example, an increase in Tamb air by 5 °C (from 20–22˚C to 25-27˚C) causes an increase in temperature at the outlet of the cooling tower by 3-4˚C. The influence of air temperature and humidity on the level of water cooling ΔTw and cooling efficiency ε were also found. In the case of ΔTw, the effect is in the order of 0.1-0.2˚C and results from the change in cooling water temperature and the heat exchange in the condenser. The ε value is influenced by air temperature and humidity, which determine the wet bulb temperature value. Within the range of power changes of the unit from 400 to 900 MWe, the evaporated water stream mev, depending on the environmental conditions, increases from 400-600 tons/h to the value of 1000-1400 tons/h. It was determined that in the case of the average power of the unit at the level of 576.6 MWe, the average values of the evaporation and drift streams were respectively 0.78% and 0.15% of the cooling water stream. Using statistical methods, it was found that the influence of wind on the level of water cooling, cooling efficiency and cooling water losses was statistically significant.

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“…Lee et al [4] conducted a three-dimensional parametric study of the gap between the cooling tower entrance area and the obstacle. Fan and Dong [26] studied the effect of MCTs on the cooling performance of air-cooled condensers in complex environments. Al-Waked [27] studied the effect of wind on the performance of the cooling tower and concluded that a separate cooling tower has better performance than a cooling tower with buildings around it.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of the Hot Air Recirculation Effect and Relevant Empirical Formulae Applicability for Mechanical Draft Wet Cooling Towers

et al. 2020

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Due to the hot air recirculation, the inlet air enthalpy h1 of mechanical draft wet cooling towers (MCTs) was usually greater than the ambient air enthalpy ha. To realize the cooling performance and accurate design of MCTs, this paper clarified the feasibility of the inlet air enthalpy empirical formula presented by the Cooling Technology Institute (CTI) of the USA. A three-dimensional (3D) numerical model was established for a representative power plant, with full consideration of MCTs and adjacent main workshops, which were validated by design data and published test results. By numerical simulation, the influence of different wind directions and wind speeds on hot air recirculation (HAR) and the influence of HAR on the cooling performance of the MCTs were qualitatively studied based on the concept of hot air recirculation rate (HRR), and the correction value of HRR was compared with the calculated value of the CTI standard. The evaluation coefficient ηh, representing the ratio of the corrected value to the calculated value was introduced to evaluate the applicability of the CTI formula. It was found that HAR was more sensitive to ambient crosswind, and an increase in HRR would deteriorate the tower cooling performance. When the crosswind speed increased from 0 to 15 m/s, ηh, changed from 2.42 to 80.18, and the calculation error increased accordingly. It can be concluded that the CTI empirical HRR formula should be corrected when there are large buildings around the MCTs, especially under high-speed ambient crosswind conditions.

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Numerical Investigation on the Influence of Mechanical Draft Wet-Cooling Towers on the Cooling Performance of Air-Cooled Condenser with Complex Building Environment

Cited by 5 publications

References 21 publications

Assessment of Mechanical Draft Cooling Tower Thermal Emissions from Visual Images of Plumes

Assessment of Mechanical Draft Cooling Tower Thermal Emissions from Visual Images of Plumes

Impact of Weather Conditions on the Operation of Power Unit Cooling Towers 905 MWe

Evaluation of the Hot Air Recirculation Effect and Relevant Empirical Formulae Applicability for Mechanical Draft Wet Cooling Towers

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