JP2024088009A - Cooling tower filler unit and cooling tower - Google Patents

Abstract

To make it possible to suitably secure cooling performance of a cooling tower by preventing fillers from being damaged by an impact load caused by earthquake motion, etc.SOLUTION: A plurality of filler units 16 for a cooling tower 10 are installed in the cooling tower, and each comprise: a frame body 21 for forming an internal space 20 having a hexahedron shape; a plurality of block-like fillers 18 arranged in the internal space of the frame body, and for cooling warm water on a high-temperature side by exchanging heat with air on a low-temperature side; and side plates 22 arranged in the internal space of the frame body, and for supporting side surfaces 30C of a filler group 30 constituted in such a manner that the plurality of fillers are arranged in the internal space.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a filler unit for a cooling tower, and a cooling tower equipped with multiple filler units.

Conventionally, cooling towers are used in air conditioning equipment, industrial facilities, and the like as equipment for cooling warm water, which is circulating water. One of the most typical types of cooling towers is the counterflow type. The cooling tower 100 shown in FIG. 12 is a counterflow type cooling tower, in which a blower fan 102 and a sprinkler system 103 are installed at the top of a casing 101, a cold water tank 104 is installed at the bottom of the casing 101, and multiple fillers 105 that allow water and air to flow are stacked and installed in the vertical center of the casing 101. Each filler 105 is formed in a block shape, and multiple fillers 105 are stacked in the casing 101 without being fixed.

When the cooling tower 100 is operated, hot water is sprayed from the sprinkler 103 onto the filler 105 below. At the same time, the blower fan 102 is driven, and air (outside air) is introduced into the casing 101 through the louvers 106 of the casing 101, and this air rises inside the filler 105. Therefore, the hot water is cooled by heat exchange with the air inside the filler 105, and becomes cold water, which is stored in the cold water tank 104.

JP 2015-158330 A Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 58-112865

As an example of construction and assembly related to multiple fillers installed inside a cooling tower, Patent Document 1 discloses a structure in which support members are provided on a frame that forms a hexahedral internal space to prevent the fillers from shifting out of position, and these support members support the fillers horizontally.

In general industrial cooling towers, multiple block-shaped fillers are stacked without being fixed, as mentioned above. For this reason, in the event of an earthquake, excessive loads may act on the fillers at the horizontal ends of the stacked structure, raising concerns that this filler may be damaged in particular. If the filler is damaged, blockage of the flow paths in the filler and a decrease in heat transfer performance may occur, leading to a loss of cooling function as a cooling tower.

The embodiment of the present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a cooling tower filler unit and a cooling tower that can prevent damage to the filler due to impact loads caused by earthquake motions and the like, and ensure good cooling performance of the cooling tower.

The cooling tower filler unit in an embodiment of the present invention is a cooling tower filler unit that is installed in a cooling tower in multiple units, and is characterized by being configured with a frame body that forms a hexahedral internal space, a block-shaped filler that is arranged in multiple units in the internal space of the frame body and cools the hot water on the high temperature side by heat exchange with the air on the low temperature side, and a side plate that is installed in the internal space of the frame body and supports the side of the filler group formed by arranging multiple fillers in the internal space.

The cooling tower in this embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that a blower fan that creates an upward air current and a sprinkler device that sprinkles hot water and causes it to flow downward are installed in the upper part of the casing, a cold water tank that stores cold water that has been cooled from the hot water is installed in the lower part of the casing, and a plurality of the cooling tower filler units described in the embodiment are mounted in the vertical center of the casing.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, damage to the filler due to impact loads caused by earthquake motions, etc. can be prevented, and the cooling performance of the cooling tower can be ensured.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cooling tower equipped with a filler unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the filler unit of FIG. 1 . FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2 . FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a single filler in FIGS. 2 and 3 ; FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the single filler of FIG. 4 . FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a filler unit of a cooling tower according to a second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 6 . FIG. 8 is a plan view of the support plate of FIGS. 6 and 7 ; FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a filler unit of a cooling tower according to a third embodiment. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 9 . XI arrow view of FIG. 9 . FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional cooling tower.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[A] First embodiment (FIGS. 1 to 5)
Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a cooling tower equipped with a filler unit according to the first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the filler unit of Fig. 1. The cooling tower 10 shown in Fig. 1 is a counterflow type cooling tower that cools warm water, which is circulating water in air conditioning equipment, industrial equipment, etc., by heat exchange with air (outside air). The cooling tower 10 is configured by installing a blower fan 12, a sprinkler device 13, and a drift eliminator 14 on the upper part of a casing 11, installing a cold water tank 15 on the lower part of the casing 11, and installing a plurality of filler units 16 on the vertical center part of the casing 11. The casing 11 is grounded to the ground G.

The blower fan 12 draws in air (outside air) through the louvers 17 of the casing 11, forming an upward air current within the casing 11. The sprinkler device 13 sprinkles hot water, which is circulating water, and causes it to flow down into the filler 18 of each filler unit 16. This filler 18 ventilates the upward air current, and cools the hot water that flows down through heat exchange with the air, turning it into cold water. The cold water tank 15 stores the generated cold water. The drift eliminator 14 captures and removes moisture in the air that has passed through the filler 18, and drops the removed water into the cold water tank 15. The air from which moisture has been removed is discharged from the exhaust port 19 of the casing 11.

The multiple filler units 16 are arranged in multiple rows in the horizontal direction relative to the ground G in the vertical center of the casing 11, and are stacked in multiple tiers in the vertical direction relative to the ground G. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, each filler unit 16 is composed of a frame 21 that forms a hexahedral internal space 20, and multiple fillers 18 arranged in the internal space 20 of this frame 21, side panels 22 as support members, and horizontal buffer means 23.

The frame 21 is constructed by connecting a number of upper beams 25 that extend horizontally and perpendicular to each other relative to the ground G, a number of lower beams 26 that also extend horizontally and perpendicular to each other, and a number of columns 27 that extend vertically relative to the ground G, forming a hexahedral internal space 20. The upper beams 25, lower beams 26, and columns 27 are constructed of, for example, structural steel.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the filler 18 is formed as a rectangular block by joining together the peaks of multiple corrugated metal or resin sheets 28 in an upright position, and is therefore provided with a flow passage 29 that extends vertically. Inside this flow passage 29, hot water (circulating water) on the high temperature side and air on the low temperature side flow, and the hot water is cooled by heat exchange with the air, becoming cold water.

2 and 3, a plurality of the fillers 18 are arranged in the internal space 20 of the frame 21 to form a filler group 30. In other words, the filler group 30 is formed by stacking a plurality of rows of the fillers 18 arranged in one direction, for example, the horizontal direction relative to the ground G, in a direction perpendicular to the one direction, for example, the vertical direction relative to the ground G, in a plurality of stages. The fillers 18 are arranged in the same direction in the same stage, and are set in perpendicular directions for each stage in different stages.

The upper surface 30A of the filler group 30 (the upper surface of the topmost filler 18) is supported by the upper beam 25 of the frame body 21, and the lower surface 30B of the filler group 30 (the lower surface of the bottommost filler 18) is supported by the lower beam 26 of the frame body 21. By supporting the upper surface 30A of the filler group 30 by the upper beam 25 of the frame body 21, the filler 18 is prevented from floating up due to vertical seismic motion.

The side plate 22 is made of steel, for example, and is arranged in the internal space 20 of the frame body 21 together with the horizontal buffer means 23. The side plate 22 is in surface contact with the entire area of each of the four opposing side surfaces 30C of the filler group 30, and supports the side surfaces 30C of the filler group 30 by the columns 27 of the frame body 21 via the horizontal buffer means 23. The side plate 22 supports the horizontal load acting on the filler group 30 (including the impact load due to horizontal seismic motion against the ground G) together with the horizontal buffer means 23 and the columns 27 of the frame body 21.

The horizontal buffer means 23 is provided between the columns 27 and the side plates 22 of the frame body 21, and buffers and reduces the impact load acting on the filler 18 due to horizontal seismic motion relative to the ground G. Specifically, the horizontal buffer means 23 is an elastic body such as rubber or a spring, or a damper or other damping device. The impact load due to horizontal seismic motion acts between the sides of each filler 18 in the filler group 30, and between the side 30C of the filler group 30 and the side plate 22. In particular, the filler 18 constituting the side 30C of the filler group 30 is subjected to a horizontal load equivalent to that of one stage of the filler group 30. The horizontal buffer means 23 buffers the impact load due to horizontal seismic motion, and in particular, buffers and reduces the impact load acting between the filler 18 constituting the side 30C of the filler group 30 and the side plate 22.

As configured as above, the first embodiment provides the following advantages (1) and (2).
(1) In the filler unit 16, the entire area of the side surface 30C of the filler group 30, which is formed by arranging a plurality of fillers 18, is supported by the side plate 22 in surface contact therewith. Therefore, in the cooling tower 10 in which a plurality of filler units 16 are mounted, the impact load due to horizontal seismic motion on the ground G is supported by each of the filler units 16. Therefore, concentration of the impact load on the fillers 18 located particularly at the horizontal end of the cooling tower 10 (the fillers 18 closest to the casing 11) can be avoided, and damage to the fillers 18 constituting the filler unit 16 can be prevented. As a result, the flow path and heat transfer performance of the fillers 18 can be maintained, and the cooling performance of the cooling tower 10 can be favorably secured.

(2) In the filler unit 16, a horizontal buffer means 23 is installed between the side plate 22, which is in surface contact with the side surface 30C of the filler group 30, and the column 27 of the frame body 21. This horizontal buffer means 23 buffers the impact load acting on the filler 18 due to horizontal seismic motion against the ground G, thereby improving the earthquake resistance of the filler unit 16 and, ultimately, the earthquake resistance of the cooling tower 10. This reliably prevents damage to the filler 18 that constitutes the filler group 30 of the filler unit 16, and further ensures the cooling performance of the cooling tower 10.

[B] Second embodiment (FIGS. 6 to 8)
Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a filler unit of a cooling tower according to a second embodiment. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in Fig. 6. In this second embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be simplified or omitted.

The filler unit 41 of the cooling tower 40 (Figure 1) of this second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a support plate 42 made of a porous material is provided in the internal space 20 of the frame 21 to support the upper surface 30A or the lower surface 30B (e.g., the upper surface 30A) of the filler group 30, and a vertical buffer means 43 is provided between the support plate 42 and the upper beam 25 of the frame 21.

The support plate 42 supports the upper surface 30A of the filler group 30, preventing the filler group 30 from floating up. Furthermore, because the support plate 42 is made of a porous material, the flow of water and air to the filler 18 that constitutes the filler group 30 is ensured.

The vertical buffer means 43 is specifically an elastic body such as rubber or a spring, or a damping device such as a damper. The impact load caused by vertical earthquake motion against the ground G acts between the upper and lower surfaces of each filler 18 in the filler group 30, and between the filler 18 constituting the lower surface 30B of the filler group 30 and the lower beam 26 of the frame body 21. The vertical buffer means 43 installed between the support plate 42 and the upper beam 25 of the frame body 21 buffers the impact load caused by the vertical earthquake motion described above, and buffers and reduces the impact load acting particularly between the filler 18 constituting the lower surface 30B of the filler group 30 and the lower beam 26 of the frame body 21.

As configured as described above, the second embodiment also provides the following effects (3) and (4) in addition to the effects (1) and (2) of the first embodiment.

(3) In the filler unit 41, a vertical buffer means 43 is installed between the support plate 42 supporting the upper surface 30A of the filler group 30 and the upper beam 25 of the frame body 21. This vertical buffer means 43 buffers the impact load acting on the filler 18 due to vertical seismic motion relative to the ground G, thereby improving the earthquake resistance of the filler unit 41 and, ultimately, the cooling tower 40. This reliably prevents damage to the filler 18 that constitutes the filler group 30 of the filler unit 41, and ensures even better cooling performance of the cooling tower 40.

(4) The upper surface 30A of the filler group 30 arranged in the internal space 20 of the filler unit 41 is supported by a support plate 42 made of a porous material, which prevents the filler group 30 from floating up and ensures the flow of water and air to the filler 18 of the filler group 30, thereby preventing a decrease in the cooling performance of the cooling tower 40.

[C] Third embodiment (FIGS. 9 to 11)
Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a filler unit of a cooling tower according to a third embodiment. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X in Fig. 9. In this third embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be simplified or omitted.

The difference between the filler unit 51 of the cooling tower 50 (Figure 1) of this third embodiment and the first embodiment is that a blocking means 52 extending over the entire width of the side plate 22 is disposed between, for example, the upper portion of the side plate 22 and the pillar 27 of the frame body 21, and this blocking means 52 prevents air from flowing into the space S between the side plate 22 and the pillar 27 of the frame body 21.

The blocking means 52 is preferably an elastic material such as rubber. The blocking means 52 may extend over the entire width of the side plate 22, for example, between the lower part of the side plate 22 and the pillar 27 of the frame body 21. In this case, air is prevented from flowing into the space S between the side plate 22 and the pillar 27 of the frame body 21.

As configured as described above, the third embodiment also provides the same effects as the effects (1) and (2) of the first embodiment, as well as the following effect (5).

(5) Between the side plate 22 and the pillar 27 of the frame body 21, a blocking means 52 is disposed, which extends over the entire width of the side plate 22. This blocking means 52 prevents air from flowing into the space S between the side plate 22 and the pillar 27 of the frame body 21, thereby increasing the amount of air flowing into each filler 18 in the filler group 30 of the filler unit 51. This improves the heat exchange efficiency between the hot water and air in the filler 18, improving the heat transfer performance of the filler 18, and ultimately ensuring even better cooling performance of the cooling tower 50.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, changes, and combinations can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. Furthermore, such substitutions, changes, and combinations are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims.

10...cooling tower, 11...casing, 12...blower fan, 13...sprinkler system, 15...cold water tank, 16...filler unit, 18...filler, 20...internal space, 21...frame, 22...side plate (support member), 23...horizontal buffer means, 25...upper beam, 26...lower beam, 27...column, 30...filler group, 30A...upper surface, 30B...lower surface, 30C...side surface, 40...cooling tower, 41...filler unit, 42...support plate, 43...vertical buffer means, 50...cooling tower, 51...filler unit, 52...blocking means, G...ground, S...space

Claims (9)

A cooling tower filler unit to be installed in a cooling tower,
A frame body that forms an internal space of a hexahedron shape;
A block-shaped filler is arranged in a plurality of blocks in the internal space of the frame, and cools the hot water on the high temperature side by heat exchange with the air on the low temperature side;
A cooling tower filler unit characterized by being configured to include a support member installed in the internal space of the frame and supporting the sides of a filler group formed by arranging a plurality of the fillers in the internal space. The cooling tower filler unit according to claim 1, characterized in that a buffer means is provided within the frame to buffer impact loads acting on the filler. The cooling tower filler unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the buffer means is a horizontal buffer means provided between the support member and the frame body, and buffers the impact load acting on the filler due to horizontal seismic motion relative to the ground. The filler unit for a cooling tower according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the filler group is composed of a plurality of fillers arranged in one direction relative to the frame, stacked in multiple stages in a direction perpendicular to the one direction, and the orientation of the fillers in the multiple stages is perpendicular to each other for each stage. The cooling tower filler unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the upper and lower surfaces of the filler group are supported by the upper and lower beams of the frame material, respectively. The cooling tower filler unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a support plate is installed in the internal space of the frame material to support the upper or lower surface of the filler group, and this support plate is made of a porous material. The cooling tower filler unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the buffer means is a vertical buffer means provided between a support plate supporting the upper or lower surface of the filler group and the frame material, and buffers the impact load acting on the filler due to vertical seismic motion relative to the ground. The cooling tower filler unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a blocking means is disposed between the support member and the frame body, extending over the entire width of the support member, to prevent air from flowing into the space between the support member and the frame body. A blower fan that creates an upward current of air and a sprinkler device that sprinkles hot water and makes it flow down are installed on the upper part of the casing.
A cold water tank for storing cold water obtained by cooling the hot water is installed at the bottom of the casing,
3. A cooling tower comprising a plurality of the cooling tower filler units according to claim 1 or 2 mounted in the vertical center of the casing.

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