GB2192051A

GB2192051A - Packing for cooling towers

Info

Publication number: GB2192051A
Application number: GB08615682A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lyuben Konstantinov Stambolov; Sotir Yanev Chaushev; Dilyan Lyubomirov Simitchiev
Original assignee: Dspie D Blagoev; Dspie "d Blagoev"
Current assignee: Dspie D Blagoev; Dspie "d Blagoev"
Priority date: 1986-06-26
Filing date: 1986-06-26
Publication date: 1987-12-31
Also published as: GB8615682D0; GB2192051B; FR2601122A1; DE3621461C2; DE3621461A1; FR2601122B3

Abstract

A packing for a cooling tower comprises at least one plastics block of flow-around type provided by an array of honey-comb shaped cells (12) therein, there being at least two flow-around layers (11) within each block at a vertical separation from one another, each flow-around layer being made up of rows of said cells mounted detachably to connecting strips (6) suspended vertically from suspension devices attached to a carrying construction and having spacing sleeves (17) which separate the strips (6) vertically from one another. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cooling stack structure for use in cooling towers This invention relates to a cooling stack structure for use in cooling towers and which has applicability for example in power, chemical, metallurgical and food engineering technology.

A known cooling stack structure for use in cooling towers comprises a multitude of cellular bricks disposed in an arrangements vertically spaced apart from one another. The cells of the bricks of each layer are offset with respect to the cells of bricks of adjacent layers. Spaces, disposed between every two adjacent layers, ensure the vertical separation of the layers. The height of the layers is within the range of from 127 to 203 mm, while the height of the spacers and, accordingly, the distance between the adjacent layers is from 25 to 102 mm. The layers are arranged one above the other and the offsetting of the bricks of the respective layers producing a balanced flow arrangement.

A basic drawback of this type of cooling stack structure for cooling towers is the multitude of components, in particular bricks and spaces, which results in difficulties in assembly and disassembly of the cooling stack structure in a cooling tower.

An alternative type of cooling stack for cooling towers comprises more than one block of a flow-around type which is formed of a polymeric material, hereinafter referred to generally as a "plastics block". Each block is built up of honeycomb-shaped cells. The blocks are detachably mounted in the cooling tower by means of connecting strips which are vertically suspended from suspension devices which are in turn suspended from a carrying construction disposed inside the cooling tower.

A drawback of this type of cooling stack structure lies in the comparatively great height of the polymer blocks of flow-around type.

This gives rise to the impairment of heat and mass exchange between liquid being cooled and cooling air and resuits in a reduction in the capacity of the cooling tower.

According to the present invention, there is provided a cooling stack structure for use in a cooling tower, which structure comprises at least one plastics block of flow-around type provided by an array of honey-combe shaped cells therein, there being at least two flowaround layers within each block at a vertical separation from one another, each flow-around layer being made up of rows of said cells mounted detachably to connecting strips suspended vertically from suspension devices attached to a carrying construction and having spacing sleeves which separate vertically from one another the strips.

A cooling stack embodying this invention enables the process of heat and mass exchange between the liquid and the air in a cooling tower to be intensified, thereby resulting in an increase in the degree of cooling and in the productivity of the cooling tower.

The structure of the present invention can be easily assembled by provision of connecting teeth on the respective rows of cellular components connecting the cellular components to connecting seats of carrying bars which are fastened to the connecting strips.

With one further arrangement embodying the invention, the cells of each layer in the block are offset with respect to the cells of the adjacent layers, the extent of offset being selected if desired according to the expected loading of the arrangement. The layers making up each block of honey-comb structure may be inclined with respect to the horizontal plane. The structure of this invention possesses versatility in that the suspension arrangement for the blocks does not interfere with the provision above the flow-around layers of a drip irrigator which consists of jointed plastics grids.

Particular advantages of the cooling stack structure of the present invention are that by shaping the layers in the blocks to be of flowaround type, conditions are provided for intensification of heat and mass exchange between the liquid being cooled and the air, thereby increasing the capacity of the cooling tower in which this structure is emplaced. Moreover, by providing detachably suspended rows and layers of elements of the cooling stack structure and by reduction of the number of individual components in each layer, the time required for assembly and disassembly of the cooling stack within a cooling tower is much reduced.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same can be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in cross-section, of a cooling tower with a mounted cooling stack structure embodying this invention; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the cells of the cooling stack structure and shows the offset relationship between adjacent layers of one block within the cooling stack structure; Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section showing features in elevation of the two layers of flowaround type mounted to suspension devices connected in turn to water-distributing pipes; and Figure 4 is an isometric view of an alternative form of cooling stack structure embodying the invention, with two layers of flow-around type and showing a drip irrigator mounted above the layers of flow-around type and which is made up of jointed plastics grids.

Referring to the drawings, a cooling stack 2 is mounted in a cooling tower 1 above open ings 3 for admission of cooling air and below nozzles 4 of a distributing installation 5 for supply of a liquid to be cooled. The cooling stack is suspended on connecting strips 6 which are suspended vertically above one another on suspension cables 7 which are connected to the pipes of the distributing installation 5 for liquid. Above the distributing installation 5 is provided a drip separator 8.

The illustrated cooling stack 2 is built up from a number of plastics blocks 9 shown in Fig. 2 to be of flow-around type comprising honeycomb-shaped cells 10. Each block 9 comprises peripheral flow-around layers arranged vertically at a distance one from another. Each flow-around layer 11 is made up of rows of cellular components 12 which are provided at their ends with connecting teeth 13. The rows of cellular components 12 of a given flow-around layer 11 are mounted to seats 14 of carrying bars 15. The cylindri cai walls 16 of the seats 14 are also utilised for connecting the carrying bars 15 to the connecting strips 6 which are suspended from suspension devices 7.The vertical separation between the flow-around layers 11 in a given block 9 and between the blocks 9 is achieved by means of spacing sleeves 17 which are mounted between adjacent connecting strips 6.

The flow-around layers in one plastics block 9 are arranged so that the cells 10 of the cellular components 12 of each layer 11 are offset in staggered rows with respect to the shelves 10 of the adjacent layers and is perhaps best seen from Fig. 2.

Above the flow-around layers 11 of the plastics blocks 9, there is mounted on the suspension devices 7 a drip irrigator 18 formed from jointed plastics grids 19.

The operation of the cooling stack structure according to the invention within a cooling tower is as follows: Liquid to be cooled is delivered to the cooling tower 1 via the distributing installation 5 and the nozzles 4 and is distributed by the drip irrigator 18. The liquid is dispersed by the drip irrigator 18 onto grids 19 thereof from which it reaches layers 11 of flow-around type provided by the blocks 9 of the cooling stack.

Because of the comparatively small height of the layers 11 and their vertical arrangement at a distance from one another in block 9, there is formed on the walls of the cells 10 a uniform layer of finely dispersed liquid. This intensifies the heat and mass exchange between the liquid and the cool air entering via the openings 3 of the cooling tower and flowing in counter-current, thus increasing the cooling capacity of the tower.

With high hydraulic loads in particular, as a result of the flow-around layers 11 in the blocks being arranged so that the cells 10 of each layer 11 are offset with respect to the cells 10 of the adjacent layers 11 in the block 9, it becomes possible to increase the total cooling surface and provide a protection of the liquid curtain formed from deflection by the air eddies caused by the air flowing in counter-current. After leaving the first layer 11 of a block 9 of the flow-around cooling stack 2, part of the liquid falls onto the edges of the cells of the underneath layer 11 and is again dispersed. This again intensifies the heat and mass exchange between the liquid and the air and makes it possible to increase the capacity of the cooling tower 1.

Claims

1. A cooling stack structure for use in a cooling tower, which structure comprises at least one plastics block of flow-around type provided by an array of honey-comb shaped cells therein, there being at least two flowaround layers within each block at a vertical separation from one another, each flow-around layer being made up of rows of said cells mounted detachably to connecting strips suspended vertically from suspension devices attached to a carrying construction and having spacing sleeves which separate vertically from one another the strips.

2. A cooling stack structure according to claim 1, wherein there are provided connecting teeth on the respective rows of cellular components connecting the cellular components to connecting seats of carrying bars which are fastened to the connecting strips.

3. A cooling stack structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each flow-around layer is arranged so that its cells are offset with respect to the cells of the or each adjacent flow-around layer.

4. A cooling stack structure according to any preceding claim, wherein the flow-around layers are inclinedly mounted to the horizontal.

5. A cooling stack structure according to any preceding claim, wherein there is mounted above the flow-around layers a drip irrigator formed of jointed plastics grids.

6. A cooling stack structure, substantialiy as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 1 or Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings in conjunction with Figs.

2 and 3.

7. A cooling tower housing a cooling stack structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.