KR20030066891A - Evaporative and enclosed cooling tower having heat pipe - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A hermetic evaporation type cooling tower with a heat pipe is provided to lower temperature of coolant. CONSTITUTION: A cooling tower is for cooling down components of a refrigerating and air-conditioning apparatus, and includes a hermetic cooling tower main body(20) to which water circulating in the refrigerating and air-conditioning apparatus flows in; a first steam separator(24) and a second steam separator(32) separating steam particles contained in air containing some of vaporized water and sending water formed thereby to the cooling tower main body; a plurality of heat pipes(HP) installed in the cooling tower main body to allow one ends to protrude from the cooling tower main body; an ejector(34) suck in air passing the first steam separator and the second steam separator to allow vacuum; and an ejector pump(36) supplying water in a water supply tank(50) to pass the ejector and to be sent back to the water supply tank. An inside of the cooling tower main body is made vacuous by negative pressure formed by circulation of water in the ejector to allow evaporation in the cooling tower main body.

Description

Evaporative and enclosed cooling tower having heat pipe

The present invention relates to a cooling tower, and more particularly, to a cooling tower configured to maximize the heat exchange efficiency by constituting the circulation of the cooling water for cooling in a sealed manner, by embedding a heat pipe therein.

In the case of a large air conditioning system, a cooling tower is mainly used to cool a refrigerant. Specifically, in the air conditioning system, a water-cooled cooling tower for dissipating heat generated in a condenser for converting a circulating refrigerant into a liquid phase may be generally used. Such a cooling tower is a medium capable of removing waste heat most economically using minimal electric energy, and uses cooling water, and the cooling water is configured to be reused by circulating.

Cooling towers, however, do not draw much attention to the importance of the air conditioning system. In the actual case, the power consumption ratio of the refrigerating device and the cooling tower is slightly different depending on the characteristics of the product and the operation method, but the power consumed by the freezer body is approximately 92: 8.

However, in order to save energy in the cooling tower, the difference in overall power is important, but the energy loss caused by the cooling tower's normal performance must be taken into account. For example, when the temperature of the cooling water for cooling the air conditioning system is increased by 1.5 ° C, the power required by the compressor is increased by about 10%. Therefore, for efficient operation of the air conditioning system, it can be seen that the temperature of the cooling water is also very important. In general, the temperature of the coolant flowing into the cooling tower varies depending on the size and capacity of the air conditioner, but is approximately 37 ° C., and the temperature flowing into the air conditioner installed in the room through the cooling tower is about 31 to 32 ° C. There is a difference of about 6 ° C.

Looking at the operation principle of such a cooling tower, in order to reuse the cooling water used in the water-cooled condenser, the cooling water is cooled to a reusable temperature by contacting the cooling water and air. Types of cooling towers are roughly classified into counter flow types, cross flow types, and hybrid types in which both are combined.

In the configuration of the countercurrent cooling tower, water is sprayed by the upper spray device, and air is sprayed toward the upper portion while being introduced by the fan from below. The sprinkled water is configured to be able to evaporate part of the water while lowering the temperature of the remaining water while flowing down the surface of the filler with air.

According to the configuration of the crossflow cooling tower, the water to be cooled is sprinkled on the upper portion, and the cool air flows in from the side, and is configured to be perpendicular to the falling water. As in the countercurrent type described above, some water is evaporated to reduce the temperature of the remaining water.

In the case of the hybrid type, the efficiency of the cooling tower is maximized by assembling and leading the structure of the floating and cross-flow cooling towers used in the heat exchanger, which is the most widely used form.

However, in the conventional cooling tower as described above, various problems are pointed out because the cooling water is directly exposed to the outside air.

Since the cooling water is cooled by the contact with the outside air, there is a disadvantage that the cooling efficiency greatly depends on the influence of the outside air.

In addition, since a countermeasure against the occurrence of legionella disease due to the spraying of the droplets of the cooling water is needed, a separate medicine is currently being introduced. There is also a hygiene problem caused by such bacteria, there is a cumbersome disadvantage of separate drug input.

In addition, according to the existing apparatus as described above, since a large fan must be used, there is a disadvantage in that electrical fixing and energy consumption are large, and in addition, due to the complexity of the structure due to the enlargement and exposure to the outdoors, Problems, noise problems, and water consumption drawbacks are accompanied.

An object of the present invention is to provide a more efficient cooling tower by condensing the cooling water circulated for cooling and lowering the cooling water using a heater pipe and latent heat of evaporation.

1 is a schematic view showing the configuration of a cooling tower according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is an internal configuration of the primary steam separator of the present invention.

Figure 3 is an internal configuration of the secondary steam separator of the present invention.

Figure 4 is an internal configuration of the ejector of the present invention.

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

12 ..... Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Units 14 ..... Circulation Pumps

20 ..... Cooling tower body 22 ..... Cooling water distributor

24 ..... 1st water vapor separator 32 ..... 2nd water vapor separator

34 ..... Ejector 36 ..... Ejector Pump

40 ..... water supply source 50 ..... water supply tank

HP ..... Heat Pipe HF ..... Fin

HS ..... support plate

According to the present invention for achieving the above object, the cooling tower for cooling the internal parts of the refrigeration air conditioning apparatus; A closed cooling tower body into which water circulated inside the refrigeration air conditioning apparatus flows into the inside; In the cooling tower body, a water vapor separation device for sending water to the cooling tower body formed by separating the water vapor particles in the air containing a portion of water to evaporate; A plurality of heat pipes installed in the cooling tower body such that one end portion protrudes out of the cooling tower body; An ejector for sucking and evacuating the air passing through the steam separator; And an ejector pump for supplying water from the water supply tank to the water supply tank via the ejector. By the negative pressure applied during the circulation of water in the ejector, it is characterized in that the evaporation is performed while the vacuum is applied to the inside of the cooling tower body.

And it is preferable that the heat pipe is provided with a plurality of heat exchange fins.

In addition, the heat pipes are installed in a vertical direction, are arranged in a plurality of radially, it is preferably supported in a state inserted into the support plate is installed in the middle portion of the cooling tower body.

In the refrigeration and air conditioning apparatus, water introduced into the cooling tower body is sprayed by the cooling water distributor to maximize the surface area.

As described above, the cooling tower according to the present invention has the advantage of lowering the cooling water without contacting the outside air in a closed manner and then supplying the cooling water back to the refrigeration air conditioning apparatus.

Next, the structure of the hermetic cooling tower according to the present invention will be described in more detail based on the embodiment of the present invention shown in the drawings.

1 shows a schematic configuration of a cooling tower according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the cooling water is circulated through the cooling water circulation pump 14 in order to dissipate heat generated inside the refrigeration air conditioner 12 (for example, a condenser).

The water circulated by the cooling water circulation pump 14 is heated while passing through the refrigeration air conditioner 12 while dissipating heat therein, and then repeats the circulation process of lowering the temperature inside the cooling tower body 20. Done.

In addition, the water introduced into the cooling tower body 20 by the circulation pump 14 is sprayed by the cooling water distributor 22, and will be sprayed entirely inside the cooling tower body 20. The cooling water distributor 22 is a spray device, which is intended to increase the total surface area of the cooling water by injecting the cooling water to be cooled, thereby enabling easier evaporation.

Some of the water sprayed from the cooling water distributor 22 is evaporated, and the latent heat required to evaporate this portion of water will be absorbed in the remaining water which is not substantially evaporated. At this time, the amount of evaporation of water will depend on the contact area and contact time between water and air, the relative temperature of air and water, and the like.

Since the latent heat required to evaporate some of the water is substantially absorbed inside the cooling tower body 20, the remaining water that does not evaporate can be relatively low in temperature by depriving heat. The low temperature water is supplied to the inside of the refrigeration air conditioner 12 again to dissipate the condenser, so that the refrigeration air conditioner 12 can be efficiently operated.

According to the present invention, a plurality of heat pipes HP are installed in the cooling tower body 20 in the vertical direction. The upper end of the heat pipe HP is installed in a state where the cooling tower body 20 protrudes, and the lower end is installed in a state of being contained in cooling water gathered inside the cooling tower body 20. Since the heat pipe HP is formed of a material having a very high thermal conductivity, the cooling water collected in the lower end of the cooling tower body 20 or the heat inside the cooling tower body 20 is the upper end of the cooling tower body 20. It is possible to dissipate to the outside through the upper end of the protruding heat pipe (HP).

Therefore, according to the cooling tower main body 20 according to the present invention, the heat exchange by the latent heat necessary for evaporation as described above, and the heat exchange by the heat pipe (HP) can be carried out at the same time, the inside of the cooling tower main body 20 It will be appreciated that it is configured to reduce the temperature most efficiently if possible.

And the heat pipe (HP) is installed in the cooling tower body 20 in the vertical direction, at this time is preferably configured to be supported by the support plate (HS). In addition, the support plate HS may be configured to be movable. For example, in a state where the heat pipe HP is inserted therethrough, the support plate HS may be moved within a predetermined interval in the vertical direction. It means to construct.

On the outer side of the heat pipe HP, a plurality of fins HF are formed to allow more smooth heat exchange. The fin HF is for securing heat exchange efficiency by maximizing an area for performing heat exchange. The fin HF is preferably formed by inserting a material having a high thermal conductivity into an outer surface of the heat pipe HP, and more preferably configured to be detachable.

In addition, a plurality of heat pipes HP may be installed. For example, when viewed in plan view, a plurality of heat pipes HP may be arranged radially. However, there is no limitation on the arrangement structure and the number of the heat pipes HP, and various modifications are possible within the range capable of conducting heat inside the cooling tower body 20 to the outside.

In order to more efficiently radiate the upper end of the heat pipe (HP) protruding to the upper portion of the cooling tower body 20, the cooling fan (F) is installed on one side, it is configured to generate a heat radiation air flow It is also preferable to.

Next, the water evaporated inside the cooling tower body 20 is discharged through the pipe Pa after passing through the primary steam separator 24. The primary steam separator 24 is for completely separating the steam component contained in the water evaporated inside the cooling tower body 20. That is, the primary steam separator 24, when the vacuum is formed inside the cooling tower body 20 by the ejector pump 36, which will be described later, the primary steam separator 24 to prevent the water and water is transferred together This will remove moisture contained in the air.

The internal structure of the primary steam separator 24 is shown in FIG. As shown, a plurality of partitions 24a are provided inside the primary steam separator 24, and the partitions 24a are corrugated in order to sufficiently widen the contact area with the air passing therein. It is preferably configured in the form. Moreover, although the some ventilation hole 24b is shape | molded in the said partition 24a, such ventilation hole 24b is comprised so that the air passing through the inside may pass in a zigzag form so that it may not mutually match.

The water vapor particles contained in the air passing through the inside of the primary steam separator 24 are substantially formed in the partition wall 24a. The water vapor formed on the partition wall 24a grows into water droplets of a constant size by continuous circulation of air, and then falls by its own weight. And the water droplets falling in this way is substantially accumulated in the lower end of the cooling tower body 20.

The air passing through the primary steam separator 24 is introduced into the secondary steam separator 32 through a pipe Pa. The secondary steam separator 32, in a similar principle to the primary steam separator, collects steam particles contained in the air exhausted from the cooling tower body 20 to exhaust only pure air.

3 shows the internal configuration of the secondary steam separator 32. As shown, the air flowing into the secondary steam separator 32 is discharged through the lower end of the pipe (Pa). Air exiting the lower end of the pipe (Pa) is moved to the upper again, at this time passes through a plurality of partitions (32a). A plurality of vent holes 32b are formed in the partition 32a, so that air passes through the vent holes 32b, and water vapor particles contained in the air are formed in the partition 32a, With the passage, the condensed water vapor will grow into droplets. The water droplets grown to a certain size fall below the secondary steam separator 32, and the water is supplied into the cooling tower main body 20 again through a pipe Pc.

It can be seen that the basic principle of the internal configuration of the secondary steam separator 32 is the same as that of the primary steam separator 24. Therefore, within this basic principle, many other modifications are possible in the configuration of the partition 32a and the ventilation hole 32b therein.

After the water vapor particles are collected through the partition 32a, the air escapes through the pipe Pb. Air exiting through the pipe Pb flows into the injector 34.

Referring to Figure 4, the configuration and function of the ejector 34 and the ejector pump 36 will be described.

As described above, the inside of the cooling tower body 20 is maintained in a vacuum state. In order to maintain such a vacuum state, it is necessary to extract air through the primary steam separator 24, the secondary steam separator 32, and the like. It is the ejector 34 and the ejector pump 36 that perform this function.

First, the ejector pump 36 circulates water by supplying the water in the water supply tank 50 connected to the water supply source 40 to the inside of the ejector 34 through the pipe Pd. Let's go. As shown in FIG. 4, the ejector 34 is supplied with water through a pipe Pd. The water thus supplied passes through the orifice portion 34a of the injector 34. At this time, since the diameter of the orifice portion 34a is relatively small, the flow rate is substantially faster, and at the same time, the pressure drops. do.

When the pressure at the portion of the orifice 34a is lowered, the air inside the pipe Pb is introduced into the portion of the orifice 34a through the pipe Pb communicating with the inside of the ejector 34. . When the air in the pipe (Pb) is introduced into the ejector 34, since the air in the cooling tower body 20 is discharged to the outside through the pipe (Pa) substantially, of the cooling tower body 20 The air inside is released and can be vacuumed.

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. As shown in the figure, by forming the pin 34f capable of forming the swirl flow in the orifice 34a portion of the ejector, it will be possible to form a better negative pressure. And the eccentric angle of the enlarged tube of the ejector 34 is about 4 ° is appropriate.

And the air of the pipe (Pc) falling into the inside of the ejector 34, the water through the pipe (Pd), will be supplied back into the water supply tank (50). In addition, a valve 60 is installed between the ejector pump 36 and the ejector 34, and the valve 60 is connected to the cooling tower body 20 through a pipe Pg. The valve 60 may control whether to supply water to the ejector 34 or to supply the cooling tower body 20 by control. Therefore, when the water level inside the cooling tower body 20 is low, it is detected by the water level sensor (Sa), based on the detection signal, the valve 60 is the water in the water supply tank 50, the cooling tower body 20 Will be controlled. And when the water level inside the water supply tank 50 is lowered by the water level sensor Sb, the valve 62 will be controlled so that water can be supplied from the water supply source 40.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of heat pipes HPa are installed in the water supply tank 50. The heat pipe HPa is substantially the same as that installed in the cooling tower body 20 as described above, and is configured to discharge heat inside the water supply tank 50 to the outside.

Therefore, in the same manner as the heat pipe HPa described above, the intermediate portion is supported by the support plate HSa, and the plurality of fins HFa are installed to allow more smooth heat exchange. By the configuration of the heat pipe (HPa), the inside of the water supply tank 50 will be able to maintain a lower temperature.

In the cooling tower configured as described above, the principle that water is cooled is as follows.

Inside the cooling tower body 20, a portion of the water injected by the cooling water distributor 22 is evaporated, the latent heat required for evaporation is obtained inside the cooling tower body 20. Therefore, the water sprayed inside the cooling tower body 20 and accumulated in the lower portion thereof is cooled to a low temperature by depriving the latent heat. Then, the cooled water is supplied to the inside of the refrigeration air conditioner 12 again, and will be used for heat dissipation of the condenser. In addition, the heat inside the cooling tower body 20 can be easily discharged to the outside by the heat pipe (HP), it is possible to further lower the water therein.

According to the present invention as described above, it can be seen that the cooling water is circulated in the closed closed space. And within the scope of the basic technical idea of the present invention, of course, many other modifications are possible to those skilled in the art.

According to the configuration of the hermetic evaporative cooling tower according to the present invention configured as described above it can be expected the following advantages.

First, according to the present invention, since the cooling water circulated for cooling does not have contact with external air, it is possible to keep the cooling water sufficiently low even in the summer when the outside air temperature is high. Therefore, regardless of the temperature of the outside air, it is possible to expect the advantage of providing sufficient cooling water. In addition, it is natural that the heat pipe of the present invention can lower the inside of the cooling tower body 20 more efficiently.

And since the cooling water is not in contact with the outside air, it is possible to prevent the infiltration of Legionella bacteria, it is possible to implement a very safe system hygienically.

In addition, since the drive by the external power source is one ejector pump, it can be implemented as a system with high energy efficiency as a whole.

In addition, the system according to the present invention, as well as the relatively simple structure, can be installed indoors, it will bring a very advantageous result in terms of aesthetics and noise, and can be expected to have the advantage of low water consumption.

Claims (9)

For cooling internal parts of the refrigeration air conditioning apparatus; A closed cooling tower body into which water circulated inside the refrigeration air conditioning apparatus flows into the inside; In the cooling tower body, a water vapor separation device for sending water to the cooling tower body formed by separating the water vapor particles in the air containing a portion of water to evaporate; A plurality of heat pipes installed in the cooling tower body such that one end portion protrudes out of the cooling tower body; An ejector for sucking and evacuating the air passing through the steam separator; And An ejector pump for supplying water from the water supply tank to the water supply tank via the ejector; Sealed evaporative cooling tower, characterized in that the evaporation is performed while the vacuum is applied to the inside of the cooling tower body by the negative pressure applied during the circulation of water in the ejector. The sealed evaporative cooling tower according to claim 1, wherein the heat pipe is provided with a plurality of heat exchange fins. The sealed evaporative cooling tower according to claim 1, wherein the heat pipes are installed in a vertical direction, are arranged in a plurality of radially, and are supported in a state of being inserted into a support plate installed at an intermediate portion of the cooling tower body. The hermetic evaporative cooling tower according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the water flowing into the cooling tower body in the refrigerating and air conditioning apparatus is sprayed by a cooling water distributor to maximize the surface area. According to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the steam separator; A primary steam separator installed inside the cooling tower body; Sealed evaporative cooling tower, characterized in that consisting of a secondary steam separator connected to the pipe from the primary steam separator is installed outside the cooling tower body. 6. The hermetic evaporative cooling tower according to claim 5, wherein the water vapor separator is provided with a plurality of partitions in which a plurality of vent holes are formed, and water vapor is formed on the partitions. 7. The hermetic evaporative cooling tower according to claim 6, wherein the partition wall is formed in a corrugated form to increase its surface area. 6. The hermetic evaporative cooling tower according to claim 5, wherein the air vents formed in the partition walls are formed in a form that is displaced from each other so that air passes in a zigzag direction. The sealed evaporative cooling tower according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pipe between the ejector and the ejector pump is provided with a valve that can be connected to the cooling tower body.