NL2011014C2

NL2011014C2 - Water cooling device.

Info

Publication number: NL2011014C2
Application number: NL2011014A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Matthieu Verboom
Original assignee: Wacon Europ B V
Priority date: 2013-06-20
Filing date: 2013-06-20
Publication date: 2014-12-24

Description

Water cooling device FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a water cooling device for cooling of water in a water circuit, the water cooling device comprising a device water inlet constructed and arranged for supplying water to the water cooling device; a heat transfer arrangement constructed and arranged to transfer heat from water supplied by the water inlet to the heat transfer arrangement; a device water outlet constructed and arranged for discharging water having passed the heat transfer arrangement from the water cooling device; and a fan constructed and arranged for providing a flow of air along and/or through the heat transfer arrangement

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Such water cooling devices are known. The fan induces a flow of air along and/or through the heat transfer arrangement for cooling of the heat transfer arrangement and water passing the heat transfer arrangement. The heat transfer arrangement generally is a three dimensional network of a suitable material that presents a large surface area for cooling, while still presenting an open structure for passing the flow of air. The air generally passes the heat transfer arrangement from a bottom upwards in counter flow with water to be cooled, which passes the heat transfer arrangement from the top downwards for providing an efficient cooling of the water.

An electric motor drives rotation of the fan in the known water cooling devices (also referred to as cooling towers). The electric motor is a costly component and requires electric power to be provided to the cooling tower as an additional facility, which adds costs and complexity. Further, the electric motor may suffer from malfunction and breakdown, especially in the humid environment in which it operates and its continuous operation.

The water leaves the device water inlet inside a housing of the water cooling device as a parallel flow of water, whereas a divergent flow of water is required for an even distribution of water over the heat transfer arrangement. Such an even distribution over the heat transfer arrangement is required for efficient cooling. One may add arrangements to obtain a spreading of the water leaving the device water inlet over the heat transfer arrangement, but this will also induce a splashing of water around. Some water will splash upwards and leave the housing of the cooling tower through its open end where the fan is arranged. Since the cooling water may contain bacteria, such as the legionella bacteria, this may lead to a contamination of the surroundings. This is very much undesired.

The water will also leave the device water inlet inside the cooling tower housing with high velocity, which gives rise to a high noise level when the high speed water hits the heating arrangement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a water cooling device that operates by using the pressure of the water to be cooled.

It is another or alternative object of the invention to provide a water cooling device with a minimum of components.

It is yet another or alternative object of the invention to provide a water cooling device that does not require additional electrical power.

It is yet another or alternative object of the invention to provide a water cooling device that does not suffer from contamination of its surroundings by spreading contaminated water.

It is yet another or alternative object of the invention to provide a water cooling device having a low noise level.

At least one of the above objectives is achieved by a water cooling device for cooling of water in a water circuit, the water cooling device comprising - a device water inlet constructed and arranged for supplying water in the water cooling device; - a heat transfer arrangement constructed and arranged to transfer heat from water supplied by the device water inlet to the heat transfer arrangement and/or air; - a device water outlet constructed and arranged for discharging water having passed the heat transfer arrangement from the water cooling device; - a fan constructed and arranged for providing a flow of air along and/or through the heat transfer arrangement; and - a Tesla turbine connected to the device water inlet and constructed and arranged for driving the fan, the Tesla turbine comprising -- a turbine housing; -- a set of parallel interspaced disks provided in the turbine housing and rigidly mounted on an axis protruding from the turbine housing, the disks having a circular circumference and the axis driving the fan; -- a turbine water inlet connected to the device water inlet and arranged on the turbine housing for introducing into the turbine housing a flow of water which is directed substantially parallel to the disks and substantially tangential to the circumference of the disks such that the flow of water will enter spaces between the disks for rotating the set of disks and the axis; and -- a turbine water outlet.

For an efficient transfer of momentum to the set of disks a distance between the disks is such that a force driving rotation of the set of disks is transferred door the flow of water to the disks by adhesion forces between water and disks and/or viscosity of the water.

In a preferred and efficient embodiment the turbine water outlet is arranged such as to distribute water discharged from the turbine water outlet over the heat transfer arrangement. Preferably, the turbine water outlet is directed in a downward direction.

In another preferred embodiment the disks comprise one or more central apertures configured such in connection with a configuration of the turbine water outlet that a flow of water from the turbine water outlet is divergent. By having a divergent flow the water is well distributed over the top of the heat transfer arrangement. Preferably, the turbine water outlet is directed along a direction of the axis.

In an embodiment the turbine housing comprises a substantially cylindrical wall that is closed at both ends by substantially circular walls.

In another embodiment a water distributing element is connected to the axis and downstream of the turbine water outlet such as to enhance distribution of water discharged from the turbine water outlet over the heat transfer arrangement. This may provide an improved application of water over the heat transfer arrangement in certain applications. The water distributing element may comprises blades that are rotationally coupled with the axis.

In a preferred embodiment the Tesla turbine is constructed and arranged such that the axis protrudes in an upward direction from the turbine housing, and the fan is arranged above the Tesla turbine and is connected to the axis. Having the Tesla turbine below the fan provides that the fan does not interfere with water exiting the Tesla turbine.

In another preferred embodiment turbine blades are arranged around the circumference of the disks, the turbine blades extending in a direction transverse to the disks and being directed at least partly transverse to the flow of water from the turbine water inlet. Having additional turbine blades provides additional momentum and torque to the disks.

Efficiently, the turbine blades are directed such that the flow of water from the turbine water inlet is directed towards the disks.

In yet another preferred embodiment the Tesla turbine comprises a water distribution channel around a circumference of the set of disks and connected to the turbine water inlet. Having the driving water stream provided around the set of disks yields in e very efficient transfer of momentum form the water to the disks.

To further increase the efficiency, a cross-sectional surface area of the water distribution channel decreases in a direction away from the turbine water inlet.

For a yet further increased efficiency, the water distribution channel comprises water guiding walls constructed and arranged to guide a flow of water in the water distribution channel towards the circumference of the set of disks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent by a description of the invention by way of non-limiting and non-exclusive embodiments. Various other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to the skilled person when having read the disclosure in connection with the drawing, all of which are within the scope of the invention and accompanying claims. Embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like or same reference symbols denote like, same or corresponding parts, and in which

Figure 1 shows a schematic view a water cooling device according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view on the top side of an embodiment of the Tesla turbine in figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view on the bottom side of the Tesla turbine of figure 2;

Figure 4 shows the view of figure 3 having some elements removed;

Figure 5 shows the view of figure 4 having some more elements removed;

Figure 6 shows a side view on the set of disks and blades of the embodiment of figures 2 to 5; and

Figure 7 shows a cross-section as viewed from above of the embodiment of figures 2 to 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a water cooling device or water cooling tower 1. It comprises a housing 2 having a device water inlet 10 connected at the top of the housing to provide water that is to be cooled to the cooling tower. The device water inlet 10 takes the form of a pipe that ends within the device housing 2. The water comes from a water circuit 3, in which the water is used, for instance, for cooling purposes in industrial or agricultural applications. The water is transported within the water circuit 3 and into device water inlet 10 by means of a pump 60.

Within the water cooling tower 1 the water exits the device water inlet within the device housing 2 and is sprayed as a flow of water W1 over a heat transfer arrangement 20. The heat transfer arrangement is a three dimensional mesh of some suitable material, which is known as such in the art. The water runs down within the open structure of the heat transfer arrangement 20 along its surface area by means of gravity forces and is collected in a device water collection basin 31. Collected water is indicated by W2 in figure 1. The device water collection basin 31 is connected to device water outlet 30 to feed the water, which has been cooled now, back into the water circuit 3 for further use.

The water that runs down the heat transfer arrangement 20 is cooled by heat transfer from the water to the heat transfer arrangement, which is to have a lower temperature than the water that is to be cooled. To assist in the heat transfer, and to keep the heat transfer arrangement at a low enough temperature, a flow of air is drawn through the open structure of the heat transfer arrangement 20. To that end a fan 40 is provided at the top of the device housing 2. The housing is open at its top to allow the flow of air to leave the device housing. The device housing further has an open structure 21 around the housing 2, which exposes a bottom section of the heat transfer arrangement 20 to the outside and allows the flow of air to be drawn into the heat transfer arrangement 20. The resulting flow of air into the water cooling device 1, within the heat transfer arrangement 20 and out of the water cooling tower is indicated by arrows F. The flow of air F is in counter flow to the direction of water running down the heat transfer arrangement to achieve an efficient heat transfer. The flow of air cools both the heat transfer arrangement and the water running down the heat transfer arrangement.

A so-called Tesla turbine 100 is connected at the end of the pipe of the device water inlet 10. The Tesla turbine drives rotation of the fan 40 when water is transported into the water cooling tower by action of the water pump 60. Figures 2 to 5 show the Tesla turbine in more detail. The Tesla turbine comprises a turbine water inlet 140, which is connected to the device water inlet 10 for introducing water into the turbine housing 110 of the Tesla turbine. The turbine housing 110 has a substantially cylindrical shape with a cylindrical wall 111, substantially circular top wall 112 that closes of a top side of the turbine housing, and a substantially circular bottom wall 113 that closes off a bottom side of the turbine housing. The bottom wall 113 comprises a device water outlet 150, from which the water leaves the Tesla turbine to be sprayed over the heat transfer arrangement 20 in a divergent flow of water W1 as shown in figure 1. An axis 130 is arranged in a central position of the turbine housing, and protrudes at both the bottom and top sides from the turbine housing. The fan 40 is connected to the part of the axis 130 that protrudes from the top side of the turbine housing 110. That part is clearly shown in figure 2.

The figures 4 and 5 shows an opened view from below on the inside of the Tesla turbine 100. These figures show a set of so-called Tesla disks 120 that are surrounded by a water distribution channel 170. The water distribution channel is arranged around the circumference of the disks 120, and in between these disks and the turbine housing 110. Water enters the turbine housing 110 through the turbine water inlet 140 and is guided around the disks 120 by the water distribution channel such that the flow of water is directed substantially parallel to the disks 120 and substantially tangential to the circumference of the disks. A cross-sectional surface area of the water distribution channel, as viewed along the channel, decreases in a direction away from the turbine water inlet 140. The water distribution channel further comprises water guiding walls 171, as is visible in figure 7. The water guiding walls provide Venturi-type of channels inside the water distributing channel 170. Both the decreasing cross-sectional surface area and the water guiding walls assist in evenly distributing the water around the disks, and forcing and accelerating the water towards the disks, while still having the flow of water substantially tangential to the circumference of the disks.

The disks 120 are interspaced within the set of disks and have a mutual distance d, as is shown in figure 6. The disks are rigidly connected to the axis 130 such that when the disks are rotated the axis is rotated as well. Water flows within the space between the disks as provided by their mutual distances d. The distance d between the Tesla disks 120 is chosen such that a force driving rotation of the set of disks is transferred from the flow of water to the disks by adhesion forces between water and disks and viscosity of the water. As momentum is transferred from the water to the disks, the water will slow down and move towards the center of the disks.

The centers of the disks have open apertures 121 that are in fluid connection with the turbine water outlet 150. The apertures are arranged around the axis 130. The water leaves the spaces between the disks into these apertures 121 and exit the Tesla turbine through the turbine water outlet 150. Turbine water outlet 150 is arranged along an extension direction of the axis 130. The configuration of apertures and device water outlet is such that a divergent flow of water W1 will exit from the device water outlet. This is achieved by appropriately choosing the size of apertures and turbine water outlet. A larger external diameter R, as shown in figure 3, between center of axis 130 and outside perimeters of turbine water outlet 150 and apertures 121 will result in a larger divergence of the exiting water flow W1 as compared to a smaller diameter R. At larger diameters R the water leaving the spaces between the disks have a larger velocity component parallel to the disks 120 as compared to such water velocity at smaller diameters R. The divergence can be tuned by appropriately selecting parameters such as these dimensions, but also, for instance, the water pressure, diameter of the Tesla disks 120, etcetera.

A water distributing element 50 may be arranged below the turbine water outlet 150, as is shown in figure 1, in certain applications. In the embodiment shown the water distributing element 50 is connected to the axis 130 for enhancing distribution of water discharged from the turbine water outlet over the top side of the heat transfer arrangement 20. The water distributing element 50 comprises blades extending in radial direction from an extension of the axis 130. The blades of the water distributing element are rotationally coupled to the axis 130 to have these blades rotate when water exits the turbine water outlet. Water impinging on the blades will then be scattered over the heat transfer arrangement. Some water may be scattered upwards, but such upwardly scattered water will be blocked by the turbine housing 110. This will prevent scattered water to leave the top opening in the device housing 1 at the location of the fan 40.

Figures 4 and 6 show that turbine blades 160 are arranged around the circumference of the set of disks 120. The turbine blades 160 extend perpendicular to the disks and are directed partly transverse to the flow of water from the turbine water inlet 140 within the water distribution channel 170 and to direct the flow of water towards the disks. The turbine blades are attached to disk 161 that is rigidly connected to the axis 130 so that a force exerted by the flow of water on the turbine blades is also transferred into rotation of the axis. Turbine blades 160 provide additional torque on axis 130. Figure 6 shows that the turbine blades only occupy half of the height of the set of disks. In another embodiment the turbine blades 160 may occupy any fraction or the full height of the set of disks, as is required by the specific application of the water cooling device.

Claims

A water cooling device (1) for cooling water in a water circuit (3), which water cooling device comprises - a device water inlet (10) constructed and arranged for supplying water to the water cooling device; - a heat transfer facility (20) constructed and arranged for transferring heat from the water supplied through the device water inlet to the heat transfer facility; - a device water outlet (30) constructed and arranged for flushing the heat transfer facility is water passed from the water cooling device; - a fan (40) constructed and arranged to provide an air flow (F) along and / or through the heat transfer facility; and - a Tesla turbine (100) connected to the device water inlet (10) and constructed and arranged to drive the fan (40), which Tesla turbine comprises - a turbine housing (110); - a set of parallel, spaced discs (120) mounted in the turbine housing and rigidly connected to a shaft (130) protruding from the turbine housing (110), which discs have a circular circumference and the fan ( 40) drive; - a turbine water inlet (140) connected to the device water inlet (10) and mounted on the turbine housing (110) for introducing into the turbine housing a water stream directed substantially parallel to the disks and substantially tangentially to the circumference of the disks such that the water flow will penetrate spaces between the discs to cause the set of discs and the shaft to rotate; and - a turbine water outlet (50).

The water cooling device according to claim 1, wherein a distance (d) between the disks (120) is such that a force driving the set of disks is transmitted by the water flow on the disks by adhesion forces between water and disks.

The water cooling device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the turbine water outlet (150) is arranged to distribute water from the turbine water outlet to the heat transfer facility (20).

The water cooling device of claim 3, wherein the turbine water outlet (150) is directed in a forward direction.

The water cooling device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the disks (120) comprise one or more central openings (121) configured in accordance with a configuration of the turbine water outlet (150) such that a water flow (W1) from the turbine water outlet is divergent.

The water cooling device according to any of claims 2-5, wherein the turbine water outlet (150) is oriented along the axis (130).

The water cooling device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the turbine housing (110) comprises a substantially cylindrical wall (111) closed at both ends by substantially circular walls (112, 113).

The water cooling device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a water-distributing element (50) is connected to the shaft (130) downstream of the turbine water outlet (150) in order to distribute water from the turbine water outlet (150) over the heat transfer facility (20) to improve.

The water-cooling device of claim 8, wherein the water-distributing element (50) comprises blades rotatably coupled to the shaft (130).

The water cooling device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the Tesla turbine (100) is constructed and arranged such that the shaft (130) protrudes in an upward direction from the turbine housing (110), and the fan (40) is arranged above the Tesla turbine and is connected to the shaft.

The water cooling device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein turbine blades (160) are arranged around the circumference of the discs (120), which turbine blades extend in a direction transverse to the discs (120) and are directed at least partially transversely to the water flow from the turbine water inlet (140).

The water cooling device of claim 11, wherein the turbine blades (160) are oriented such that the water flow from the turbine water inlet (140) is directed to the disks (120).

The water cooling device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the Tesla turbine (100) comprises a water distribution channel (170) around a circumference of the set of disks (120) and connected to the turbine water inlet (140).

The water cooling device of claim 13, wherein a cross-sectional area of the water distribution channel (170) decreases in a direction from the turbine water inlet (140).

The water cooling device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the water distribution channel (170) comprises water distribution walls (171) constructed and arranged to guide a water flow in the water distribution channel to the periphery of the set of disks (120).