What is a Hyperbolic Cooling Tower
As we pass by thermal power plants, we have all seen tall buildings with a narrow waist, often emitting white smoke (actually water vapor) from the top. Many people mistake these for smokestacks. In reality, these are cooling towers used by power plants to cool water, and the most common type is the hyperbolic cooling tower. It is named for its shape, which resembles the mathematical figure of a hyperbola.
In the early days, cooling towers at power plants did not have the hyperbolic shape but came in various forms, such as straight-sided, octagonal, and more. In 1915, a Dutch professor designed the first hyperboloid cooling tower, and with the development of large-scale thermal power stations, this type of cooling tower quickly became popular. We will explore why later.
The Function and Working Process of Cooling Towers
To understand the function of cooling towers, we must first discuss the working process of thermal power plants.
Fuel is delivered to the power plant, undergoes screening, and is then burned in the boiler. As the boiler is heated, the water inside turns into high-pressure steam. The steam is transported through pipes to the steam turbine, which is driven to rotate and generate electricity. After performing work in the steam turbine, the steam is condensed in the condenser with the help of cool water, turning back into water. Some of this condensed water is pressurized and transported to nearby neighborhoods for heating. Thermal power plants require a large amount of cool water to cool the units. The cooling tower provides this cool water.
Cooling towers have a diameter at the base通常在65 to 120 meters and a height在75 to 150 meters. They consist of three parts: the lower ring beam, the shell wall, and the top rigid ring. The lower ring beam supports all loads and transfers them to the diagonal supports. The shell wall is the main part of the cooling tower and its shape and wall thickness are optimized through calculations. The top rigid ring acts as a reinforcing ring for the shell. There is a collecting pond about 2 meters deep at the bottom of the tower. The shell wall is equipped with distribution troughs and spray devices.
The cooling tower is tall, which easily forms the smoke stack effect (smoke stack effect: indoor air rises or falls along a vertical slope, intensifying air convection, and when the chimney narrows, the airflow accelerates). Due to the pressure difference between the top and bottom, wind flows into the tower from the bottom and out through the top. Hot water from the condenser is transported to the middle of the cooling tower, where it is sprayed into the distribution troughs. As the water falls, cold air rises, and during this process, the water is cooled. The rising water vapor escapes from the top, forming the white water mist that we see. The cooled water falls into the collection pond and is recycled back to the condenser.
Why Is It Hyperbolic?
Structurally, the hyperbolic shape is more robust. Here, we need to talk about Bernoulli's principle, which is the boundary layer surface effect. Scientist Bernoulli conducted numerous experiments and concluded that in a fluid flow, the faster the flow speed, the lower the pressure, and vice versa. For example, when waiting for a train, we must stand behind the yellow line. This is because the area close to the train has a higher flow speed, while further away, the flow speed is slower, creating a pressure difference. If you stand too close, you might be sucked towards the train. Now, let's return to the hyperbolic structure. The air near the shell wall moves slower than in the center, creating an inward pull. This can easily damage the tower structure. The curved surface structure, on the other hand, increases structural integrity.
Economically speaking, the hyperbolic shape is easier to construct. A hyperbola is a ruled surface formed by a straight line continuously moving. Utilizing this characteristic, a hyperbolic structure can be built using only straight beams, which are easier to construct.
From an effectiveness standpoint, the hyperbolic shape allows for better airflow. The largest diameter at the bottom allows for maximum cold air intake. As the diameter decreases at the top, the airflow accelerates, quickly carrying away heat. When it reaches the widest part at the top, the pressure drops, releasing the heat and forming the white water vapor.
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