Study of operation of natural draft cooling tower, with its hydraulic load reduced

A survey has been held of a BG-2600 natural draft cooling tower of thermal power plants, in the reduced hydraulic load mode. The technical condition of the reinforced concrete tower, the skeleton frame, the irrigation device, the water distribution system and the air duct windows has been inspected. Defects of the cooling tower structural elements have been identified. These include: horizontal sagging of the irrigation device, considerable gaps between its blocks and their partial destruction, problems with nozzles and structures of air duct windows. The identified defects are attributed to the causes of irregular water and air flows. The degree of irregularity of irrigation density and air flow in the tower has been estimated. Over the cross-section of the tower, a significant standard deviation from the average value or irregularity of irrigation density (30%) and irregularity of air flow (23.5%) has been established. The temperature and cooling curves of the cooling tower have been plotted taking into account irregularities of irrigation density and air flow rate. Normal and defective sections of the cooling tower have been identified based on working characteristics. Standard characteristics of the BG-2600 cooling tower have been plotted based on a nomogram. A comparative analysis of the working and standard characteristics has been held. The degree of influence produced by irregularities in water and air flows on the cooling process has been established. It has been found that the established irregularities in water and air flows result in a decrease in the temperature difference on average by 2°C and a decrease of cooling capacity by 7.3 Mcal/m2∙hr with a hydraulic load of 8840 m3/h. The results indicate a significant impact produced by irregularities of flows on cooling effect. The tasks to eliminate irregularities in distribution of flows as well as to increase the tower cooling efficiency have been formulated.