Presentation on Cooling Towers and Their Characteristic Used in Nuclear Industry

By

M. Usman Shaikh, Dir HRD

Cooling Towers and Their Characteristic Used in Nuclear Industry

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Operating principles and basic definitions Types of cooling towers Mechanical components of cooling tower Cooling water treatment and quality Cooling tower used in nuclear industry Comparison between nuclear and chemical industry Conclusions

1. Operating Principles and Basic Definitions

General operation Air water contact Counter flow Cross flow

Heat Transfer Principles Evaporation Sensible heat Latent heat

Cross Flow
Cross flow is a design in which the air flow is directed perpendicular to the water flow (see diagram below).

Counter Flow
In a counter flow design the air flow is directly opposite of the water flow (see diagram below).

Operating Principles and Basic Definitions

Sensible Heat : It is amount of heat which is sensed by thermometer . This heat is used to increased temperature of liquid. Latent Heat : It is amount of heat which is not sensed by thermometer. This heat is used to overcome intermolecular forces of attraction.

2. Types of Cooling Towers

General classification

Types of Cooling Towers

Classification according to configuration

Atmospheric spray tower

Natural draft tower

Mechanical draft tower

Mostly used in Air- Conditioning

Used at Power Plant

Used in Super Markets /Hotels etc

Complete A/C system with Cooling Tower

Types of Cooling Towers

Classification according to configuration

Spray filled tower

Coil shed tower

Dry cooling tower

3. Mechanical Components of Cooling Tower

Ladder

Drift eliminator

Louvers

Hot water basin

Gear box

Fire protection

Mechanical Components of Cooling Tower

Wet down system

Cold water basin

Motor

Vibration switch

Partition wind wall

Fan

Mechanical Components of Cooling Tower

Walk ways

Splash fills

Spray nozzle

Drive shaft

Gate, nonreturn valve

4. Cooling Water Treatment and Quality

Five types of cooling tower water problems

Scale formation Little dose of HCl for alkaline water, this problem is not common in acidic water of pH(6-6.5) Corrosion Chromates of sodium and zinc are most common Growth of organics Direct chlorine shock and chlorinated organic compounds Suspended solids Pre-treatment of water reduces this problem Oil leakage Proper monitoring and maintenance of process equipments

Cooling Water Treatment and Quality

Cooling water quality

Saturation index(SI) Saturation index = pH (actual) pHs (Langeliers equation) pHs (Langeliers equation) = (9.3 + A + B) (C +D)
A = total solids, ppm B = temperature, 0F C = calcium hardness, expressed as ppm CaCO3 D = Alkalinity, expressed as ppm CaCO3 SI = 0, Water is chemically neutral SI > 0, Scale forming tendencies are present SI < 0, corrosive tendencies are indicated

Stability index Stability index = 2 pHs pH (actual)

Stability index = 6.5, Stability index = 7.0, Stability index = 6.5-7.0, scale forming corrosive good range

Cooling Water Treatment and Quality

Cooling water quality

pH For good quality water ph should be within 6.5-7.0 Total hardness It is the sum of carbonate and non-carbonate hardness Very soft 15 (ppm caco3) Soft 15-50 (ppm caco3) Medium hard 50-100 (ppm caco3) Hard 100-200 (ppm caco3) Very hard >200 (ppm caco3) Concentration factor The ratio of total dissolve of the cooling water to the total dissolve of the of the makeup water. For good quality water it should not be greater then 2.0

5. Cooling Towers Used in Nuclear Industry

Cooling tower used at 3-miles island, USA Natural draft Hyperbolic type

Cooling Towers Used in Nuclear Industry

Cooling towers at nuclear power plant Mechanical draft Induced Cross flow type Large fans pull air across the dropping water to remove the heat

Chashma NPP Cooling Tower

CHASHMA-1 Cooling Towers

Cooling Towers Used in Nuclear Industry

Cooling tower at a European nuclear power plant Natural draft Hyperbolic type Almost 120m high

6. Comparison Between Nuclear and Chemical Industry

Chemicals industry
Average height = 8-15 m

Fertilizer industry
Average height = 22-28 m

Nuclear industry
Average height = 100-150 m

Blow down contains Treatment chemicals

Blow down contains Treatment chemicals

Blow down contains Treatment chemicals and negligible activity

Mostly natural draft hyperbolic type Selection depend on the atmospheric and seismic conditions

Mostly mechanical draft induced type Selection depend on the atmospheric conditions

Mostly mechanical draft induced type Selection depend on the atmospheric conditions

Comparison Between Nuclear and Chemical Industry

Dukovany nuclear power plant(408 MWe, Check republic)
Number per unit Height 2 125m

Top diameter
Water evaporated per tower

82.6m
0.4m3 s

7. Conclusions

The size of cooling towers at nuclear industry is almost four times the size at fertilizer plants They are generally natural draft, hyperbolic type at nuclear power plants because a large amount of energy is required to run the fans, and mechanical draft, induced type at fertilizer plants Blow down contains treatment chemicals in fertilizer plants while activity also included in case of NPP Selection depends upon the atmospheric conditions in case of FPP and depends on the seismic conditions as well in case of NPP.Example is dry cooling tower if nuclear tower is present in desert If the blow down is directly put into lake the aquatic life will be in danger in case of NPP

Cooling Towers and Their Characteristic Used in Nuclear Industry

Thank you

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