PERFORMANCE AUGMENTATION OF NATURAL DRAFT COOLING TOWERS

摘要

A method and apparatus are provided for enhancing the performance capability of an existing natural draft cooling tower( 13 ). The cooling tower includes a structure ( 14 ) defining an open-topped internal passage ( 15 ) ofcircular cross section for the upward flow of air from one or more inlets ( 16 ) at the base of the structure. The method includes steps of providing within the passage ( 15 ), an impeller ( 27 ) adapted when mtated at a specified speed about an upright axis of rotation ( 28 ) centrally located in the passage to increase the overall flow rate of air in the passage beyond the overall flow rate obtainable in the same operatiny conditions by natural draft alone and provides support means for said impeller and drive means capable of rotating the impeller at the specified speed. The impeller ( 27 ) is supported by the supporn means above heat transfer means ( 19 ) (which may be a wetted packiny structure) of the cooling tower ( 13 ).