Plan now for cold-weather operation of cooling towers

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Power (New York)

OSTI ID:260422

Michell, F L; Drew, D H

This article describes what a midwestern utility has done to keep natural-draft towers running when faced with long bouts of high winds and single-digit temperatures. Severe ice buildup is the biggest threat. American Electric Power Co. (AEP) has six crossflow and eight counterflow natural-draft hyperbolic cooling towers in operation today. In the crossflow designs, subject of this discussion, the fill sections are more exposed to wind and cold. Their design circulating-water flow rates range from 220,000 to 600,000 gal/min; they serve 600-, 800-, and 1,300-MW coal-fired generating units. The towers are located in the Midwest and experience long periods of sub-freezing conditions during the winter months. High winds accompanied by single-digit temperatures often prevail for days at a time. During the record cold spell in January 1994, average temperatures as low as {minus}20 F occurred throughout AEP`s service area. Fill bypass systems have been incorporated into the design of AEP`s natural-draft cooling towers, and can pass between 25 and 50% of full-rated circulating-water flow. These systems prevent ice formation within the fill sections (heat-transfer media) by recirculating water directly to the tower cold-water basin during winter startup, when heat content of the circulating water is relatively low.

• OSTI ID: 260422
• Journal Information: Power (New York), Journal Name: Power (New York) Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 140; ISSN 0032-5929; ISSN POWEAD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
COUNTERFLOW SYSTEMS
CROSSFLOW SYSTEMS
FREEZE PROTECTION
NATURAL DRAFT COOLING TOWERS
OPERATION
PACKINGS