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U.S. Department of Energy
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Scale formation in deluged dry cooling systems

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7359574· OSTI ID:7359574

Deluging of air-cooled heat exchangers with water during warm periods holds the promise of increasing heat rejection capability and reducing the cost of dry cooling. One of the principal uncertainties in the use of the deluge concept is the tendency toward deposition of solids from the delugate. Small amounts of calcium carbonate scale may significantly reduce the cooling efficiency of a deluged system by reducing the heat transfer coefficient and interfering with delugate flow. Thus the question of delugate water quality is of major importance in evaluating scale formation and its effect on heat transfer in the deluged dry cooling system. The paper discusses, in relation to the deluged dry cooling system, the importance of scale prevention, the theory of scale formation and application of this theory to the deluged system, the problems of delugate evaporation, and delugate treatment required to prevent scaling.

Research Organization:
Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, Wash. (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
E(45-1)-1830
OSTI ID:
7359574
Report Number(s):
BNWL-2060
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English