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ISSN Online: 2377-424X

ISBN Print: 0-89116-130-9

International Heat Transfer Conference 6
August, 7-11, 1978, Toronto, Canada

HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER TO THE ATMOSPHERE FROM SPRAY COOLING SYSTEMS

Get access (open in a dialog) DOI: 10.1615/IHTC6.560
pages 55-60

Abstract

Open atmospheric spray-cooling systems are alternatives to cooling ponds and evaporative cooling towers. Heat and mass transfer to the atmosphere is critical with respect to both thermal performance and environmental effects of the air-vapor discharge. Field experiments were carried out at Commonwealth Edison Company's Dresden and Quad-Cities Nuclear Stations (Illinois, USA) wherein two types of floating spray modules with order-cm drop diameter are aligned in two and four rows in canals for condenser cooling. Both NTU (number of transfer units) and a local dimensionless wet-bulb temperature interference factor were obtained. Previous data were also analyzed for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District's Rancho Seco Nuclear Station (California, USA) wherein a fixed-manifolded spray pond with order-mm drop size is used for ultimate heat sink emergency cooling. Quantity NTU is nearly constant for a particular spray as suggested by droplet considerations. The local wet-bulb temperature can be predicted by using a simple fluid dynamic model with coupling of spray cooling to air-vapor heating and humidification. The decay of the bouyant discharge downwind was also observed in the field and compared with a laboratory environmental wind-tunnel simulation using a helium source. Field and laboratory results are compared with numerical analysis of atmospheric convective diffusion.