Thermovision Method for Diagnostics of Local Characteristics of Natural Draft Cooling Towers

The Influence of Airflow Inlet Region Modifications on the Local Efficiency of Natural Draft Cooling Tower Operation

“…Humid air and droplets generally impair the transmission of infrared electromagnetic radiation [17]. Širok et al [7] have shown that temperature measurements inside a cooling tower using an infrared camera operating in 7.5 to 13 mm range were within a frame of measurement uncertainty with temperature measurements using precise RTD sensors up to the distance of 25 m.…”

“…(3). For measurements, the thermal vision method [7] for measuring the temperature field on the surface of drift eliminators was selected. In order to estimate the influence of airflow inlet region modifications on cooling tower efficiency, temperature measurements were performed prior to and after the reconstruction of the cooling tower.…”

“…However, the modification of airflow inlet region has influenced the mass flow rate of cooling air and its distribution in the cooling tower, therefore changing overall and local efficiencies of cooling tower operation [7] and [10]. The influence of airflow inlet region modification on the thermal efficiency of cooling tower operation is expected above all on the periphery of the cooling tower heat exchange area.…”

“…We assume that change in local efficiency can be detected as variation of temperature distribution on the surface of drift eliminators. Variation in temperature distribution on the surface of drift eliminators can be measured with thermal vision method [7]. To estimate the change in local efficiency according to Eq.…”

“…Temperature t wb,i represents boundary temperature and is the highest possible temperature the air flow through the cooling tower can have at present atmospheric conditions after being heated with water. A temperature difference between the temperature t a,o of the outlet air and boundary temperature t wb,i [7]: t a,o < t wb,i (2) is the consequence of deviations, which in most cases are connected with anomalies in the process…”