Effect of three-zone synergistic pattern on thermal resistance performance of wet cooling towers under crosswind

Based on the distribution features of 3D flow and temperature fields in the tower under crosswind, a three-zone synergistic optimization pattern is established for the water-spraying zone, fillings zone and rain zone: elliptical partition water distribution, elliptical non-equidistant fillings layout, and non-centrosymmetric dry-wet hybrid rain zone. The numerical simulation method is employed to investigate the effect of the three-zone synergistic pattern under crosswind on the cooling tower thermal and resistance performance. The three-zone synergistic pattern, according to the results, optimizes the distribution of the multi-physical fields inside the cooling tower, and greatly improves the thermal and resistance performance of the tower at distinct crosswind speeds. Taking a typical wind speed v = 5 m/s under the design condition (the standard operating condition set during the design phase) as an example, the water temperature drop, cooling efficiency and ventilation of the cooling tower with the three-zone synergistic pattern under crosswind increase by 0.72 °C, 4.19 % and 335.74 kg/s, respectively, compared with the conventional cooling tower. This work can provide important references for the thermal design and technological transformation of large wet cooling towers under crosswind.