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Artificial tornados enhance updraft in natural draft cooling towers (2019–2022)

Abstract:
The project aims to investigate and develop a novel air flow enhancement concept, induced plume swirl, and its engineering approaches to boost the cooling capacity of natural draft cooling towers (NDCTs) widely used in thermal power plants. The project will interdisciplinary explore why and how the artificial natural convective air swirls (vortices) significantly increase the updraft inside NDCTs and identify effective, low-energy cost swirl inducement methods. The expected outcome will extend the existing fundamental air vortices theories and provide optimal engineering solutions to implement this concept in NDCT applications aiming at minimising energy and/or cost penalties associated with cooling systems in power generation.
Grant type:
ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award
Researchers:

  • Dr Yuanshen Lu

    UQ Amplify Fellow
    School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering
    Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
Funded by:
Australian Research Council