Integrated Fan Drive System For Cooling Tower

• US 20160334176A1
• Filed: 07/25/2016
• Published: 11/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Prime Datum, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Prime Datum, Inc.
• Inventors: ROLLINS, PATRICK M., LUCAS, GEORGE
• Granted Patent: US 10,041,749 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0485 Devices or means, e.g. loops, for capturing the suture thread and threading it through an opening of a suturing instrument or needle eyelet
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 19/00 Axial-flow pumps F04D21/00 takes precedence; pump comprising axial flow and radial flow stages F04D17/025
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/06 the pump being electrically driven F04D25/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/0606 the electric motor being specially adapted for integration in the pump
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/004 by varying driving speed
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/668 damping or preventing mechanical vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2270/101 to control rotational speed (n)
• CPC Class Codes: F28C 1/00 Direct-contact trickle coolers, e.g. cooling towers building construction E04H5/12; enclosed spaces cooled by trickle F25; components parts of trickle coolers F28F25/00; indirect-contact cooling towers F28B1/06
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2250/08 Fluid driving means, e.g. pumps, fans
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 25/10 for feeding gas or vapour
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 27/003 specially adapted for cooling towers
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 27/06 using dc to ac converters or inverters H02P27/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 29/60 Controlling or determining the temperature of the motor or of the drive H02P29/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 6/34 Modelling or simulation for control purposes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/11 Cooling towers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49245 Vane type or other rotary, e.g., fan

Abstract

A drive system for driving a fan in a wet cooling tower, wherein the fan has a fan hub and fan blades attached to the fan hub. The drive system has a high-torque, low speed permanent magnet motor having a motor casing, a stator and a rotatable shaft, wherein the rotatable shaft is configured for connection to the fan hub. The drive system includes a variable frequency drive device to generate electrical signals that effect rotation of the rotatable shaft of the motor in order to rotate the fan.

Claims

1. A wet cooling tower for cooling liquids used in a process, comprising:

a cooling tower structure;

a motor supported by the cooling tower structure and comprising a rotatable shaft, a stator and bearings that locate and support the rotatable shaft;

a fan connected to the rotatable shaft of the motor such that rotation of the rotatable shaft causes rotation of the fan;

sensors to measure heat of the stator and the bearings and output signals representing the measured heat;

a variable motor-speed control device to generate electrical signals that cause rotation of the rotatable shaft of the motor at a predetermined rotational speed in order to rotate the fan, the device having an input for receiving control signals representing the predetermined rotational speed; and

a computer external to the motor for processing the signals representing the measured heat and in response, generating the control signals for input into the device.

2. The wet cooling tower according to claim 1 wherein the motor comprises a permanent magnet motor.

3. The wet cooling tower according to claim 1 wherein the device comprises a variable frequency drive device.

4. The wet cooling tower according to claim 1 further comprising a display device in data signal communication with the computer that enables a user or operator to visually monitor the signals outputted by the heat, vibration and airflow sensors.

5. The wet cooling tower according to claim 1 wherein the fan comprises a fan hub and the rotatable shaft of the motor is connected to the fan hub.

6. The wet cooling tower according to claim 1 wherein the motor comprises a permanent magnet motor and the rotatable shaft is oriented in a substantially vertical position.

7. A wet cooling tower for cooling liquids used in a process, comprising:

a cooling tower structure;

a motor supported by the cooling tower structure and comprising a rotatable shaft, a stator and bearings that locate and support the rotatable shaft;

a fan connected to the rotatable shaft of the motor such that rotation of the rotatable shaft causes rotation of the fan;

an airflow sensor to measure airflow produced by rotation of the fan and output signals representing the measured airflow;

a variable motor-speed control device to generate electrical signals that cause rotation of the rotatable shaft of the motor at a predetermined rotational speed in order to rotate the fan, the device having an input for receiving control signals representing the predetermined rotational speed; and

a computer external to the motor for processing the signals representing the measured airflow and in response, generating the control signals for input into the device.

8. A wet cooling tower for cooling liquids used in a process, comprising:

a cooling tower structure;

a variable speed permanent magnet motor supported by the cooling tower structure and comprising a rotatable shaft, a stator and bearings that locate and support the rotatable shaft;

a fan connected to the rotatable shaft of the variable speed permanent magnet motor such that rotation of the rotatable shaft causes rotation of the fan; and

a variable motor-speed control device to control the speed, rotational direction and torque of the variable speed permanent magnet motor, wherein the variable motor-speed control device generates electrical signals that cause rotation of the rotatable shaft of the permanent motor at a predetermined rotational speed and direction such that the electrical signals can cause rotation of the rotatable shaft in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, the variable motor-speed control device having an input for receiving signals that represent a desired motor rotational speed and rotational direction.

9. The wet cooling tower according to claim 8 further comprising a computer external to the motor and in electrical signal communication with the input of the variable motor-speed control device.

10. The wet cooling tower according to claim 9 wherein the variable motor-speed control device comprises a variable frequency drive device.