CFD case and data file for large-scale NDDDCS no-wind simulation

This study presents the Natural Draft Direct Dry Cooling System (NDDDCS) as a compelling alternative to conventional forced draft air-cooled condensers (ACCs) and indirect natural draft dry cooling systems. By condensing process steam directly and passively, the NDDDCS achieves higher thermal efficiencies, simplified system configurations, and lower operational costs and auxiliary power consumption. Despite substantial initial investments, the system's reduced operational expenses may lead to lower overall lifetime costs.

Previous research has primarily focused on large-scale NDDDCS performance under varying wind conditions. This study bridges a critical gap by exploring the scalability of NDDDCS across different applications, including a large-scale coal-fired power plant (900 MWt, 165 m total height), a medium-scale concentrated solar power plant (CSP) (100 MWt, 65 m total height), and a small-scale water desalination plant (1 MWt, 11.5 m total height), under both windless and windy conditions.

To achieve this, a steady-state 3-D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model was developed, validated, and scaled. This model includes innovative features such as an atmospheric pressure gradient and the capability to capture reversed flows through the system's heat exchangers. The model also processes inlet air temperature data at a per-cell resolution, enabling the prediction of non-uniform temperature distributions within the heat exchangers, including hot-spots caused by air flow recirculation.