Water recovery system for a cooling tower

Abstract

A water recovery system for a cooling tower includes an intercooler having a first circuit portion and a second circuit portion. The first circuit portion is configured and disposed to receive a liquid desiccant and the second circuit portion is configured and disposed to receive coolant. A flash drum includes an inlet connected to the first circuit portion, a vapor outlet and a liquid desiccant outlet. A condenser is fluidly coupled to the vapor outlet of the flash drum. The condenser includes a condensate outlet. A cooling tower is fluidly connected to the liquid desiccant outlet of the flash drum and the condenser. The cooling tower includes a water stripper having a collector member, and a heat exchanger arranged below the water stripper. The collector member is configured to receive water laden liquid desiccant and the heat exchanger is configured and disposed to receive make-up water from the condenser.

1 . A water recovery system for a cooling tower, the water recovery system comprising:
 an intercooler member including a first circuit portion and a second circuit portion, the first circuit portion configured and disposed to receive a liquid desiccant and the second circuit portion being configured and disposed to receive coolant;   a flash drum including an inlet fluidly connected to the first circuit portion, a vapor outlet and a liquid desiccant outlet;   a condenser fluidly coupled to the vapor outlet of the flash drum, the condenser including a condensate outlet; and   a cooling tower fluidly connected to the liquid desiccant outlet of the flash drum and the condenser, the cooling tower including a water stripper having a collector member, and a heat exchanger arranged below the water stripper, the collector member being configured and disposed to receive water laden liquid desiccant and the heat exchanger being configured and disposed to receive make-up water from the condenser.   
     
     
         2 . The water recovery system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: a heat exchanger fluidly connected between the desiccant outlet of the flash drum and the water stripper, the heat exchanger being configured and disposed to lower a temperature of liquid desiccant flowing from the flash drum to the water stripper. 
     
     
         3 . The water recovery system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first circuit portion is fluidly isolated from the second circuit portion in the intercooler. 
     
     
         4 . The water recovery system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: a desiccant spray member arranged in the water stripper, the desiccant spray member being fluidly coupled to the liquid desiccant outlet of the flash drum. 
     
     
         5 . The water recovery system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: a water spray member arranged in the water stripper, the water spray member being fluidly coupled to the condensate outlet of the condenser. 
     
     
         6 . The water recovery system according to  claim 5 , wherein the water spray member directs the make-up water onto the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         7 . The water recovery system according to  claim 1 , wherein the collector member is fluidly connected to the first circuit portion. 
     
     
         8 . The water recovery system according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is fluidly connected to the second circuit portion. 
     
     
         9 . A turbomachine system comprising:
 a first turbomachine section including an extraction outlet;   a second turbomachine section including an extraction inlet fluidly connected to the extraction outlet of the first turbomachine section; and   a water recovery system operatively connected to the turbomachine system, the water recovery system comprising:
 an intercooler member including a first circuit portion and a second circuit portion, the first circuit portion being configured and disposed to receive a liquid desiccant and the second circuit portion being configured and disposed to receive coolant, the intercooler member being configured and disposed to remove heat from an extraction fluid passing from the extraction outlet; 
 a flash drum including an inlet fluidly connected to the first circuit portion, a vapor outlet and a liquid desiccant outlet; 
   a condenser fluidly coupled to the vapor outlet of the flash drum; and
 a cooling tower fluidly connected to the liquid desiccant outlet of the flash drum and the condenser, the cooling tower including a water stripper having a collector member, and a heat exchange member arranged below the water stripper, the collector member being configured and disposed to receive water laden liquid desiccant and the heat exchanger being configured and disposed to receive water from the condenser. 
   
     
     
         10 . The turbomachine system according to  claim 9 , further comprising: a heat exchanger fluidly connected between the liquid desiccant outlet of the flash drum and the water stripper, the heat exchanger being configured and disposed to lower a temperature of liquid desiccant flowing from the flash drum to the water stripper. 
     
     
         11 . The turbomachine system according to  claim 9 , wherein the first circuit portion is fluidly isolated from the second circuit portion in the intercooler. 
     
     
         12 . The turbomachine system according to  claim 9 , further comprising: a desiccant spray member arranged in the water stripper, the desiccant spray member being fluidly coupled to the liquid desiccant outlet of the flash drum. 
     
     
         13 . The turbomachine system according to  claim 9 , further comprising: a water spray member arranged in the water stripper, the water spray member being fluidly coupled to the vapor outlet of the flash drum. 
     
     
         14 . The turbomachine system according to  claim 9 , wherein the collector member is fluidly connected to the first circuit portion. 
     
     
         15 . The turbomachine system according to  claim 9 , wherein the heat exchanger is fluidly connected to the second circuit portion. 
     
     
         16 . A method of extracting water from vapor emitted by a cooling tower, the method comprising:
 passing a water laden liquid desiccant though an intercooler;   absorbing heat into the water laden liquid desiccant forming a heat laden liquid desiccant;   directing the heat laden liquid desiccant through a flash drum;   extracting water vapor from the heat laden liquid desiccant in the flash drum forming a substantially water free liquid desiccant;   introducing the substantially water free liquid desiccant into wet air in the cooling tower;   absorbing water from the wet air into the substantially water free liquid desiccant forming a water laden liquid desiccant; and   passing the water laden liquid desiccant back into the intercooler.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: collecting the water laden liquid desiccant in a collector arranged in the water stripper portion of the cooling tower. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein introducing the substantially water free liquid desiccant into the wet air comprises spraying the substantially water free liquid desiccant into the wet air. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: passing the water vapor from the flash drum to a condenser to form liquid water. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising: spraying the liquid water onto a heat exchanger in the cooling tower.