Unique New Cooling Technology for Refinery Use : Copyright Material IEEE Paper No. PCIC-2021-35

Energy and water use for cooling in refineries are a significant cost and environmental challenge. Some estimates are evaporation in cooling towers use about 1/3 of makeup water for the cooling tower. An invention [1] developed by researchers at Stanford University may alleviate both energy consumption and water usage in refineries. This cooling technology uses a band in the atmosphere infrared spectrum that has minimal attenuation of this wavelength. Prototypes can significantly cool fluid below ambient during the day with incident sun on a panel.The atmosphere is transparent to radiation from 8 to 13 micrometers, and this allows light in this wavelength band to escape our atmosphere to outer space. This is done using a "nano photonic radiative cooling" surface made on a film that can be fabricated in square meter sizes. Currently the system can radiate about 100 to 400 watts/sq. meter depending on ambient temperatures. Current photovoltaic solar can produce about 200 watts/sq. meter with an input of about 1000 watts per sq. meter. The current prototype systems have the same form factor as solar panels; so much of the "rest of plant" is already designed. The panels provide heat rejection 24/7 and as a result, can save more energy than a solar panel can generate for the same area when connected to cooling loads that are on for more than 8 hours in a day.This paper examines refinery statistics for water and energy usage, cooling requirements and electrical usage for the cooling. It then estimates the efficacy of this new technology with its prospective improvements in the operation of refineries and process plants in both water conservation and energy use.