Numerical investigation on spray cooling of skid-mounted CNG air cooler under the influence of crosswind.

• A numerical simulation was conducted to analyze the susceptibility to crosswinds during the spraying of the air cooler. • The flow field temperature within the skid-mounted CNG air cooler when subjected to crosswind conditions was analyzed. • The installation of baffles enhances the air intake of the cooler, which effectively eliminates the adverse effects of ambient wind. Air cooler is a critical heat dissipation equipment applied in the field of oil and gas storage, which is mainly used to control the temperature during oil and gas storage and ensure the safety of oil and gas storage. After the installation of the spray cooling system on the skid-mounted compressed natural gas (CNG) air cooler Suqiao gas storage, the inlet air temperature of the air cooler decreases, resulting in reduced compressor power consumption. This effectively addresses the issue of unit shutdown due to high temperatures during the summer. However, the actual spray effect on-site reveals the impact of crosswinds, which poses a challenge. In this study, the flow field and causes of the skid-mounted CNG air cooler equipped with a spray cooling system under the influence of crosswinds are analyzed. Additionally, a solution involving the installation of a baffle is proposed. The results highlight that crosswinds have an adverse effect on outdoor spray cooling. With the installation of the baffle, the low-temperature area expands, resulting in lower temperatures. The cooling range is approximately 2 K, effectively counteracting the negative effects of crosswinds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]