Duhok Polytechnic University

College of Technical Engineering

Department of Petrochemical

Effect of the air flow rate on the Cooling Tower

By

Akam saman
Thermodynamic Practical
Group.A
Report No. Ex 6
Date.12/12/2017
OBJECTIVE:
 To study the effect of changing in air mass flow rate on the
performance of the cooling tower.
 To know the function of the cooling tower and the application in
a building.
 To know the essential important arts that install in the cooling
tower system and its function.
 Can see the operational and performance of the cooling tower
system.
 To compare the differences between air conditioning system
and cooling tower
 To know the definition of each term in the cooling tower system
such as water inlet, water outlet, and so on

INTRODUCTION:
Usually industrial processes produce large quantities of
heat which must be permanently removed in order to maintain
standard operating parameters. Cooling towers filled with packing
are widely used to dissipate large heat loads from these
processes, such as power generation units, chemical and
petrochemical plants and refrigeration and air-conditioning
systems, to the atmosphere. Their principle is based on heat and
mass transfer using direct contact between ambient air and hot
water through some types of packing. Indeed, the type of packing
used in cooling tower has an important role in the tower as it
controls the heat and mass transfer processes between water and
air. Several researchers have investigated this subject through

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experimental analysis of the heat and mass transfer processes in
these equipments

Cooled water is needed for, for example, air conditioners,

manufacturing processes or power generation. A cooling tower is
equipment used to reduce the temperature of a water stream by
extracting heat from water and emitting it to the atmosphere.
Cooling towers make use of evaporation whereby some of the
water is evaporated into a moving air stream and subsequently
discharged into the atmosphere. As a result, the remainder of the
water is cooled down significantly. Cooling towers are able to
lower the water temperatures more than devices that use only air
to reject heat, like the radiator in a car, and are therefore more
cost-effective and energy efficient.

COOLING TOWER COMPONENTS:

The basic components of a cooling tower include the frame and
casing, fill, cold-water basin,drift eliminators, air inlet, louvers,
nozzles and fans. These are described below:

Frame and casing:

Most towers have structural frames that support the
exterior enclosures (casings), motors, fans, and other
components. With some smaller designs, such as some
glass fiber units, the casing may essentially be the frame.

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Fill:
Most towers employ fills (made of plastic or wood) to facilitate
heat transfer by maximizing water and air contact. There are two
types of fill:

 Splash fill: water falls over successive layers of horizontal

splash bars, continuously breaking into smaller droplets, while
also wetting the fill surface. Plastic splash fills promote better
heat transfer than wood splash fills.
 Film fill: consists of thin, closely spaced plastic surfaces over
which the water spreads, forming a thin film in contact with the
air. These surfaces may be flat, corrugated, honeycombed, or
other patterns. The film type of fill is the more efficient and
provides same heat transfer in a smaller volume than the
splash fill. Cold-water basin

The cold-water basin is located at or near the bottom of the

tower, and it receives the cooled water that flows down through
the tower and fill. The basin usually has a sump or low point for
the cold-water discharge connection. In many tower designs, the
cold water basin is beneath the entire fill. In some forced draft
counter flow design, however, the water at the bottom of the fill is
channeled to a perimeter trough that functions as the cold water
basin. Propeller fans are mounted beneath the fill to blow the air
up through the tower. With this design, the tower is mounted on
legs, providing easy access to the fans and their motors.

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Drift eliminators:
These capture water droplets entrapped in the air stream that
otherwise would be lost to the atmosphere.

Air inlet:
This is the point of entry for the air entering a tower. The inlet may
take up an entire side of a tower (cross-flow design) or be located
low on the side or the bottom of the tower (counter-flow design).

Louvers:
Generally, cross-flow towers have inlet louvers. The purpose of
louvers is to equalize air flow into the fill and retain the water
within the tower. Many counter flow tower designs do not require
louvers.

Nozzles:
These spray water to wet the fill. Uniform water distribution at the
top of the fill is essential to achieve proper wetting of the entire fill
surface. Nozzles can either be fixed and spray in a round or
square patterns, or they can be part of a rotating assembly as
found in some circular cross-section towers.

Fans:
Both axial (propeller type) and centrifugal fans are used in towers.
Generally, propeller fans are used in induced draft towers and
both propeller and centrifugal fans are found in forced draft
towers. Depending upon their size, the type of propeller fans used

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is either fixed or variable pitch. A fan with non-automatic
adjustable pitch blades can be used over a wide kW range
because the fan can be adjusted to deliver the desired air flow at
the lowest power consumption. Automatic variable pitch blades
can vary air flow in response to changing load conditions.

INDUCED DRAFT TOWER:

1.Fan situated at air outlet usually at high level.
2.High air exit and low air entry velocities.

3.Large fans with low speed and noise possible.

4.Lower drift potential.

5.Canoperate with or without fill.

6.Fan, drive and motor located in moist air stream so electrical

protection is required

and more maintenance and corrosion is likely.

7.Common in HVAC&R applications..

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advantage:
Use no mechanical device.

Drive air flow by natural induction.

Relatively inexpensive.

Applied in very small sizes.

Far more effected by adverse conditions.

Description of the Apparatus;-

The unit consists from the following components and instruments:

i- Air distribution chamber.

ii- A tank with heaters to simulate cooling loads of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 kW.

iii- A make-up tank.

iv- A centrifugal fan with intake damper.

v- Pump.

vi- A water collecting basin.

vii- An electrical control panel.

viii- Packed column.

ix- Column cap.

x- Temperature indicator.

xi- Inclined tube manometer.

xii- Variable area flow meter.

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Procedure:
1. We started running the fan.
2. Start the water pump and adjust the flow rate to the required
value.

3. Start the water heater and introduce the input temperature to

the desired value.

4. We waited until the stable condition was obtained.

5. We measured the air temperature of the wet bulb and dry bulb
temperature at the inlet and outlet of the cooling tower. 6. We
measured the pressure difference in the pressure gauge (x).
7. We calculated the results as shown in the table below using
data.

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Results: The following data are obtained from the cooling
tower:
ITEST No.
1 2 3 4 5
Orifice differential (x) mmH2O
5 10 16
Inlet dry bulb temperature oC
21 20.3 20.4
Inlet wet bulb temperature oC
14.5 13.8 13.4
Outlet dry bulb temperature oC
21.4 19.5 18.5
Outlet wet bulb temperature oC
20.4 18.4 16.8
Inlet water temperature C
28.8 27.3 20.9
Outlet water temperature C
18.5 10.1 14.7
Make-up water temperature C
17 17 17
Water flow rate g/s
20 20 20
Cooling load kW
1 1 1
Make-up quantity kg
120 130 140
Time interval sec
5 5 5

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The following results will be obtained:
ITEST No. 1 2 3 4 5
hA
40.5 38.5 37.55
wA
0.0078 0.0072 0.0068
hB
59 52.6 47.1
wB
0.0148 0.843 0.0113
VaB
0.852 0.843 0.544
0.399 0.468 0.544
𝑚𝑎̇

0.0004 0.00043 0.0046

𝑚̇𝐸

hE
71.3 71.3 71.3
Q-P
0.00230 0.00271 0.594
𝑚̇𝑎(ℎ𝐵−ℎ𝐴)−𝑚̇𝐸ℎ𝐸

𝑚̇𝐸 (mass
balance)

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Discussion:
1. Draw a relationship between the air mass flow rate and
the outlet water temperature. Discuss it?
Ans:

Y-Values
25

20

15

Y-Values
10

0
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07

Air mass flow rate

The air mass flow rate is increase while the temperature is

decrease

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2. Draw a relationship between the air mass flow rate and
the makeup water. Discuss it?
Ans:

Y-Values
18

16

14

12

10

8 Y-Values

0
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07

Air mass flow rate

Rate change with canged air mass flow rate

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3. Draw a relationship between the air mass flow rate and
the outlet enthalpy of the air. Discuss it?
Ans

Y-Values
70

60

50

40

Y-Values
30

20

10

0
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07

Air mass flow rate

The air mass flow rate is increase while the enthalpy of the air
decrease

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