PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF WATER COOLING TOWER

AIM :

To determine the overall heat transfer coefficient in a forced draft counter current cooling
tower. To measure Tower Characteristic parameter KV/L for various liquid and air flow rates
(L/G) in a counter-current Forced draft Cooling Tower.

INTRODUCTION :

Water from condensers and heat exchangers is usually cooled by an air stream in spray ponds
or in Cooling Towers using natural draft or forced flow of the air. Mechanical draft towers are
of the forced draft type, where the air is blown into the tower by a fan at the bottom. The forced
draft materially reduces the effectiveness of the cooling.

THEORY :

Water may be cooled by the air as long as its temperature is above the wet bulb temperature of
the entering air. Markel’s theory is used which is based on enthalpy potential difference as the
driving force.

Fig. Block Diagram of a Water Cooling Tower

For heat transfer operation: Each particle of water is assumed to be surrounded by a film of air
and the enthalpy difference between the film and the surrounding air provides the driving force
for the cooling process. Assume that liquid is warmer than gas.
For mass transfer operation: Each particle of water is assumed to be surrounded by a film of
air and the enthalpy difference between the film and the surrounding air provides the driving
force for the cooling process.
EXPERIMENTAL SET UP :

Fig. Experimental Set Up of a Water Cooling Tower

The apparatus is provided for the process of Forced draft counter current cooling of hot water
using air. The water to be cooled is heated in a heating tank using a heater. It is then
circulated; through a rotameter; to the top of the cooling tower mounted over the heating
tank. Cooled water is then re-circulated to the heating tank. A blower is provided for the
cooling air. A valve is provided in airline to regulate the flow rate of air. There is an Orifice
meter mounted with its taps connected to a manometer to find the flow rate of air. A set of
two temperature sensors is provided at both inlet and outlet of air stream. These sensors gives
Dry bulb & Wet bulb air temperatures. The cooling tower is packed with Aluminium
expanded wire mesh.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE :

1. Fill the heating tank with water, set the temperature with the help of D.T.C. and
switch on heater.
2. Switch on pump & blower after desired temperature achieved.
3. Set the flow rate of water and air.
4. Record the flow rate of water and manometer reading after steady state achieved.
5. Record the temperatures.
6. Steps 3 to 5 may be repeated for different water & air flow rates within operational
range.
OBSERVATIONS :

Diameter of Orifice, mm (d1) =34

Diameter of pipe, mm (d2) =68
Coefficient of discharge (Cd) =0.6
Density of manometer fluid (water), w (kg/m3) = 1000
Density of air, (kg/m3) =1.126
g = 9.81 m/s2
Flow rate = 70 ltr/hr

OBSERVATYION TABLE :
Sr. T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 R1(cm) R2(cm) QW (LPH)
No.
1. 19 17.5 38.6 36 44.5 30.5 5.6 9.5 3.9
2. 19.5 18.1 35.4 34.4 43.7 28.3 3 12.1 9.1
3. 20 18.7 35.1 34 44.1 28 0.2 14.1 13.9

EXPERIMENTAL CALCULATIONS :

Double click to edit =34.54 m

a1 =Cross Section area of Orifice, m2= 907.46 *10-6 m
a2 = Cross Section area of pipe, m2 =3629.84*10-6 m

= 0.01463 m3/s
= 0.0165 kg/s

=0.01944 kg/s
L/G =1.178

From Enthalpy table, the enthalpy of entering air at a wet bulb temp i.e.17.5 0C is h1= 15.274
Btu/lb of air

=15.274 + 1.178(44.5-30.5)
 =31.766 Btu/lb of air

T,0F hwi hai

T=T2 =63.5 hwi = -------- --------
hai = h1 = 15.274
T=T2 +0.1(T1-T2) hai =h1+0.1(L/G) (T5- 13.87
hwi =32.12
=63.77 T6) =18.25
T=T2 +0.4(T1-T2) hai =h1+0.4(L/G) 5.93
hwi =33.12
=64.56 (T5-T6) =27.19
T=T2 -0.4(T1-T2) hai =h2-0.4(L/G) (T5- 13.78
hwi =33.62
=65.12 T6) = 19.84
T=T2 -0.1(T1-T2) hai = h2-0.1(L/G) (T5- 5.33
hwi =34.11
=65.93 T6) = 28.78
T=T1 =66.2 hai = h2 = 31.76 2.56
hwi =34.32

Cooling range = T5-T6 = 140C

Temperature approach =T2-T6 = -130C

=
= 0.501
Now tower characteristics

=1.7535
On doing the similar calculations for different values of (L/G), we get the complete calculation
table. From there we draw a graph between tower characteristics and (L/G).
SIMULATION START UP PROCESS :
LABVIEW CALCULATIONS :

(Note: In the snapshots all the boxes with a green background designates inputs/measurements,
with a blue background designates virtual data and with a pink background designates user's
calculated data.)
STEP 1: In this step the user will be given values for diameters and densities. According to
than the user has to calculate the areas and enter the values in the boxes provided.

STEP 2 : In this step the user will be supplied with virtual data for temperature ,water levels
and flow rate which he will require for further calculations.
STEP 3 : Here the user will have to enter his calculated values based on the virtual data and
formulas provided.

STEP 4 : Here the user will have to enter his calculated values based on the virtual data
provided.
STEP 5 : In this step the user will be provided with virtual data for temperature and enthalpy
as shown in the snapshot below.

STEP 6 : Here the user will have to enter his calculated values based on the virtual data
provided in the space shown in the snapshot.
STEP 7 : Here the user has to enter his calculated value for the tower characteristic parameter.

STEP 8 : This is a simple comparison step between the user's calculated data and the virtual
data.
STEP 9 : This is the concluding step mentioning the marks the user gets on his performance.

CONCLUSION :

In this experiment we studied that, Water from condensers and heat exchangers is usually
cooled by an air stream in spray ponds or in Cooling Towers using natural draft or forced flow
of the air. Mechanical draft towers are of the forced draft type, where the air is blown into the
tower by a fan at the bottom. The forced draft materially reduces the effectiveness of the
cooling.
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