Experimental study of a natural draft hybrid (wet/dry) cooling tower with a splash fill type

Abdullah Kadhlm Ali; Ahmed Qassem Mohammed; Qasim Selah Mahdi; Abdullah Kadhlm Ali; Ahmed Qassem Mohammed; Qasim Selah Mahdi

doi:10.3934/energy.2022031

AIMS Energy

2022, Volume 10, Issue 4: 648-664. doi: 10.3934/energy.2022031

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Experimental study of a natural draft hybrid (wet/dry) cooling tower with a splash fill type

1.
Middle Technical University, Engineering Technical College, Mech. Eng. Dept. IRAQ, Baghdad
2.
Mustansiriyah University/College of Engineering, Mech. Eng. Dept. IRAQ, Baghdad

Received: 23 April 2022 Revised: 31 May 2022 Accepted: 02 June 2022 Published: 27 June 2022

Cooling towers have such a significant influence on work and efficiency that researchers and designers are working tirelessly to enhance their performance. A prototype design for a natural draft hybrid (wet/dry) cooling tower has been created, relying on geometrical, dynamic, and thermodynamic similarities. Based on Iraqi weather, experiments have been conducted using splash fill (150 mm) in summer (hot and dry) weather conditions. This study investigated heat transfer mechanisms of both air and water in a natural draft hybrid cooling tower model(NDHCTs), both directly (wet section) and indirectly (dry section). The tower is filled with splash-style packing, and the warm water is spread throughout the building using sprayer nozzles. The influences of water flow rates, fill thickness, and air velocity on the cooling range, approach, cooling capacity, thermal efficiency of the cooling tower, water evaporation loss into the air stream and water loss percentage were explored in this study. The experimental were carried out with four different water flow rates, ranging from 7.5 to 12 (Lpm) litres per minute, and eight different air velocities, all while keeping a constant inlet water temperature and a zero (m/s) crosswind. Data has been gathered, and performance variables have been determined. The findings demonstrate that the cooling tower's efficacy increases when the water flow rate is low, and the cooling range increases with increasing air velocity and decreases with increasing water flow rate; for a 7.5 Lpm water flow rate and a 2.4 m/s air velocity, it expanded to 19.5 ℃. The cooling capacity increased to 23.2 kW for a water flow rate of 12 Lpm and an air velocity of 2.4 m/s.
- cooling range,
- wet bulb temperature,
- cooling tower,
- performance factors,
- air velocity,
- splash fill type,
- heat exchanger
Citation: Abdullah Kadhlm Ali, Ahmed Qassem Mohammed, Qasim Selah Mahdi. Experimental study of a natural draft hybrid (wet/dry) cooling tower with a splash fill type[J]. AIMS Energy, 2022, 10(4): 648-664. doi: 10.3934/energy.2022031

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Abstract

Cooling towers have such a significant influence on work and efficiency that researchers and designers are working tirelessly to enhance their performance. A prototype design for a natural draft hybrid (wet/dry) cooling tower has been created, relying on geometrical, dynamic, and thermodynamic similarities. Based on Iraqi weather, experiments have been conducted using splash fill (150 mm) in summer (hot and dry) weather conditions. This study investigated heat transfer mechanisms of both air and water in a natural draft hybrid cooling tower model(NDHCTs), both directly (wet section) and indirectly (dry section). The tower is filled with splash-style packing, and the warm water is spread throughout the building using sprayer nozzles. The influences of water flow rates, fill thickness, and air velocity on the cooling range, approach, cooling capacity, thermal efficiency of the cooling tower, water evaporation loss into the air stream and water loss percentage were explored in this study. The experimental were carried out with four different water flow rates, ranging from 7.5 to 12 (Lpm) litres per minute, and eight different air velocities, all while keeping a constant inlet water temperature and a zero (m/s) crosswind. Data has been gathered, and performance variables have been determined. The findings demonstrate that the cooling tower's efficacy increases when the water flow rate is low, and the cooling range increases with increasing air velocity and decreases with increasing water flow rate; for a 7.5 Lpm water flow rate and a 2.4 m/s air velocity, it expanded to 19.5 ℃. The cooling capacity increased to 23.2 kW for a water flow rate of 12 Lpm and an air velocity of 2.4 m/s.

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