PERFORMANCE CALCULATION FOR MECHANICAL DRAFT COOLING TOWERS

The tower manufacturer shall also have provided some or all of the following information:
(1) design exit air density, lbm/ft3
(2) design exit air temperature, F
(3) design liquid-gas ratio, L/G
(4) design air rate, acfm
If design exit air temperature is provided, the air is assumed to be saturated.
Corresponding values of specific volume and specific humidity may be obtained from
psychrometric tables or curves; either the design acfm or design L/G may be calculated
depending on which is provided. If the design air density is provided along with the design
exit air temperature, the design L/G or acfm may be calculated by using the tables. If the
design L/G is provided, the exit air conditions may be calculated by using the tables.
Enthalpy of entering air

L/G = liquid to gas ratio

THW = Hot water temperature

TCW = Cold water temperature

he = enthalpy of exhaust air
hin = enthalpy of entering air
Corresponding data (from tables):

Exit air temperature, TWB (saturated)

specific volume (Vda)
Humidity ratio (He/Hin)
Design exit air density

Total Design air flow through tower(m3/s)

design air flow
= total dry air flow through tower(G) specific volume
liq to gas ratio, L/G = (total design circulating water flow through tower 8.33)/G
= (QD)(8.33)/G
therefore G
= (QD)(8.33)/ (L/G) ------->substitute G
design air flow

= ((QD)(8.33) sp:volume)/ (L/G)

Total measured air flow through tower(m3/s)

HPt = calculated test horse power

HPd = design horse power
qd = Total Design air flow through tower

Exit air conditions at test

L/G = liquid to gas ratio

QT = Test Circulating water flow rate

qt

= Total Design air flow through tower(calculated above)

THW = Hot water temperature

TCW = Cold water temperature

he = enthalpy of exhaust air
hin = enthalpy of entering air(corresponding to WBT from table)
thus finally we will get,

he = fn( spec:volume)
iteration method----->
Assume an exit air temp between hot and cold water temperature, obtain corresponding
sp:volume from table and calculate exit air enthalpy. Compare corresponding temperature
from table with the assumed temp and repeat till the assumed temp and calculated temp
are equal.

Test exit air density = (1+humidityratio)/spec:volume

@corresponding exit air temp
Corrected test fan power = design exit air density/test exit air density fan power