Evaporation

Rate of evaporation is approximately 1% of the circulation flow for each 10 F (5.56 C) of rise
between the outlet and inlet across the tower. A correction is needed for factors such as wind,
relative humidity, etc. Factor of 0.85 works out to be a reasonable approximation. If the
climate is particularly moist, value may go down to 0.65; it if is very dry, it may go upto 1.0 1.2.
Correction Factor 0.85
Evaporation Loss
= (0.85 *(1/100)* T )/(10) * Circulation Flow
= 0.00085 * T * Circulation Flow
= 153.00 US gpm
Drift/ Windage
Drift is entrained water in the tower discharge vapors. Drift loss varies between 0.1 and 0.2 %
of Circulation flow. It can be as low as 0.01 % of circulation flow, if the cooling tower has
windage drift eliminators.
Drift Loss %
Drift Loss
= 0.00200 * Circulation Flow
= 36.00 US gpm
Blowdown
Blowdown discards a portion of the concentrated circulating water due to the evaporation
process in order to lower the system solids concentration. Blowdown can be calculated
according to number of cycles of concentration required to limit scale formation.
Blowdown Loss
= Evaporation Loss / (Cycles of Concentration - 1)
= 51.00 US gpm
Makeup Water
= Evaporation Loss + Drift Loss + Blowdown
= 153.00 + 36.00 + 51.00 US gpm
= 240.00 US gpm