PERFORIMANCE OF A WATER

CoOLING TOWER
 EXPERIMENT-4

WATER COOLING TOWER

OBJECTIVE:
Study of the heat
ma s s transfer in Water Cooling Tower for different flow &
&mass
thermodynamic conditions.
AIM:

measure Tower
Characteristic parameter (KaV/L) for various liquid and ar llow
rates (L/G) in a counter-current Forced draft Cooling Tower.
lo determine the effect of L/G on [KaV/L] and estimate the values of mass transter
coefficient Ka for various values of L/G

INTRODUCTION:
Water from condensers and heat
exchangers is usually cooled by an air stream in
spray ponds or in Cooling Towers
using
natural draft
forced flow of the air.
or
Mechanical
draft of the forced draft
towers are
type, where the air is blown into the tower
bottom. The forced draft materially reduces the
by a fan at the
effectiveness of the cooling.
Air Out (G, T3, Ta, hiht
Water in (L, Ts)

Packing
Cooling Tower

Air in (G, T, T2, ha)

Water Out (L, T6)
 THEORY
Water may be cooled by the air as long as its
of the entering air.
temperature is above the wet bulb temperature
Markel's Theory is used which is based on
the enthalpy potential difference as
driving foree. Each particle of water is assumed to
be surrounded by a film of air and the
enthalpy difference between the film and the
the
air surrounding provides the driving force for
cooling process. In the integrated form Markel's
equation can be written as:
KaV-
L h'-h
Tower characteristic can be
evaluated numerically by:
aV_dT
L h-h,
(-T)1111
4
Ah Ah Ah Ah
value of hw at temp =
To +0.1 (Ts T) -

value of hw at temp =
Ts +0.4 (Ts -Ts)
value of h, at temp
=Ts -0.4 (Ts-T)
value of hw at temp =
Ts 0.1 (Ts -Ts)
-

hi+01 LG)T,-T)
h +0.4 (LG) (Ts - T)
h -0.4 (LG) (Ts- T)
ha-0.1 (LG) (Ts- T)
And Ah
The carrying of liquid with the gas stream is termed as
Liquid Entrainment. This
may be due to high
a rate of air flow. This should be avoided
to get better performance. This
can be avoided
by following the Operational limits of the equipment.
DESCRIPTION:
The apparatus is provided
for the process of Forced draft
countercurrent 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 rotameter; to the top of the cooling tower moumted over the
a
heating
tank. Cooled water is then re-cireulated 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 oritice
meter/ pitot tube mounted with its taps connected to a manometer to find the flow rate ot ar.
 i r e sensors is provided at both inlet and outlet of air strearm.
kedThes
with
A set
of two temperature tower is packe
The cooling
Sensorsgives Dry bulb & Wet bulb air
temperatures.

Aluminium expanded wire mesh.

Description of temperature sensor

T inletdry bulb temp aiy
inlet wet bulb temp air.
outlet dry bulb temp air.

Ta outlet wet bulb temp air

Ts inlet water temp.

s$?
T6 outlet water temp.

UTILITIES REQUIRED:
Water Supply.
Drain
Electricity Supply: 1 Phase, 220 V AC, and 3 kW.
Floor area of 1.2 mx im.

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 purnp & blower after desired temperature achieved.
3. Set the flow rate of water and air.
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.

Operational Parameter Range:

Liquidrate: L=5 to 20 LPH.

Air rate G 10 to 88 mm of manometric difference
(With water as manometric fluid)
L/G:0.75 to 1.5
SPECIFICATION:
Tower Material Stainless Steel, Size Cross-Section 6'x 6",

Height 30

Packing Expanded wire mesh made of Aluminium.

Air Flow Measurement Orifice meter/ Pitot tube connected to U-tube

manometer.
Water Flow Measurement Rotameter.
Hot Water Tank Material Stainless Steel, Double wall, insulated with

ceramic wool

Hot water circulation Magnetic Pump made of Polypropylene to Circulate

Hot water. Maximum working temperature is 85°C.

Heater 1.5 kW
Temperature sensors 7 Nos.

Dry &Wet Bulb Temp Measurement: RTD PT-100 type Sensors

Control panel comprising of:

Digital Temperature Controller: Range: 0-200"C. (for hot water tank)

Digital Temperature Indicator: Range: 0-200°C, with multi-channel switch.
With Standard make On/Off switch, Mains Indicator & fuse etc.
A good quality painted rigid MS Structure is provided to support all the parts.

FORMULAE:

R Pwater-1
Head in terms of air, AH
100 Pair
Flow rate of air, Q. a42-Ca2gAH
a-a
.. Mass flow rate of air, m Pair Qo
Mass flow rate of dry air, G m/(1+Y)]/ cross-sectional area of column
Rate of humidification mass flow rate of dry air x (Y2-Y1) kg moisture/ sec
 10. OSERVATION& CALCULATION:

DATA:
34mm
Orifice dia., d
Cross section area of Orifice, a
9.1 x 10 m

da 68mm

Orifice constant, Co 0.6

Pwer -kg/m

pir kg/m
9.81 m/s

Cross section Area of Chamber, A 0.0232 m

Height of Packing 0.75 m

From the
Psychometric Chart for air-water vapor at 1 atm. pressure determine
following coresponding to dry bulb and wet bulb temperature of the entering and leavineair:
the

Yi (coresponding to T1 and T)

h (corresponding to Ts)

Y2. (coresponding to Ts and T)

ha (coresponding to T)

OBSERVATION TABLE
R Flow rate Water temp.
S. Air Temperature (°C)
No. (in m) of water
(C) Inlet
h b2 LLPH) Outlet
Inlet OutletDry bulb Wet bulb Dry bulb Wet hulo
CALCULATmON:
of air Q and Mass flow rate of air
m
Calculate flow rate
lactorY
flow rate is to be multiplied by an Expansion
For flow
of compressible fluid, mass

I
For the pressure ratio nearly equal to one, y
Mass flow rate of dry air, G m/(1+Y1)]/A kg dry air/h-m
flow rate of dry air x (Y2-Y1) kg moislure / scc

Rate of humidification mass

above.
IG ratio is calculated from the L& G calculated as

below:
The values ha are found at different temperatures as

T,C ha, KJ/Kg of dry air

Ts hah

Ts+0.1(Ts-T) h=h+0.1(L/G)(Ts-To)

Ts+0.4(Ts-To) h-h+0.4(L/G) (T5-To)

Ts -0.4(Ts-To) h-h-0.4(L/G)(T5-To)

Ts-0.1(Ts-Ts) hh-0.1(L/G) (T5-T6)

Ts h h2=51.2237

hw data is evaluated at the specified temperatures from the psychometric chart to caleulate

Ah's. Now according to Markel's Theory; the cooling tower characteristic KaV/L is

calculated as below:

KaV d_T,-T), 1
h h,-h Ah Ah Ah,
NOMENCATURE
Contact area, m m of tower volume
Cross section Area of
Chamber, m
Cross Section area of
Orifice, m
Cross Section area of pipe, m
Orifice constant
Diameter of Orifice, m
d
Dameter of the
pipe in which Orificemeter is installed, m

G Acceleration due to gravity, m/s

Mass tlow rate of air, Kg dry air/s.m
Mass flowV rate of air, Kg air/s
enthalpy of air stream, kJ/kg
ha
enthalpy of saturated air,
kJ/kg
enthalpy of air-water
vapour mixture at its wet bulb
enthalpy of air-water vapour mixture
temp., kJ/kg of dry air.
at bulk water
mass
transfer co-eft.,
kg of water /h-m1
temp., kJ/kg of dry air
KaV/L= tower characteristic parameter
L
flow rate of
water, kg of water
Mass flow rate of
/h-m
air, Kg air/s.m
Orifice manometer
T Air inlet
reading (for air flow), m
T2 dry-bulb temperature, °C
Air inlet
wet-bulb
Ts Air outlet temperature, "C
TA dry-bulb temperature, "C
Air outlet wet-bulb
Ts Water inlet temperature, °C
T6 Water outlet
temperature, °C
active cooling
temperature, °C
No volume m'mt of
Velocity of air at Orifice, plan area
m/s
Percentage saturation at
Y2 inlet, kg
Percentage saturati0n at moisture/kg air
Coefficient of contractionoutlet,
for
kg
moisture/kg air
manometer fluid Orificemeter.
Pwater Density of
Pair Density of the tluid (water), Kg/m
whose flow rate is
to be
measured (air),
Kg/m
PRECAUTIONS &MAINTENANCE
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Heater should not
be switched on before filling the water in tank.
2. Pump should not be switched on hea
at low voltage.
3. Water n
heating tank should be properly drained after experiment r.
4. Cotton jacket over the wet bulb arrangement
should be in its place prop
5. Wet bulb bottle should be
filled with water before starting the exp ment.

TROUBLESHOOTING:
c a s e or any problem regarding operation of the apparatus; the apparatus should De

quickly switched off and electric supply should be cut off

Electrical:

l e c t r i e Shock: lt means that either earth wire inside the panel is loose or there 15 no

earth provided in the socket to which the equipment is plugged. So, make it sure that

the equipment is earthed properly.

2. Display of 1' on D.T.C/D.T..: It means sensors connections are loose. Locate the

point of loose connection and solder it properly.

3. No rise in temperature despite heater is ON: It means there is some loose

connection. Check out for the same and then either solder it or tight it, whatever is

applicable.

General:

Leakage: The point of leakage should be detected & the concerned part is tightened
properly. If the problem still persists then the part is removed & Teflon tape is
wrapped on the threads properly & the part is then refitted carefully.

REFERENCES:

1. Pery, R.H, Chilton, C.H. (eds.): "The Chemieal Engineers Handbook", sth ed
pp.12/13-12/15, MeGraw-Hill, NY, 1977.
2. Treybal, R.H: "Mass-1Transfer Operations", 3 ed., pp.259-261, MeGraw-Hil,NY.
1981.