DHAKA UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

GAZIPUR-1707

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Course Name: Unit Operation in Chemical Engineering (Sessional)

Course Code: ChE-3752
Experiment No. 03 Date of Experiment 29-08-2023

Group No. 02 Date of Submission 11-09-2023

Name of the Experiment: Determination of the End State Properties and Verification of the
Steady-state Energy Balance Equation.

Submitted By Submitted To
Student Name: Molay Barman Mr. Akib Atique Khan Dhrubo

Student ID No: 208016 Assistant Professor

Department : Chemical Engineering Dept. of Chemical Engineering

Year/semester: 3rd / 1st DUET, Gazipur-1707

Session : 2020-21 Dr. Mahbuba Jannat

Assistant Professor

Dept. of Chemical Engineering

DUET, Gazipur - 1707

Course Teacher’s
Allocated Marks Obtained Marks
Signature

Objectives:
 1. To determine several properties of air at the inlet and outlet of the cooling tower.
2. To verify the steady-state energy balance equation from the result of the cooling
tower.

Theory: The term "cooling load" describes how much cooling is necessary, which is
indicated by the heater power used to heat the water in the load tank. The cooling load in kw
raises the water's temperature before it enters the cooling tower; as a result, the differential
heat energy level is high in comparison to the ambient temperature. Therefore, it will radiate
heat more into the environment, leaving the tower at a low temperature, and it will be more
likely to approach the temperature of a wet bulb. If the variables, such as the water flow and
the air velocity, remain constant, this occurs.

Absolute relative humidity:

mass of water
ω¿
mass of DA

∂ pressure of water ∈air

Φ=
Saturation pressure

There are several types of cooling towers, each with its own design and application. Here are
some of the common types:

1. Natural Draft Cooling Tower

2. Mechanical Draft Cooling Tower
3. Induced Draft Cooling Tower
4. Forced Draft Cooling Tower
5. Crossflow Cooling Tower
6. Counterflow Cooling Tower
 Experimental set-up:

T4
T3

T5

Water
distributor

FT1
V4

V5 V6

V1

V3

T7 V2

T1 T6
T2
h

T8
Hot
water
TC V7
Air Blower
Receiver tank Temperature
controller

V8
pump
Fig: schematic diagram of cooling tower
Procedure:

1. Prepare and launch the cooling tower as directed

2. All temperatures and flow rates should be recorded at regular intervals for a calculated
time of, say, 15 minutes. The mean values should be reported on the observation sheet.
3.Water flow rate: 2.0 LPM,2.5LPM,0.5LPMM and 1LPM Air Flow: Column installed: A
Packing density: 110 m2 ⁄m3, Area: 0.0225 m2.
4. After the system stabilizes, we then calculate the initial water level and final water level. 
Then stepwise added makeup water increased the flow rate to 2.00 KW, 2.5 KW, and
decreased the flow rate to 1.5 KW, 1KW without changing the conditions Area: 0.0225 m2.
4. At the commencement of this period, fill the make-up tank to the gauge mark with distilled
water.
5. After the system stabilizes, record a few sets of measurements.

Data collection: For make up water,

Initial water level= 40 ml

Final water level = 23 ml

Time = 5 min

Table-01: Experimental data chart

Observation data:

Parameters Water flow rate

2.00 2.50 1.50 1.00
Packing density 110 110 m2 / m3 110 m2 /m3 110 m2 /m3
2 3
m /m

Air inlet dry bulb temperature 25.1 25.2 24.8 24.5

(T 1)° C
Air inlet wet bulb temperature (T 2) 19.8 20.1 20 19.5
°C
Water Inlet Temperature (T5) °C 32.2 31.1 32.4 34
Water outlet temperature (T 6)° C 24.7 25.3 24.1 23.1
Orifice differential pressure ( Dp1) 128.9 125 136.3 135.5
Pa
Make up water (T7) 26.3 26.7 28.2 25.9
Air outlet wet bulb temperature (T3) 26.2 26.9 25.8 25.0
Air outlet wet bulb temperature(T4) 25.1 25.7 25.2 24.3

Air flow rate(kg/s) 0.0768

Heater power 0.941 0.929 0.932 0.939

Calculation:

For 2.5 kw load and 2.5 LPM water flow rate,

Inlet air enthalpy= 58 kj/kg

Outlet air enthalpy=77kj/kg

We have, T1 =25.2 °C and T2= 20.1 °C

Now from psychrometric chart, w= 0.015 kg /kg dry air

Vdr= 0.85 m3/kg

P= 125 Pa
P= xpg

125=x*1000*9.81

Therefore, x= 0.013 m

Water flow rate = 2.5 LPM

=4.5*10-5 m3/s

Mda =0.0137√ 0.013/0.85(1+0.015)

=3.67*10^-4kg/s

Mass flow rate=1000*4.5*10-5

=0.045kg/s

Air flow rate = 3.67*10^-4/ 0.0225

= 0.0739 kg/s- m2

Makeup water flow rate,

=219 ml/10min

=3.67*10-4 kg/s

Makeup water enthalpy, hE=108.9 kj/kg

For, each side of the steady-state energy balance equation,

Right side = ma (hb-ha) + mw * cp(To-Ti) + mE *hE

=0.074(77-58) + 0.045*4.2 (25.3-31.1) + 3.67*10-4 * 108.9

=0.35 kw

Left side = Q-P

= 1.0908- 0.055

=1.035 kw

Therefore, the energy balance equation was not equal on each side.
 1.035−0.35
% of error = ∗100 % = 65%
1.035

Result:

Makeup water 3.67*10-4 kg/s, right side energy value 0.35 kw, left side energy value 1.035 kw
and the percentage of error is 65%, water loss due to evaporation 0.044kg/s.

Discussion: Through this experiment, we have learned about the end state Properties and
Verification of the Steady-state Energy Balance Equation. In this experiment, we determined
Makeup water is 3.67*10-4 kg/s, right side energy value 0.35 kw, left side energy value 1.035
kw, and the percentage of error is 65%, water loss due to evaporation 0.044kg/sec. The
percentage of error is higher because of water sticking with the wall of the cooling tower,
water evaporation, and water falling down from the makeup water tank. If we can minimize
the loss the percentage of error will be reduced.

Reference:

 Bentley, J. M., T. K. Snyder, L. R. Glicksman, and W. M. Rohsenow. "An Experimental and

Analytical Study of a Unique Wet/Dry Surface for Cooling Towers." (1978): 520-526.