University of Zakho Mechanical Eng. Dept.

7th Semester 2023-2024

Refrigeration and AC Lab

Experiment No. 4
COOLING TOWER

1- Purpose:

To study and simulate operation of the cooling tower and draw processes which
happens inside the cooling tower using psychometric chart.

2- Introduction:

The cooling tower is one of the most important device in industrial applications and
it is used to cool the warm water coming from heat exchanger (condenser) in the thermal
power plant by contacting with unsaturated air.
In a typical water cooling tower, warm water flows counter current to an air stream.
Typically, the warm water enters the top of packed tower and cascades down through the
packing, and leaving at the bottom.
Air enters at the bottom of the tower and flows upward through the descending water.
The tower packing consists of plastic or packed bed. The water is distributed by troughs and
overflows to cascade over packing that provides large interfacial areas of contact between
the water and air in the form of droplets and films of water. The flow of air upward the tower
can be induced by the buoyancy of the warm air in the tower (natural draft) or by the action
of a fan. The water cannot be cooled below the wet bulb temperature. (See Figure 4.1).

Fig. (4.1) Steam Power Plant with Cooling Tower

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University of Zakho Mechanical Eng. Dept. 7th Semester 2023-2024

Refrigeration and AC Lab

3- Apparatus:

The apparatus consists from the following components and instruments: - (see Figure 4.2,
A-B).

i- Air distribution chamber.

ii- A tank with heaters to simulate cooling loads of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 kW.
iii- A make-up tank.
iv- A centrifugal fan with intake damper.
v- Pump.
vi- A water collecting basin.
vii- An electrical control panel.
viii- Packed column.
ix- Column cap.
x- Temperature indicator.
xi- Inclined tube manometer.
xii- Variable area flow meter.

Figure (4.2- A) cooling tower apparatus

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University of Zakho Mechanical Eng. Dept. 7th Semester 2023-2024

Refrigeration and AC Lab

Figure (4.2-B) components of cooling tower apparatus

4-Theory :

Cooling Range: The difference between the water temperature at inlet and outlet of the
tower.

Cooling Load: The rate at which heat is removed from the water. This may be expressed in
kW.

Make-up: The quantity of fresh water which must be supplied to the water circuit to make
good the losses due to evaporation and other causes.

Drift: Droplets of water which are entrained by the air stream leaving the tower.

Approach to wet bulb: The difference between the temperature of the water leaving the
tower and the wet bulb temperature of the air entering.

By Using the wet and dry bulb temperatures, for points A (inlet air into column) and
B (outlet air from column) may be plotted this process on the psychometric chart and can be
taken all properties of moisture air:

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University of Zakho Mechanical Eng. Dept. 7th Semester 2023-2024

Refrigeration and AC Lab

Applying the Steady Flow Energy Equation to the system indicated by the Boundary as
shown in figure:

𝑸̇ − 𝑷 = 𝒎̇𝒂 (𝒉𝑩 − 𝒉𝑨 ) − 𝒎̇𝑬 𝒉𝑬

Q̇ rate of heat transfer (Kw) , P Power of water pump (Kw) , ΔK̇E change in kinetic
energy (negligible), ΔḢ change in enthalpy.
hB = specific enthalpy of exit air (kJ/kg),
hA = specific enthalpy of inlet air (kJ/kg),
hE = specific enthalpy (hf) of make-up water (kJ/kg) at t7 (ambient dry bulb temperature)
………. (t7 assumed same as t1).

̇ 𝐸 ) = quantity of water consumed in the make-up tank (ME) divided by time.

Make up rate (𝑀

NOTE: - The pump power P is (-ve) since it is a work input.

Air enthalpy change = 𝑚̇ 𝑎 (ℎ𝐵 − ℎ𝐴 )

Water enthalpy change = 𝑚𝑤

̇ 𝑐𝑝 (𝑡6 − 𝑡5 )

From the Mass Balance Equation:

̇ 𝐸 ) must be equal evaporation rate.
Make up rate (𝑀

Evaporation rate = 𝑚̇𝑎 (𝑤𝐵 − 𝑤𝐴 )

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University of Zakho Mechanical Eng. Dept. 7th Semester 2023-2024

Refrigeration and AC Lab

5- Experimental Procedure:
1- Fill water in make-up tank, the level of the water should always be greater than the
mark of minimum level on the load tank.
2- Fill water at two positions of the wet bulb temperature (inlet and outlet air positions).
3- Switch on the experiment.
4- Open the cover of air intake damper to set the air flow rate such that the pressure drop
through the tower is 16 mm H2O.
5- Set water flow rate at 40 g/sec.
6- Switch on the heater at 1 kw.
7- Read all temperature each 5 min. until system reached steady state.
8- Fill water with make-up tank up and measure the volume of evaporated in 10 minutes
to find the rate of evaporation.
9- For final reading plot process on the psychometric chart and.
10- Calculate mass of air flow rate 𝑚̇a , ΔḢ of system, evaporating rate, make up rate
̇ 𝐸 ), cooling range, approach to wet bulb.
(𝑀

6- Discussion:
Q1/ What is the purpose of using the cooling tower. What are the types of cooling tower?
Explain them?
Q2/ Which temperature is greater, web bulb temperature or dry bulb temperature? And why.
Q3/ If the Twb = 30 OC and Tdb = 30 OC, what is the Relative Humidity?

Q4/ what are error sources occurring in this experiment and the procedure to reduce it?

Q5/ check whether the right side of this equation equals left hand side. Then discuss your
results.
𝐐̇ – 𝐏 = 𝚫𝐇̇ + 𝚫𝐊̇𝐄
Q6/ Check whether the evaporation rate equal make up rate. Discuss your results.

NO. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Time (min.) 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

T1, °C

T2, °C

T3, °C

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University of Zakho Mechanical Eng. Dept. 7th Semester 2023-2024

Refrigeration and AC Lab

T4, °C

T5, °C

T6, °C

X (mm. H2O)
mw (g/sec.)
mE

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