Abstract: This study shows that how the performance of a natural draft cooling tower can be improved by optimizing the heat transfer along the cooling tower packing using a suitable water distribution across the plane area of the cooling tower. In natural draft cooling towers, a process of counter flow heat transfer, which the water is cooled by air, takes place. Between the water and the air, a boundary layer is established, which is considered to be saturated air at the same temperature as the water. In the heat transfer process more than two-thirds of the heat is transferred by evaporation, with the rest being transferred by convection. An improved cooling tower performance is the result of an optimum mass flow rate of cooling water with respect to the power plants operating conditions. It is also possible to improve conditions with a proper distribution of water across the cooling towers plane area. On the basis of cooling air measurements, it is possible to distribute the water in such a way it ensures the homogeneity of the heat transfer and a reduction of entropy generation, thus minimizing the amount of energy lost. The velocity and temperature fields of the airflow were measured at an arbitrary point above the spray zone over the entire plane area of the cooling tower. The structures of the moist air velocity profiles and the temperature profiles above the spray zone were used as input data for optimum water distribution. Optimum water distribution system is applied with minimum possible alterations in existing system to ensure the minimum expenditure. Further, the experiment is carried out to evaluate the cooling tower performance with optimal water distribution system.
Keywords: Natural Draft Cooling Tower, Velocity, Temperature, Flow optimization, Nozzle size, HWT, Performance.
Title: Performance Improvement of Natural Draft Cooling Tower
Author: Randhire Mayur A.
International Journal of Engineering Research and Reviews (IJERR)
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