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METU Chem. Eng. Dept.

Ch.E. 420 Chem. Eng. Lab III



EXPERIMENT 40
COOLING TOWER


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OBJECTIVES
The aim of this experiment is to study the operation of the cooling tower and
the evaluation of the tower performance.
PRELIMINARY WORK
A. Theoretical Background
Study the theoretical aspects of water cooling with air. Appropriate references are
cited at the end of this manual.
B. Answer The Following Questions
About the psychometric chart and related equations
1. Draw a schematic psychometric chart and show:
a. The 100%, 70%, 30% and 10% saturation lines.
b. How to find the dew point for a given value of humidity.
c. The adiabatic saturation or wet bulb temperature lines.
2. Calculate the humid heat for air with a molal humidity of 0.04.
3. Use both the psychometric chart and the appropriate equations to find and
compare the following:
a. The humid volume of air with humidity of 0.045 at 30C
b. The enthalpy of air at 25C with T
wb
=20C
c. The enthalpy deviation between saturated air at 30C and air at 40C with
T
wb
=30C
About Cooling Tower Design
1. Draw a schematic saturation enthalpy versus temperature diagram. Show the
operating line and the terminal conditions for a cooling tower.
2. What is the slope of the equilibrium line ?
3. Write down the expression for the number of transfer units (NTU).
4. What happens to the NTU if:
a. The slope of the operating line increases while the humidity and water
temperature at the bottom of the tower is kept constant?
b. The slope of the operating line increases while the humidity and water
temperature at the top of the tower is kept constant?
METU Chem. Eng. Dept.
Ch.E. 420 Chem. Eng. Lab III
Experiment 40
Cooling Tower


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5. Which properties of the packing material would influence the tower
performance?
6. In cooling tower design practice, the tower cross sectional area for induced
draft towers can be determined using a sizing chart ( Reference 3). It is also
stated that the tower size is a function of :
a. Cooling range
b. Approach to wet bulb temperature
c. Quantity of water to be cooled
d. Wet bulb temperature
e. Air velocity.
Explain and discuss how these parameters affect the tower size.
7. Would you consider relative humidity to be an important parameter in the
performance of the natural draft cooling tower? Explain.
C. Related to the experimental part:
Study the equipment. Measure its dimensions. Familiarize yourself with the
operational procedure.
Prepare a data sheet on which the measured quantities are to be entered.
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
1. Check whether the heat exchanger is filled with water or not. If not, make sure
that it is filled with water before starting the steam flow. The steam flow rate is
to be adjusted to give a typical cooling tower water inlet temperature.
2. Start the circulation of water between the heat exchanger and the cooling
tower using appropriate valves and the water pump.
3. Start the air fan.
4. Allow time for the attainment of steady-state.
5. Measure the air velocity using the vane anemometer.
6. Measure the inlet water flow rate by means of the orificemeter. The orifice and
the pipe diameters are 2 in. and 4 in., respectively, and the orifice coefficient
(velocity of approach not included) is 0.619.
7. Measure the dry-bulb temperature and relative humiditiy of air at the tower
inlet and exit using the humidity meter available. Calculate the respective dry-
and wet-bulb temperatures using the thermocouples installed on the tower,
and compare the two measurements.
8. Take readings of the water-meter on the make-up line to determine the water
evaporation rate. Note that the water-meter is of an accumulated counter type
so that in order to determine the make-up water rate you have to take
readings over a time interval after steady state is reached.
9. Measure the inlet and outlet water temperatures using the thermocouples.
METU Chem. Eng. Dept.
Ch.E. 420 Chem. Eng. Lab III
Experiment 40
Cooling Tower


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10. Record the barometric pressure.
11. Make runs varying the flow rate of the hot water.
CALCULATIONS
Perform the calculations once by assuming a standard pressure of 1
atmosphere, and once at the actual barometric pressure in the laboratory.
1. Determine the humidity and relative humidity of air streams for each run.
2. Construct a plot of enthalpy of saturated air versus temperature for the range
of experimental conditions.
3. Calculate the enthalpy of inlet and outlet air streams for each run.
4. Draw the operating line for each run and compare the graphically determined
slopes with those obtained from the measurements of liquid and gas flow
rates.
5. Calculate the NTU and HTU (number and height of a transfer unit) for each
run.
6. Calculate the percentage error in NTU due to deviation of barometric pressure
from the standard pressure, and compare with the percentage difference in
pressure.
7. Calculate the overall mass transfer coefficient for each run.
8. Plot the overall mass transfer coefficient values against liquid flow rate.
9. Find the tower characteristics using the nomograph in the Reference (3).
REFERENCES
1. Faust, A.S., L.A. Wenzel, C.W. Clump, L. Maus, L.B. Andersen, Principles of
Unit Operations 2nd ed., J ohn Wiley, N.Y., 1980, Chapter 17, Humidification.
2. Treybal, R.E., Mass Transfer Operations , 3rd ed., McGraw Hill, N.Y., 1981,
Chapter 7, Humidification Operations.
3. Perry, H.R., D.W. Green, J .O. Maloney, Perry's Chemical Engineer's
Handbook , 6th Ed., McGraw Hill, New York ,1984, pp.12-3 to 12-24.

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