THEORY

The conservation of energy is First Law Thermodynamics which is the theory that
involve in operation of the cooling tower. As we know, conservation energy is the
energy that enters the system is same as the energy that exit the system and it can
be neither destroyed nor created. Energy just transformed from one form to another.
Energy in this experiment is hot water that enters the cooling tower. Thus, the hot
water was cooled from temperature 1, T1 to temperature T2. The hot water was
cooled in the form of forced convection by which ambient air at T 1 was blown over the
hot water and exited the cooling tower at temperature T 2. Both the entrance and exit
temperatures of the air and water were recorded. Once the data is recorded, an
energy balance can be conducted on the system. Enthalpy is the main component of
the energy balance.
Defined as:
H=U + PV
(1)
Where,
H= enthalpy
U= internal energy
P = pressure
V= volume
The combination term U+PV is enthalpy which is also known as heat. Enthalpy can
be calculated by using the equation 1. Besides that, the tables of data for the fluid
being used also can be references to find an enthalpy. In this experiment, mostly the
fluids used by cooling tower are air and water, while the enthalpy can be obtained
from thermodynamics textbook. As example, the experiment is to measure the initial
and final temperatures of the input hot water and the output cool water. The
temperature Tin can be referenced and the enthalpy (kJ/kg) can be recorded. The

energy balance can be conducted and the enthalpy of the output cooled water can be
referenced for the water.
H=H H out

is used in the energy balance.

Therefore, a general method to conduct an energy balance for air entering and
leaving the system as shown below in equation 2 is obtained when

H=0 .

H = H out
(2)
As conclusion, there is two method can be used to determine the change in enthalpy
for the air. When the air is at low pressure, it can be treated as an ideal gas and the
enthalpy change can be calculated by using the following equation:
H=C p T
(3)
Where
H = change in enthalpy
T = change in temperature
Cp = specific heat at constant pressure.
To determine the enthalpy change between the entrance and exit air, a psychometric
chart can be used since the specific heat relation does not take to count the percent
of water in the air. Moreover, the psychometric chart can be used effectively when the
information about the input and output is provided.
As refer the psychometric chart, the information needed is the dry bulb and wet bulb
temperatures of the inlet and outlet. To measure both the input and output air flow is
used a sling psychrometer. The sling psychrometer is an instrument that has two
thermometers. The thermometer end is used that has a welted cotton sleeve to

measure the wet bulb temperature. Thus, the regular thermometer is used for
measuring the dry bulb temperature. Once the wet and dry bulb temperatures of the
inlet and outlet air have been measured, the enthalpy can be obtained by referring
the psychometric chart. Therefore, the energy balance can be conducted on the
system.

APPARATUS AND MATERIAL

Solteq Cooling tower Model HE 152, Dionised Water

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
1. The main switch is switched on and the water flow is set to 0.8 LPM. The air
damper is adjusted so the liquid manometer change is 10 mm H 2O.
2. The 0.5 kW heater is switched on and the temperature in the system is
allowed to reach steady state. The temperature T 1 though T6 is recorded.
Temperature is measured on the read-out in the centre of the control panel.
The numbers correspond to the temperature locations shown on the
schematic diagram.
3. Steps 1 and 2 are repeated for water flow of 1.2 and 1.6 LPM. Keep the air
flow rate the same so that the manometer change is 10 mm H 2O.
4. Steps 1, 2 and 3 are repeated with 1 kW and 1.5 kW of heating (both the and

1 kW heaters on).