ME 4351 Thermal-Fluid Systems Lab

Cooling Tower Characteristics

Objective:
The objective for this lab exercise is to experimentally determine the cooling tower
performance characteristics for varying cooling water flow rate, cooling water load (kW),
and air flow rate.

Test Procedure:
For a cooling load of 1 kW and water flow rate of 0.03 kg/s, allow the cooling tower flow
rates and temperatures to reach steady-state. Adjust the pressure drop across the orifice to
7, 14, and 21 mm of water. For each orifice pressure drop, take all temperature readings and
the pressure drop across the packing. Make sure that the system stabilizes prior to taking any
readings. Do not adjust the cooling load or the water flow rate during the experiment. Repeat
the procedure for a cooling load of 1.5 kW.

Data Requirements:
1a) Column data (type, packing density, and cross-sectional area)
2b) Barometric pressure (use standard 1 atm for all lab calculations)
3c) Cooling load, Qload

4d) Water flow rate, m water

5e) Orifice pressure differential, Porifice
6f) Air inlet temperatures (dry and wet bulb), T1 and T2
7g) Air outlet temperatures (dry and wet bulb), T3 and T4
8h) Water inlet and outlet temperatures, T5 and T6
9i) Water inlet and outlet enthalpies, h5 and h6
10j) Makeup water volume, Vmakeup
11k) Makeup water temperature, Tmakeup
12j) Run duration
13

Calculated Results:

1a) Obtain relative humidity, , absolute humidity, , and enthalpy, h, for air inlet and
outlet conditions (using 1 atm pressure).
2b) Calculate vapor partial pressure, Pv , air partial pressure, Pa , and air specific
volume, v a , all at air outlet conditions.

3c) Calculate approach temperature, Tapp , and dry air mass flow rate, m a .

4d) Calculate the evaporation rate, m ev , using the 1st law analysis and from makeup

water data, m ev alt .

5e) Obtain makeup water enthalpy, h.
6f) Calculate the cooling load using cooling water flow rate and enthalpies, Qload CW
7
8
ME 4351 Thermal-Fluid Systems Lab
9

10g) Calculate ratio of cooling water flow rate over evaporation rate found from 1 st law

analysis,

m water

m ev
11h) Compile a table of all obtained and calculated data
i) Plot evaporation rate (y-axis) vs. air mass flow rate (x-axis) for both cooling loads.

Inclue values of evaporation rate calculated using 1 st law analysis, m ev , and makeup

water analysis, m ev alt

j) Plot

m water

m ev

(y-axis) vs. air mass flow rate, m a , (x-axis) for both cooling loads

k) Discuss results of the graphs of the lab data

Report Requirements:
In a short report format, provide:
1a) A summary, which includes a short description of the test and the essential
results
2b) A discussion, which includes a more complete, but still brief, description of
the test and results
3c) A schematic of the experimental apparatus
4d) Excel spreadsheet calculations and plots
e) Lab Data Sheet