ABSTRACT

The objectives of the cooling tower experiment are to determine the

correlation of water to air mass flow ratio with increasing water flow rate and to
determine the cooling load effect, the effect of different flow rates on the wet
bulb approach. Another objective is to estimate the evaporation rate of water
(water loss) for the tower. The experiment is varied by using three variables;
heating load, blower damper and water flow rate. The experiment is started by
undergoing general start-up procedure. Valves 1 to 6 are closed, while valve 7 is
partially opened. The load and make-up tank is filled with de-ionised water.
Installation of cooling tower is done appropriately. The water flow rate is set to
2.0 LPM, heating load 1.0 kW and fully opened the damper. The differential
pressure sensor is also checked. The unit is left to operate for 20 minutes to
achieve standard steady state operations. Water level in make-up tank is
observed and refilled if it decreased.
The first experiment is started by varying the heating load. The variables
are 0.5 kW, 1.0 kW and 1.5 kW. Water flow rate and blower damper is fixed to
2.0 LPM and fully opened respectively. The efficiencies of cooling tower by using
0.5 kW, 1.0 kW and 1.5 kW are 113%, 95 %, 87 % respectively and their mass
flow rate per area are 1.697 10-3kg/m2s, 1.698 10-3kg/m2s and 1.698 103

kg/m2s respectively.
In second experiments, the air flow is varied by fully-open the blower (100

% air flow) and half-open the blower (50 % air flow). The heating load and the
water flow rate are fixed to 0.5kW and 2.0 LPM respectively. Its efficiencies are
86 % and 86 % respectively while the mass flow rate per area are 1.698 10 3

kg/m2s and 1.698 10-3kg/m2s respectively.

The third experiment is done in order to determine the effects of water

flow rate. Thus, the water flow rate is varied to 2.0 LPM, 2.4 LPM and 2.8 LPM.
The heating load and blower damper are fixed to 0.5 kW and fully-open
respectively. The efficiencies of the cooling tower are 100 %, 106 % and 111 %
respectively. The mass flow rates per area are 1.692 10 -3kg/m2s, 2.033 103

kg/m2s and 2.375 10-3kg/m2s respectively.

INTRODUCTION
The laboratory cooling tower is a cooling tower unit from a commercial air
conditioning system used to study the principles of cooling tower operation. It is
used in conjunction with a residential size water heater to simulate a cooling
tower used to provide cool water to an industrial process. In the case of the
laboratory unit, the industrial process load is provided by the water heater. The
laboratory cooling tower allows for complete control of the speed of the fan used
in cooling the warm return water and the pump used to return the cooled water
to the water heater.
Experiments can be conducted which study how adjustment of one or both of
these parameters affects the amount of heat removed from the water provided
to the water heater.Cooling towers are heat transfer devices used to remove
process waste heat to the atmosphere. Cooling towers may either use the
evaporation of water to remove process heat and cool the working fluid to near
the wet-bulb air temperature or rely solely on air to cool the working fluid to near
the dry-bulb air temperature. Common applications include cooling the
circulating water used in oil refineries, chemical plants, and building cooling. The
towers vary in size from small roof-top units to very large hyperboloid that can be
up to 200 meters tall and 100 meters in diameter, or rectangular structures that
can be over 40 meters tall and 80 meters long. Smaller towers are normally
factory-built, while larger ones are constructed on site.
The most widely used in the process industries for employing water by
using re-circulated cooling water systems. In the cooling water systems, the
processes involved are rejecting the heat from water by evaporation and remove
process waste heat into the environment. The cost for this process is inexpensive
and very dependable means of removing low grade heat from your process.
Environmental considerations, by minimizing consumption of potable water,
minimizing the generation and release of contaminated cooling water, and
controlling the release into the environment of chemicals from leaking heat
exchanger (HX), form the second major reason. It is used to provide lower than
ambient water temperatures and are more cost effective and energy efficient
2

than most other alternatives. Cooling towers are commonly used in many
commercial and industrial processes, according to its classifying use.
Cooling

towers also can

be categorized

by its air-to-water

flow. Crossflow

is one of them.

Crossflow is a

design in which

the air flow is

directed

perpendicular

to the water flow

(figure1).

Air

flow enters one

more

vertical faces of

or
the

cooling

tower

the fill material.

Water

to

meet
flows

(perpendicular to the air) through the fill by gravity. The air continues through
the fill and thus past the water flow into an open plenum area. A distribution or
hot water basin consisting of a deep pan with holes or nozzles in the bottom is
utilized in a crossflow tower. Gravity distributes the water through the nozzles
uniformly across the fill material.

Figure1. crossflow type design.

The counterflow is another design for cooling tower. It is completely
opposite to the above crossflow design. Air flow enters one or more vertical faces
of the cooling tower to meet the fill material. Water flows (perpendicular to the
air) through the fill by gravity. The air continues through the fill and thus past the
water flow into an open plenum area. A distribution or hot water basin consisting
of a deep pan with holes or nozzles in the bottom is utilized in a crossflow tower.
Gravity distributes the water through the nozzles uniformly across the fill
3

material.
5
Figure2. counterflow type design

OBJECTIVES

To determine the correlation of water to air mass flow ratio with increasing
water flow rate.
To determine the cooling load effect.
To know the effect of different flow rates on the wet bulb approach.
To estimate the evaporation rate of water (water loss) for the tower.

THEORY
A cooling tower is a specialized heat exchanger that has been modified in which
air and water are brought into direct contact for the transfer of heat to affect. To
accomplish that, it is spraying a flowing mass of water by the spray-filled tower
into a rain-like pattern, through which an upward moving mass flow of cool air is
induced by the action of a fan. Cooling tower use the principle of evaporative or
wet-bulb cooling in order to cool the water. It has some advantages over a
conventional heat-exchanger such as it can achieve water temperatures below
the temperature of the air used to cool it. Besides that, it is also smaller and
cheaper for the same cooling load.
Ignoring any negligible amount of sensible heat exchange that may occur
through the walls or casing of the tower, the heat gained by the air must equal to
4

the heat lost by the water by equilibrium. Within the air stream, the rate of heat
gain is identified by the expression

G (h2 h1), where:

G = Mass flow of dry air through the towerlb/min.

h1 = Enthalpy (total heat content) of entering airBtu/Ib of dry air.
h2 = Enthalpy of leaving airBtu/Ib of dry air.

Within the water stream, the rate of heat loss would appear to be L (t1 t2),
where:

L = Mass flow of water entering the towerlb/min.

t1= Hot water temperature entering the towerF.
t2 = Cold water temperature leaving the towerF.

This derives from the fact that a Btu (British thermal unit) is the amount of heat
gain or loss necessary to change the temperature of 1 pound of water by 1F.
However, because of the evaporation that takes place within the tower, the mass
flow of water leaving the tower is less than that entering it, and a proper heat
balance must account for this slight difference.
Since the rate of evaporation must equal the rate of change in the humidity ratio
(absolute humidity) of the air stream, the rate of heat loss represented by this
change in humidity ratio can be expressed as
G (H2 - H1) (t2 - 32)
where:

H1 = Humidity ratio of entering airlb vapor/lb dry air.

H2 = Humidity ratio of leaving airlb vapor/lb dry air.

The notation (t2 - 32) = An expression of water enthalpy at the cold water
temperatureBtu/Ib. (The enthalpy of water is zero at 32F) Including this loss of
heat through evaporation, the total heat balance between air and water,
expressed as a differential equation, is:
G dh = L dt + G dH (t2 - 32) (1)

The expression L dt in equation (1) represents the heat load imposed on the
tower by whatever process it is serving. However, because pounds of water per
unit time are not easily measured, heat load is usually expressed as:
Heat Load = gpm x R x 813 = Btu/min. (2)
where:
o
o

gpm = Water flow rate through process and over towergal/min.

R = Range = Difference between hot and cold water

temperaturesF.
813 = Pounds per gallon of water.

Note from formula (2) that heat load establishes only a required temperature
differential in the process water, and is unconcerned with the actual hot and cold
water temperatures themselves. Therefore, the mere indication of a heat load is
meaningless to the Application Engineer attempting to properly size a cooling
tower. More information of a specific nature is required.
Optimum operation of a process usually occurs within a relatively narrow band of
flow rates and cold water temperatures, which establishes two of the parameters
required to size a cooling towernamely, gpm and cold water temperature. The
heat load developed by the process establishes a third parameterhot water
temperature coming to the tower. For example, lets assume that a process
developing a heat load of 125,000 Btu/min performs best if supplied with 1,000
gpm of water at 85F.
With a slight transformation of formula (2), we can determine the water
temperature elevation through the process as:
Therefore, the hot water temperature coming to the tower would be 85F + 15F
= 100F.
Having determined that the cooling tower must be able to cool 1,000 gpm of
water from 100F to 85F, what parameters of the entering air must be known?
Equation (1) would identify enthalpy to be of prime concern, but air enthalpy is
not something that is routinely measured and recorded at any geographic
location. Wetbulb temperature is the only air parameter needed to properly size
a cooling tower, and its relationship to other parameters is as shown in the Figure
1 diagram.

Figure 1

APPARATUS
Water cooling tower MODEL: HE-152

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
General start-up procedure.

1. Valve V1 to V6 are ensured to be closed while valve V7 is partially closed.

2. The load tank is filled with deionised water.
3. The make-up tank is filled with deionised water up to zero mark on the
4.
5.
6.
7.

scale.
Deionised water is added to the wet bulb sensor reservoir to the fullest.
The appropriate cooling tower is installed for the experiment.
All appropriate tubing to the differential pressure sensor is connected.
The temperature set point of temperature controller is set to 45C. The 1.0
kW water heaters is switched on and the water is heated up to
approximately 40C.
7

8. The pump is switched on and the control valve V1 is slowly opened. The
water flow rate is set to 2.0 LPM. A steady operation where the water is
distributed and flowing uniformly through the packing is obtained.
9. The fan damper is fully opened and the fan is switched on. Check that the
differential pressure sensor is giving the reading :
a. To measure the differential pressure across the orifice, open valve V4 and
V5 ; close valve V3 and V6.
b. To measure the differential pressure across the column, open valve V3 and
V6 ; close valve V4 and V5.
10.The unit is being let to run for 20 minutes for the float valve to correctly
adjust the level in the load tank. Refill the make-up tank as required.
11.The unit is now ready to use.
Experiment 1.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

The heater is switched on and set to 0.5 kW.

Pump and blower is then been switched on.
The blower damper is fully opened.
The water flow rate is set to 2 LPM.
The water cooling tower is being let to operate for 10 minutes.
The reading is taken when the float valve is correctly adjusted.
Step 1-6 is being repeated with 1.0 kW and 1.5 kW heating load.

Experiment 2.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

The heater is switched on and set to 0.5 kW.

The blower damper is fully opened.
Set the water flow rate to 2 LPM.
The unit is being let to run for 10 minutes.
The reading is taken after steady operation achieved.
Step 1-5 is being repeated with half opened blower damper.

Experiment 3.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

The heater is switched on and set to 0.5 kW.

Pump and blower are switched on.
The blower damper is fully opened.
The water flow rate is set to 2 LPM.
The unit is being let to operate for 10 minutes.
The reading is taken after steady operation achieved.
Step 1-6 is being repeated with 2.4 LPM and 2.8 LPM.

General shut-down procedure.

1. The heater is switched off to let the water to circulate through cooling
tower for 3-5 minutes until the water is cooled down.
8

2.
3.
4.
5.

The
The
The
The

blower is switched off and the blower damper is fully closed.

pump and power supply is switched off.
water in the reservoir tank is retained.
water from the unit is completely drained off.

RESULTS
DESCRIPTION
TOP
Air Outlet Dry Bulb, T3
Air Outlet Wet Bulb, T4
Water Inlet Temperature,
T5
STATION III
Air Dry Bulb, T8
Air Inlet Wet Bulb, T9
Water Temperature, T14
STATION II
Air Dry Bulb, T10
Air Inlet Bulb, T11
Water Temperature, T15
STATION I
Air Dry Bulb, T12
Air Inlet Wet Bulb, T13
Water Temperature, T16
BOTTOM
Air Inlet Dry Bulb, T1
Air Inlet Wet Bulb, T2
Water Temperature, T6
Orifice Differential, Dp
(Pa)
Water Flow rate, Ft (LPM)
Heater Power, Q1

DESCRIPTION
Air Inlet Dry Bulb, T1
Air Inlet Wet Bulb, T2
Air Outlet Dry Bulb, T3
Air Outlet Wet Bulb, T4
Water Inlet Temperature,
T5
Water Outlet Temperature,
T6
Orifice Differential, DP1

WATER FLOWRATE (LPM)

25.0
26.0

24.8
25.5

24.5
25.0

30.2

28.4

27.4

28.0
27.3
27.2

27.7
27.2
27.0

27.6
27.1
27.0

27.3
27.5
27.5

27.2
27.4
27.3

26.9
27.2
27.1

27.6
27.5
27.7

27.5
27.4
27.6

27.4
27.0
27.4

28.0
25.1
25.1

28.1
24.9
24.7

27.8
24.7
24.4

95

88

80

2.0
442 W

2.4
426 W

2.8
425 W

0.5 kW
27.9
24.6
24.0
24.6

HEATER POWER
1.0 kW
27.9
24.5
25.0
24.7

1.5 kW
28.0
24.5
26.2
25.4

27.6

30.2

32.8

24.2

24.8

25.6

69

61

47
9

(Pa)
Water Flow Rate, FT1
(LPM)
Heater Power,Q1 (W)

2.0

2.0

2.0

436

820

1235

DESCRIPTION
Packing density (m-1)
Air Inlet Dry Bulb, T1
Air Inlet Wet Bulb, T2
Air Outlet Dry Bulb, T3
Air Outlet Wet Bulb, T4
Water Inlet Temperature, T5
Water Outlet Temperature, T6
Orifice Differential, DP1 (Pa)
Water Flow Rate, FT1 (LPM)
Heater Power,Q1 (W)
Pressure drop across packing DP2 (Pa)

AIR FLOW
100%
50%
110
110
27.9
28.0
24.5
24.6
25.8
25.4
26.0
25.7
29.6
29.0
25.2
25.1
39
35
2.0
2.0
442
440
7
6

SAMPLE CALCULATION
Cross sectional area : 225 cm2
High

: 60 cm
: 110 m -1

Pack column

EXPERIMENT 1: EFFECT OF HEATING LOAD

Fixed variables;
1. Air flow = 100% (Damper fully open)
2. Water flow rate = 2.0 LPM
a) Heating load = 1.0 kW
Range of cooling tower;
Range

= Water inlet temperature, T5 - water outlet temperature, T6

= 30.2C 24.8C
=5.4C

Approach of cooling tower;

10

Approach = Water outlet temperature, T6 Air outlet wet bulb, T2

= 24.8C 24.5 C
= 0.3 C
Efficiency of cooling towers;

range
range+approach

100

5.4

= 5.4 +0.3
=

100

95 %

Total cooling load;

Cooling load = pump input, Q1 + heating load
= 820 W +

W
(1.0 kW 1000
1 kW )

= 1820 W

Air mass flow rate per unit area;

m(kg
/m2 s )=

3
V (m /s )
2
^ (m3 /kg)
A(m ).V

From psychometric chart ( (Felder & Rousseau, 2005, p. 385);

Air inlet wet bulb, T2 @ Twb = 24.5 C
Interpolation:
Twb (C)

20.00
24.50
30.06

^
V
(m3/kg)
0.85

^
V

0.90
11

^ 0.85
24.5020.00 V
=
30.0620.00 0.90.85

^
V
= 0.872 m3/kg
Cross-sectional Area of tank load = 225 cm2
= 0.0225 m2
Thus;

2.0

L 1min 1 m3
min 60 s 1000 L

| |

( 0.0225 m2 ) ( 0.872 m3 /kg )

1.698 10-3 kg/m2s

Water mass flow rate per unit area;

m(kg
of water /m 2 s)=

m(kg
of air /m 2 s)
hr (kg water /kg air)

From psychometric chart ( (Felder & Rousseau, 2005, p. 385);

Air inlet wet bulb, T2 @ Twb = 24.5 C
Interpolation:
Twb (C)

hr(kg
water/kg

20.00
24.50
30.06

air)
0.0286
hr
0.0148

hr 0.0286
24.5020.00
=
30.0620.00 0.01480.0286
hr = 0.0224 kg water/kg air

1.698 103 kg air /m2 s

m=
0.0224 kg water /kg air
= 0.0758 kg/m2s
12

Water mass flow rate per unit area;

m(kg of water
/m2 s)
r=

m(kg
of air/m2 s)

r=

0.0758
1.698 103

r = 44.64

Heating load (kW)

Range (C)
Approach of cooling

0.5
3.4
-0.4

1.0
5.4
0.3

1.5
7.2
1.1

water (C)
Efficiency of cooling

113

95

87

water, (%)
Total cooling load (W)
Air mass flow rate per

936
1.697 10

unit area (kg/m2s)

Water mass flow rate

1820
-3

1.698 10

2735
-3

1.698 10-3

0.0786

0.0758

0.0758

46.32

44.64

44.64

per unit area(kg/m2s)

Water mass flow rate to
air mass flow rate ratio, r

EXPERIMENT 2: BLOWER DAMPER

Fixed variables;
1. Heating load = 0.5 kW
2. Water flow rate = 2.0 LPM
a) Air flow = 100 % (Blower fully open)
Range of cooling tower;
Range

= Water inlet temperature, T5 - water outlet temperature, T6

= 29.6 C 25.2 C
13

= 4.4 C
Approach of cooling tower;
Approach = Water outlet temperature, T6 Air inlet wet bulb, T2
= 25.2 C 24.5C
= 0.7 C
Efficiency of cooling towers;

range
range+approach

4.4
= 4.4+ 0.7

100

100

86 %

Total cooling load;

Cooling load = pump input, Q1 + heating load
= 442 W +

W
(0.5 kW 1000
1kW )

= 942 W
Air mass flow rate per unit area;

V (m3 /s)

m(kg
/s)=
A ( m2 ) . V^ ( m3 / kg)
From psychometric chart ( (Felder & Rousseau, 2005, p. 385);
Air inlet wet bulb, T2 @ Twb = 24.5C
Interpolation:
Twb (C)

20.00
24.5
30.06

^
V
(m3/kg)
0.85

^
V

0.90
14

^ 0.85
24.5020.00 V
=
30.0620.00 0.90.85
^
V

= 0.827 m3/kg

2.0

L 1min 1 m3
min 60 s 1000 L

| |

( 0.0225 m2 ) ( 0.872 m3 /kg )

= 1.698 10-3 kg/m2s

Water mass flow rate per unit area;
2

m(kg
of water /m s)=

m(kg
of air /m 2 s)
hr (kg water /kg air)

From psychometric chart ( (Felder & Rousseau, 2005, p. 385);

Air inlet wet bulb, T2 @ Twb = 24.5 C
Interpolation:
Twb (C)

hr(kg
water/kg
air)
0.0286
hr
0.0148

20.00
24.50
30.06

hr 0.0286
24.5020.00
=
30.0620.00 0.01480.0286
hr = 0.0224 kg water/kg air
3

1.698 10 kg air /m s
m=
0.0224 kg water /kg air
= 0.0758 kg/m2s
Water mass flow rate to air mass flow rate ratio

15

r=

m(kg of water
/m s)
2

m(kg
of air/m s)

r=

0.0758
1.698 103

r = 44.64

Air Flow
Range (C)
Approach of cooling

100%
4.4
0.7

50%
3.9
0.5

water (C)
Efficiency of cooling

86

89

water, (%)
Total cooling load (W)
Air mass flow rate per

942
1.698 10-3

1.697 10-3

unit area (kg/m2s)

Water mass flow rate

0.0758

0.0786

44.64

46.32

940

per unit area(kg/m2s)

Water mass flow rate to
air mass flow rate ratio, r

EXPERIMENT 3: WATER FLOW RATE

Fixed variables;
1. Heating load = 0.5 kW
2. Air Flow = 100 % (Blower fully open)
a) Water Flow Rate = 2.0 LPM
Range of cooling tower;
Range

= Water inlet temperature, T5 - water outlet temperature, T6

= 30.2 C 25.1 C
=5.1C

Approach of cooling tower;

16

Approach = Water outlet temperature, T6 Air inlet wet bulb, T2

= 25.1C 25.1C
= 0 C

Efficiency of cooling towers;

range
range+approach

100

5.1

= 5.1+0
=

100

100 %

Total cooling load;

Cooling load = pump input, Q1 + heating load
= 442 W +

W
(0.5 kW 1000
1kW )

= 942 W

Air mass flow rate per unit area;

V (m3 /s)

m(kg
/s)=
A ( m2 ) . V^ ( m3 / kg)
From psychometric chart ( (Felder & Rousseau, 2005, p. 385);
Air inlet wet bulb, T2 @ Twb = 25.1 C
Interpolation:
Twb (C)

20.00
25.1
30.06

^
V
(m3/kg)
0.85

^
V

0.90
17

^ 0.85
25.120.00
V
=
30.0620.00 0.90.85
^ =
V
0.875 m3/kg

2.0

L 1min 1 m3
min 60 s 1000 L

| |

( 0.0225 m2 ) ( 0.875 m3 /kg )

1.692 10-3kg/m2s

Water mass flow rate per unit area;

m(kg
of water /m2 s)=

m(kg
of air /m2 s)
hr (kg water /kg air)

From psychometric chart ( (Felder & Rousseau, 2005, p. 385);

Air inlet wet bulb, T2 @ Twb = 24.6 C
Interpolation:
Twb (C)

hr(kg
water/kg

20.00
24.60
30.06

air)
0.0286
hr
0.0148

hr 0.0286
24.6020.00
=
30.0620.00 0.01480.0286
hr = 0.0223 kg water/kg air
3
2
1.692 10 kg air/m s
m=
0.0223 kg water /kg air

= 0.0759 kg/m2s
Water mass flow rate to air mass flow rate ratio

r=

m(kg of water
/m2 s)

m(kg
of air/m2 s)
18

r=

0.0759
3
1.692 10

r = 44.86

Water Flow Rate (LPM)

Range (C)
Approach of cooling

2.0
5.1
0

2.4
3.7
-0.2

2.8
3.0
-0.3

water (C)
Efficiency of cooling

100

106

111

water, (%)
Total cooling load (W)
Air mass flow rate per

942
1.692 10-3

926
2.033 10-3

925
2.375 10-3

unit area (kg/m2s)

Water mass flow rate

0.0759

0.0929

0.1072

44.86

45.70

45.14

per unit area(kg/m2s)

Water mass flow rate to
air mass flow rate ratio, r

SAMPLE ERROR CALCULATION

There are some errors that present in the calculation of Efficiency of cooling
water, (%) for experiment 1 and 3.

EXPERIMENT 1 : EFFECT OF HEATING LOAD

Heating load (kW)
Range (C)
Approach of cooling

0.5
3.4
-0.4

1.0
5.4
0.3

1.5
7.2
1.1

water (C)
Efficiency of cooling

113

95

87

19

water, (%)
Total cooling load (W)
Air mass flow rate per

936

1820

2735

1.697 10-3

1.698 10-3

1.698 10-3

unit area (kg/m2s)

Water mass flow rate

0.0786

0.0758

0.0758

46.32

44.64

44.64

per unit area(kg/m2s)

Water mass flow rate to
air mass flow rate ratio, r

The efficiency of cooling water for 0.5 kW heating load is supposed to be less
than 100% like the rest of manipulated variable, 1.0 kW and 1.5 kW. However,

=
=

range
range+approach
3.4

100

x 100

3.4-0.4
= 113 %
This is due to the temperature of approach cooling water having a negative
value. It is supposed to be greater than 0 C.

EXPERIMENT 3: EFFECT OF WATER FLOW RATE

Water Flow Rate

2.0

2.4

2.8

(LPM)
Range (C)
Approach of

5.1
0

3.7
-0.2

3.0
-0.3

cooling water (C)

Efficiency of

100

106

111

(%)
Total cooling load

942

926

925

(W)
Air mass flow rate

1.692 10-3

2.033 10-3

2.375 10-3

0.0759

0.0929

0.1072

cooling water,

per unit area

(kg/m2s)
Water mass flow

20

rate per unit

area(kg/m2s)
Water mass flow

44.86

45.70

45.14

rate to air mass

flow rate ratio, r
Same with experiment 1, the efficiency of cooling water, (%) is greater than
100%. However for this experiment, the errors occur in the manipulated variable
of flow rate 2.4 LPM and 2.8 LPM.
For water flow rate of 2.4 LPM,

=
=

range
range+approach
3.7

100

x 100

3.7 0.2
= 106 %
For water flow rate of 2.8 LPM,

=
=

range
range+approach
3.0

100

x 100

3.0 0.3
= 111 %
This is also due to the temperature of approach cooling water having a negative
value. It is supposed to be greater than 0 C.

DISCUSSION
The experiment that was carried out is called cooling tower experiment.
Cooling tower is a device that rejects heat which removes the waste heat to the
atmosphere to achieve the temperature needed. The type of heat rejection in a
cooling tower is termed "evaporative" where it allows a small portion of the
21

water being heated to evaporate then is condensed into a moving air stream to
provide significant cooling to the rest of that water stream. The heat from the
water stream transferred to the air stream raises the air's temperature and its
relative humidity to 100%, and this air is discharged to the atmosphere.
The objectives of the cooling tower experiment are to determine the
correlation of water to air mass flow ratio with increasing water flow
rate and to determine the cooling load effect, and the effect of different
flow rates on the wet bulb approach. Another objective is to estimate the
evaporation rate of water (water loss) for the tower. The experiment is
varied by using three variables; heating load, blower damper and water flow
rate.

The correlation of water to air mass flow ratio is called r, is important to

know the portion transferred by evaporation. The higher the evaporation of
water, the mass flow rate of the water will be reduced which is what we actually
wanted. Once the water mass flow rate is reduced, the mass flow rate of air that
enters the column packing remains the same. So, there is more air that can cool
the water. Hence, the effectiveness of the water to be cooled will be higher. The r
value will need to be lower as possible to achieve higher portion of water
evaporated. For water flow rates of 2.0 LPM, 2.4 LPM and 2.8 LPM, the r
values are 44.86, 45.70 and 45.14 respectively. We can see that the water flow
rate affects the r value for which the higher the water flow rate produces higher r
value. . Hence, the cooling effectiveness will be higher in water flow rate of 2.0
LPM.
Other than that, cooling load also determine the performance of cooling
tower. Cooling load is the rate at which heat is removed from the water. The
higher the cooling load, the higher the heat removal from the water. Hence, the
water will experience lower temperature which is actually that we wanted.
However,

the cooling load is different according to its parameters. For

parameter of heating load, of 0.5 kW, 1.0 kW and 1.5 kW, the cooling loads
are 936 W, 1820 W and 2735 W respectively. We can see that the higher the

22

heating load, the higher the cooling load would be. This is because the heating
load is actually the power of the pump that compresses the water to increase the
temperature and also pressure of the water. The higher the heating load, the
higher the evaporation rate of the water. Thus, the temperature difference of the
evaporated water with the temperature of air in the cooling tower will bring to
great heat removal from the evaporated water.
For parameter of blowing damper, which are half opened and fully
opened, the cooling loads are 940 W and 942 W respectively. We can come
into a conclusion that when the area of the damper is larger, the cooling load will
be increasing because when the area of damper blower is wide, more air will be
entered the cooling tower hence will cooled the evaporated more effectively. So,
the heat removes from the water will be rapid and increases the cooling load. For
parameter of water flow rate, 2.0 LPM, 2.4 LPM and 2.8 LPM, the cooling
loads are 942 W, 926 W and 925 W respectively. Notice that, the higher the
water flow rate, the lower the cooling load. This is due to the amount of water
flows in certain time is in small portion. So, it makes it easier for the water to be
evaporated and also removes heat to the atmosphere to achieve a lower
temperature thus increase the cooling load.

In addition, approach is another term that used in cooling tower that tells
how closely the leaving cold water temperature approaches the entering air wet
bulb temperature. To be exact it is actually the temperature differences between
the water leaving the cooling tower and the ambient wet-bulb temperature.
Approach is the most important indicator of cooling water performance because
it dictates the theoretical limit of the leaving cold water temperature and no
matter the size of the cooling tower, range or heat load, it is not possible to cool
the water below the wet bulb temperature of air.

Hence, the leaving water

temperature must be higher than the wet bulb temperature. The different air
flow rates will affect the approach of the experiment. In this experiment, when
the blower damper is opened fully, the air mass flow rate is 1.698 10-3
kg/m2s while when the blower damper is half-opened , the air mass flow
rate is 1.697 10-3 kg/m2s. The higher the air mass flow rate, the higher the
23

approach would be because the air that enters through the blower will decrease
the wet bulb temperature so that the water leaving the tower will be higher than
the wet bulb temperature.
Furthermore, during the experiment there are some errors that occurred.
The error is that we did not take the amount of water loss from the make-up tank
every time the variables are changed. So, the errors affected the results of our
experiment. The first error that occurs is that we cannot estimate the
evaporation rate of water (water loss) for the tower. Other than that, the errors
that occur is that efficiency of the cooling tower in the variable of heating load
where for 0.5 kW, the efficiency is 113% which is more than 100%. For the
variable of water flow rate 2.4 LPM and 2.8 LPM, their efficiencies are 106% and
111% respectively which are also more than 100%. This is probably due to the
lower air mass flow rate that enters through the blower that makes the wet bulb
temperature is higher than the leaving water temperature. So, the approach
temperatures have a negative value. Notice that, all of the efficiencies that are
more than 100% have a negative approach temperature value.

CONCLUSION
From the experiment that has been conducted we can conclude that, all
objective of this experiment is achieved. The correlation of water to air mass flow
ratio with increasing water flow rate has been determined. Where for water flow
rates of 2.0 LPM, 2.4 LPM and 2.8 LPM, the r values are 44.86, 45.70 and
45.14 respectively. We also manage to calculate the effectiveness of cooling
tower which is the highest at 2.0 LPM for 100%. The effect of heating load to the
cooling tower is also achieved. The higher the amount of heating load, the more
effective is the cooling tower performance. Other than that, cooling tower with
24

fully opened blower will operate more effective compared with cooling tower with
half fully opened. This experiment was not conducted successfully as there are
errors when conducting the experiment.

RECOMMENDATIONS
The time required before all the reading is taken should be 25 to 30
minutes to make sure the operation is steady and stable.
Make sure all the bulbs are fully with water so that it will not affect the
experiment.
Every experiment should be done in 3 times and record all the reading
before calculate the average reading.
We should wait about 30 minutes before starting every new experiment to

ensure that the equipment in the stable condition.

Auxiliary heater should be used during this experiment in order to
increase the temperature difference between the cool supply water and

the return water. This will allow the larger enthalpy difference.
Do not put hands or something at any rotation equipment like fan or
blower to avoid from any error in reading and experiment.
Do not touch any electrical connection and turn off electric main
immediately if there is any equipment malfunctions.
Lab coats, goggles and safety helmet must be wearing before doing the
experiment.

REFERENCES
1. (2006). Retrieved May 29, 2012, from Chemical Engineer :
http://chem.engr.utc.edu/webres/435F/3T-CT/3T-CT.html
2. Applications of Cooling Tower. (n.d.). Retrieved May 29, 2012, from
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freeabs_all.jsp?arnumber=5747919
3. Cengel, Y. A., & Boles, M. A. (2007). Thermodynamics, An Engineering
Approach. Singapore: McGraw-Hill Education.

25

4. Cooling Tower. (2011, January 5). Retrieved May 29, 2012, from
http://www.cti.org/whatis/coolingtowerdetail.shtml
5. Cooling Towers. (n.d.). Retrieved May 29, 2012, from Hydrosense:
http://www.hydrosense.biz/index.php/sectors/cooling-towers/?
gclid=CMXGq5bhia8CFUx76wodJg-JMg
6. Felder, R. M., & Rousseau, R. W. (2005). Elementary Principles of Chemical
Processes. United States of America: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
7. Norman, W.S; Absorption, Distillation and Cooling Towers (Longman,
London, 1961)

APPENDICES

26

27

Figure 2 : Psichometric Chart

28