COOLING

TOWERS
Group 2 Presentation
(Roll # 22 onwards)
Sir Mazhar Ali

PGTP-9, KINPOE

CONTENTS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Overview of Evaporative Cooling

Introduction to Cooling Towers
Applications
Classification of Cooling Towers
Main Components
Design and Performance Parameters
Designing
Conclusion

OVERVIEW TO EVAPORATION
Evaporation is a cooling process

EVAPORATIVE COOLING
In a typical cooling tower:

INTRODUCTION
What are Cooling Towers?
Heat rejection devices
Extract waste heat to atmosphere through
cooling of a process stream to a lower
temperature
In a typical cooling tower:
Warm water flows down to a countercurrent air stream.

INTRODUCTION (CONTD.)

APPLICATIONS
Use significant amount of water:
1.
2.

Refrigeration Systems
Air Conditioning
1.

3.
4.

Hospitals, hotels, offices, schools etc.

Process Industries
Power Plants

CLASSIFICATION OF COOLING
TOWERS
Classification of Cooling Towers can be
generally based on:
1.
2.
3.

Method of introducing air in to the tower

Flow configuration between air and
water streams
Method of heat transfer

CLASSIFICATION (CONTD.)
1. By air introduction method

CLASSIFICATION (CONTD.)
2. By flow configuration

CLASSIFICATION (CONTD.)
2. By flow configuration (contd.)

CLASSIFICATION (CONTD.)
3. By method of heat transfer

NATURAL DRAFT
Natural Draft Cooling Tower:

NATURAL DRAFT (CONTD.)

Hyperboloid Natural Draft during
operation:

NATURAL DRAFT (CONTD.)

Hyperboloid Natural Draft:

No fan required
Concrete tower
Used for large heat duties
Fresh air drawn from bottom
Hot air moves up through tower
Hyperboloid is for velocity recovery of
warm humid air and vapors

MECHANICAL DRAFT
Induced Draft Counter-flow (most
common)
Fan located at top
Merits:
Capacity and approach
Less space required
Demerits:
Fan assembly balancing
Fan in hot and humid air
Noisy & Vibrations

MECHANICAL DRAFT (CONTD.)

Forced Draft Counter-flow
For corrosive liquids and indoor uses
Fan at bottom
Merits:
Less vibrations
Fan in dry air
Demerits:
More fan power
Air recirculation
Limited fan size & Noisy

MECHANICAL DRAFT (CONTD.)

Cross Flow versus Counter-Flow:

MAJOR COMPONENTS

MAJOR COMPONENTS (CONTD.)

MAJOR COMPONENTS (CONTD.)

INDUSTRIAL COOLING TOWER

COOLING TOWER DESIGNING

DESIGN PROCEDURE
Designing of Cooling Tower involves
following steps:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Thermal Design of Cooling Tower

Makeup Water Calculations
Selection of Packing/Fill
Pumps and Water Distribution System
Fans and Motors

COOLING TOWER DESIGN

Measured parameters:
Wet bulb temperature of air
Dry bulb temperature of air
Inlet water temperature
Outlet water temperature
Exhaust air temperature
Electrical readings of pump and fan motors
Water flow rate
Air flow rate

COOLING TOWER DESIGN

(CONTD.)
Performance parameters:
Range
Approach
Effectiveness
Cooling Capacity
Cycles of Concentration (COC)
Liquid/Gas Ratio
Evaporation, Blow Down & Drift/Windage
Losses

DESIGNING
Hyperboloid Natural Draft Cooling Tower:

DESIGNING
Natural Draft Cooling Tower:
Important parameters required:

DESIGNING
Natural Draft Cooling Tower (Contd.):
Performance parameters:

DESIGNING
Natural Draft Cooling Tower (Contd.):
Design parameters:

DESIGNING
Natural Draft Cooling Tower (Contd.):

DESIGNING
Natural Draft Cooling Tower (Contd.):
Solution:

DESIGNING
Natural Draft Cooling Tower (Contd.):
Solution (Contd.):

DESIGNING
Natural Draft Cooling Tower (Contd.):
Solution (Contd.):

DESIGNING
Natural Draft Cooling Tower (Contd.):
Solution (Contd.):

DESIGNING
Natural Draft Cooling Tower (Contd.):
Solution (Contd.):

DESIGNING
Natural Draft Cooling Tower (Contd.):
Solution (Contd.):

DESIGN STRATEGY

CONCLUSION

Cooling towers are used to cool relatively

warm water
Lesser temperature of inlet air, better
performance
Lesser humidity of inlet air, better
performance
Higher air flow, better performance,
lesser tower height