COOLING

TOWER
1. A water tower serves a condenser rated at 880 kW and the water-circulating pump takes
another 15 kW. What will be the evaporation rate, the approximate circulation rate, and the air mass
flow?

Solution

Total water tower duty = 880 + 15

= 895 kW
Evaporation rate = 895 × 0.41 × 10–3
= 0.37 kg/s
Circulation rate, 80 times = 30 kg/s (∆T = 7.1 K)
160 times = 60 kg/s (∆T = 3.6 K)
Air flow = 895 × 0.06
= 54 kg/s

2. Water is cooled by air in a cooling tower. The volume flow rate of air and the mass flow rate of
the required makeup water are to be determined.
Assumptions 1 Steady operating conditions exist and thus mass flow rate of dry air remains
constant during the entire process. 2 Dry air and water vapor are ideal gases. 3 The kinetic and
potential energy changes are negligible. 4 The cooling tower is adiabatic.
Analysis (a) The mass flow rate of dry air through the tower remains constant (m a1=ma2=ma) , but
the mass flow rate of liquid water decreases by an amount equal to the amount of water that vaporizes
in the tower during the cooling process. The water lost through evaporation must be made up later in
the cycle to maintain steady operation. Applying the mass and energy balances yields.
Solution

3. Water is cooled by air in a cooling tower. The volume flow rate of air and the mass flow rate of
the required makeup water are to be determined.
Assumptions 1 Steady operating conditions exist and thus mass flow rate of dry air remains
constant during the entire process. 2 Dry air and water vapor are ideal gases. 3 The kinetic and
potential energy changes are negligible. 4 The cooling tower is adiabatic.
Analysis (a) The mass flow rate of dry air through the tower remains constant (m a1=ma2=ma) , but
the mass flow rate of liquid water decreases by an amount equal to the amount of water that vaporizes
in the tower during the cooling process. The water lost through evaporation must be made up later in
the cycle to maintain steady operation. Applying the mass and energy balances yields

Solution
4. Water is cooled by air in a cooling tower. The volume flow rate of air and the mass flow rate of
the required makeup water are to be determined.
Assumptions 1 Steady operating conditions exist and thus mass flow rate of dry air remains
constant during the entire process. 2 Dry air and water vapor are ideal gases. 3 The kinetic and potential
energy changes are negligible. 4 The cooling tower is adiabatic.
Analysis (a) The mass flow rate of dry air through the tower remains constant (m a1=ma2=ma) , but
the mass flow rate of liquid water decreases by an amount equal to the amount of water that vaporizes
in the tower during the cooling process. The water lost through evaporation must be made up later in
the cycle to maintain steady operation. Applying the mass balance and the energy balance equations
yields

Solution
5. Water is cooled by air in a cooling tower. The volume flow rate of air and the mass flow rate of
the required makeup water are to be determined.
Assumptions 1 Steady operating conditions exist and thus mass flow rate of dry air remains
constant during the entire process. 2 Dry air and water vapor are ideal gases. 3 The kinetic and
potential energy changes are negligible. 4 The cooling tower is adiabatic.
Analysis (a) The mass flow rate of dry air through the tower remains constant (m a1=ma2=ma), but
the mass flow rate of liquid water decreases by an amount equal to the amount of water that vaporizes
in the tower during the cooling process. The water lost through evaporation must be made up later in
the cycle to maintain steady operation. Applying the mass and energy balances yields

Solution:
6. A cooling tower with a cooling capacity of 440 kW is claimed to evaporate 15,800 kg of water per
day. It is to be determined if this is a reasonable claim.
Assumptions 1 Water evaporates at an average temperature of 30°C. 2 The coefficient of
performance of the air-conditioning unit is COP = 3. Properties The enthalpy of vaporization of water at
30°C is 2429.8 kJ/kg (Table A-4).
Analysis Using the definition of COP, the electric power consumed by the air conditioning unit
when running is

Then the rate of heat rejected at the cooling tower becomes

In practice, the air-conditioner will run intermittently rather than continuously at the rated
power, and thus the water use will be less. Therefore, the claim amount of 15,800 kg per day is
reasonable.

7. Waste heat from the cooling water is rejected to air in a natural-draft cooling tower. The mass
flow rate of the cooling water, the volume flow rate of air, and the mass flow rate of the required
makeup water are to be determined.
Assumptions 1 Steady operating conditions exist. 2 Dry air and water vapor are ideal gases. 3 The
kinetic and potential energy changes are negligible. 4 The cooling tower is adiabatic.
Analysis (a) The mass flow rate of dry air through the tower remains constant (m a1=ma2=ma), but
the mass flow rate of liquid water decreases by an amount equal to the amount of water that vaporizes
in the tower during the cooling process. The water lost through evaporation is made up later in the
cycle using water at 27°C. Applying the mass balance and the energy balance equations yields

Solution
8. A cooling tower must cool 340 kg of water per minute. The water is supplied at 42 ℃ and it is
sprayed down into the column of air which enters the bottom of the tower at rate of 540 m 3/min with
temperature of 18℃ and relative humidity of 60%. The moist air leaves the top of the tower saturated
at 27℃ . The whole process occurs at a constant pressure of 1.013 bar. Determine the temperature of
the cooled water in the pool and the rate at which make up water must be supplied to replace that
evaporated.
9. Cooling water leaves the condenser of a power plant and enters a wet coolingtower at 35°C at a
rate of 100 kg/s. Water is cooled to 22°C in the cooling tower by air that enters the tower at 1 atm, 20°C,
and 60 percent relative humidity and leaves saturated at 30°C. Neglecting the power input to the
fan, determine (a) the volume flow rate of air into the cooling tower and (b) the mass flow rate of the
required makeup water.

Solution Warm cooling water from a power plant is cooled in a wet cooling tower. The flow rates
of makeup water and air are to be determined.
Assumptions 1 Steady operating conditions exist and thus the mass flow rate of dry air remains
constant during the entire process. 2 Dry air and the water vapor are ideal gases. 3 The kinetic and
potential energy changes are negligible. 4 The cooling tower is adiabatic.

Fig 14-34
Properties The enthalpy of saturated liquid water is 92.28 kJ/kg at 22°C and 146.64 kJ/kg at 35°C (Table
A–4). From the psychrometric chart,

Analysis We take the entire cooling tower to be the system, which is shown schematically in Fig.
14–34. We note that the mass flow rate of liquid water decreases by an amount equal to the amount of
water that vaporizes in the tower during the cooling process. The water lost through evaporation must
be made up later in the cycle to maintain steady operation.

(a) Applying the mass and energy balances on the cooling tower gives
10. Water is cooled by air in a cooling tower. The mass flow rate of dry air is to be determined.

Assumptions 1 Steady operating conditions exist and thus mass flow rate of dry air remains
constant during the entire process. 2 Dry air and water vapor are ideal gases. 3 The kinetic and potential
energy changes are negligible. 4 The cooling tower is adiabatic.

Analysis The mass flow rate of dry air through the tower remains constant (m a1=ma2=ma) , but the
mass flow rate of liquid water decreases by an amount equal to the amount of water that vaporizes in
the tower during the cooling process. The water lost through evaporation must be made up later in the
cycle to maintain steady operation. Applying the mass and energy balances yields

Solution:
11. Water is cooled by air in a cooling tower. The exergy lost in the cooling tower is to be
determined.

Assumptions 1 Steady operating conditions exist and thus mass flow rate of dry air remains
constant during the entire process. 2 Dry air and water vapor are ideal gases. 3 The kinetic and potential
energy changes are negligible. 4 The cooling tower is adiabatic.

Analysis The mass flow rate of dry air through the tower remains constant (m a1=ma2=ma), but the
mass flow rate of liquid water decreases by an amount equal to the amount of water that vaporizes in
the tower during the cooling process. The water lost through evaporation must be made up later in the
cycle to maintain steady operation. Applying the mass and energy balances yields

Solution
12. Water is cooled by air in a cooling tower. The relative humidity of the air at the exit and the

water’s exit temperature are to be determined.

Assumptions 1 Steady operating conditions exist and thus mass flow rate of dry air remains
constant during the entire process. 2 Dry air and water vapor are ideal gases. 3 The kinetic and potential
energy changes are negligible. 4 The cooling tower is adiabatic.

Analysis The mass flow rate of dry air through the tower remains constant (m a1=ma2=ma), but the

mass flow rate of liquid water decreases by an amount equal to the amount of water that vaporizes in
the tower during the cooling process. The water lost through evaporation must be made up later in the
cycle to maintain steady operation. Applying the mass and energy balances yields

Solution:
13. A natural-draft cooling tower is used to remove waste heat from the cooling water flowing
through the condenser of a steam power plant. The mass flow rate of the cooling water, the volume
flow rate of air into the cooling tower, and the mass flow rate of the required makeup water are to be
determined.

Assumptions 1 All processes are steady-flow and the mass flow rate of dry air remains constant
during the entire process (ma1=ma2=ma). 2 Dry air and water vapor are ideal gases. 3 The kinetic and
potential energy changes are negligible.

Analysis The inlet and exit states of the moist air for the tower are completely specified. The
properties may be determined from the psychrometric chart (Fig. A-31)

Solution
14. Cooling water circulated through the tubes of the condenser in a Rankine cycle must be

maintained at a relatively constant inlet temperature. Where cooling water is not available from a
lake, ocean, or river, cooling towers are used to remove heat from the circulating water so that the
water can be recycled nearly indefinitely; some water is lost during the cooling process due to
evaporation, and additional water (make-up) must be added to maintain a fixed amount of water in the
system.
 Hot water at a flow rate of 500,000 gal/min enters the cooling tower shown below at a
temperatureof 120 °F and must be cooled to 80 °F. Air enters the tower at 70 °F with a relative humidity
of 50% andleaves at 115 °F with a relative humidity of 95% (to avoid fog formation). The barometric
pressure is 14.1psia. The make-up water is at 60 °F. Determine:

a) the required air flow rate (in lbm/min)

b) the rate of water evaporation (in lbm/min and gal/min)

Solution:
15. Water is cooled by air in a cooling tower. The volume flow rate of air and the mass flow rate of
the required makeup water are to be determined.
Assumptions 1 Steady operating conditions exist and thus mass flow rate of dry air remains constant
during the entire process. 2 Dry air and water vapor are ideal gases. 3 The kinetic and potential energy
changes are negligible. 4 The cooling tower is adiabatic.

Analysis(a) The mass flow rate of dry air through the tower remains constant (m a1  m a 2  m a ) , but the
mass flow rate of liquid water decreases by an amount equal to the amount of water that vaporizes in
the tower during the cooling process. The water lost through evaporation must be made up later in the
cycle to maintain steady operation. Applying the mass and energy balances yields
Dry Air Mass Balance:
m
 a ,i   m a ,e 
  a1  m a 2  m
m a 35C
2
100%
Water Mass Balance:

m
 w ,i   m
 w ,e 
  a1 1  m
3m
m  a 2 2
4m
3 m
m  a ( 2   1 )  m
4  m  makeup WATER
3
40C
Energy Balance: 50 kg/s

E in  E out  E system 0 (steady)  0

System
E in  E out
boundary
m
 i hi   m e he (since Q = W = 0)
1 AIR
0  m  e he   m  i hi
0  ma 2 h2  m4 h4  m
   a1h1  m 3h3 4 96 kPa
20C
0m  a ( h2  h1 )  ( m3 m  makeup )h4  m
 3h3 70%
25C

Solving for ma ,

Makeup water
 m 3 (h3  h4 )
m a 
(h2  h1 )  ( 2   1 )h4

The properties of air at the inlet and the exit of the tower are calculated to be

Pv1=φ1Pg1=φ1Psat @20°C=(0.70)(2.3 9 kPa)=1.637 kPa

Pa1=P1−Pv1=96−1.637=94.363 kPa
and

Pv2=φ2 Pg2=φ2 Psat @35°C=(1.0 )(5.628 kPa)=5.628 kPa 0.62 Pv2 0.62 (5.628 kPa)
ω2= = =0.0387 kg H2O/kg dry air
P2−Pv2 ( 96−5.628) kPa
From Table A-4,
h3  h f @40C  167.57 kJ / kg H 2 O
h4  h f @25C  104.89 kJ / kg H 2 O

Substituting,
(50 kg/s )(167 . 57−104.89 )kJ/kg
ṁa = =37 . 3 kg/s
(134 .5−47 . 5 ) kJ/kg−(0.0387−0. 0108)(104 . 89 ) kJ/kg
Then the volume flow rate of air into the cooling tower becomes

V̇ 1 =ṁa v 1 =(37. 3 kg/s )(0 .891 m 3 /kg )=33 . 2 m3 /s

(b) The mass flow rate of the required makeup water is determined from
ṁmakeup=ṁ a (ω2 −ω 1 )=(33 . 2 kg/s)(0 . 0387−0. 0108 )=1 .04 kg/s
16. Air at 29 degree C db and 23.5 degree C wb enters a cooling tower at a rate of 102 kg per
minute. It leaves the cooling tower at 38 degree C db and humidity ratio of 0.0436 kg moisture
per kg dry air. Hot water enters the tower at 46.5 degree C and a flow rate of 142.2 kg per
minute. Determine the cooling tower efficiency in percent.

Air properties:

At 29 degree C db and 23.5 degree C wb

h=70.02 Kj/kg dry air, w=0.0.16 kg moisture per kg dry air

At 38 degree c db and w= 0.0436 kg moisture per kg dry air

h= 149.24 kJ/kg dry air

Solution:

Actual Range ta−tb

Cooling Tower Efficiency = =
Theoretical Range tb−twb

Heat Balance:

Heat loss = Heat gain

MwCpw(ta-tb)=ma(h2-h1)

(142.2)(4.187)(46.5-twb)=102(149.2-70.02)

27685.7 – 595.4tb = 8080.4

tb= 32.9℃
 46.5−32.9
cooling tower efficiency = x 100%
46.5−23.5

=59.13%

17. water at 55 degree C is cooled in a cooling tower which has an efficiency of 65%. The
ambient air is at 32 degree C dry bulb and 27 degree C wet bulb. The heat rejected in the
condenser is 640 kJ/sec. Find the capacity in liters per second of the pump used in the cooling
tower if the specific volume of water is 1.0067 liters per kg.

Solution:

ta−tb
Cooling tower Elf =
tb−twb

55−tb
0.65 =
55−27

tb= 36.8℃

Qr=mCp∆t

640= m (4.187)(55-36.8)

m= 8.3985 kg /sec

Capacity of Pump = 8.3985 kg/sec x 1.00067 liters/kg

=8.455 liters/sec

18. A cooling tower receivers 30 cu. m per minute of air at 32 degree C db and 24 degree C
wb and leaves saturated at 39 degree C. The entering air has the following
properties(h=72.5kJ/kg, v=0.884 cu. m/kg and w=0.0155 kg/kg). Water enters the flow at 38
degree C (hf=159.21 kJ/kg) with a mass flow rate of 35 kg/min. Determine the nethalpy of the
leaving water in kJ/kg. Properties of the leaving air are (h=95 kJ/kg, w=0.025 kg/kg).

Solution:

Heat rejected by water = heat gain by air

Mw(h3-h4) = ma(h2-h1)

30
35(159.21-h4) = (95-72.5)
0.884

h4= 137.4 kJ/kg

19. air at 29 degree C and 23.5 degree C wb enters a cooling tower at a rate of 102 kg/min. It
leaves the coolnig tower at 38 degree C db and humidity ratio of 0.0436 kg moisture per kg dry
air. Hot water enters the tower at 46.5 degree C and a flow rate of 142.2 kg/min. Determine the
cooling tower efficiency in percent.

Air properties:

At 29 degree C db and 23.5 degree C wb

h=70.02 Kj/kg dry air, w=0.0.17 kg moisture per kg dry air

At 38 degree c db and w= 0.0436 kg moisture per kg dry air

h= 149.24 kJ/kg
Solution:

m1(h2-h1) = mw Cpw(ta-tb)

102(149.24-70.02) = 142.2(4.187)(46.5-tb)

tb= 32.93℃

Actual Range ta−tb

Cooling Tower Efficiency = =
Theoretical Range tb−twb

46.5−32.9
cooling tower efficiency = x 100%
46.5−23.5

=59.1%

20. Water from a shell and tube condenser enters a cooling tower at 40 degree C. The
ambient air entering is 20 degree C db and 10 degree C wb temperatures and leaves at 35
degree C db with 50% RH. The heat rejected in the condenser in liter per second. Cooling tower
efficiecny is 75%.

Properties of air

At 20 deg C db and 10 deg C wb:

h=29kJ/kg v=0.837 cu. m/kg w=0.004 kg/kg

At 35 deg C db and 50% RH:

H= 81 kJ/kg w=0.018 kg/kg

Solution :

Actual Range ta−tb

Cooling Tower Efficiency = =
Theoretical Range tb−twb

40−tb
0.70 = x 100%
40−10

tb= 19℃

Qr=mCp(ta-tb)

500=m(4.187)(40.19)

m= 5.686 kg/s

V= 5.686/1

=5.686 liters/sec

21. 250000 kg/hr of water at 35 deg C enters a cooling tower where it is to be cooled to 17.5
deg C. The energy is to be exchanged with atmorspheric air entering the unit at 15 deg C and
leaving the unit at 30 deg C. the air enters at 30% RH and leaves at 85% RH .Determine the
range of the tower.

Air Properties:

At 15 deg C and 30% RH:

h= 23kJ/kg; w= 0.0032 kg/kg

At 30 deg C and 85% RH:

h= 89 kJ/kg; w= 0.0232 kg/kg

Solution:

Range= ta-tb

= 35 – 17.5

=17.5℃

22. A cooling tower has the following date: temperature of water entering and leaving
respectively is 115 deg F and 80 deg F, temperature of air entering and leaving is 70 deg F amd
110 deg F respectively. The relative humidity of the air entering is 65% and leaving at 100%.
Compute the volume of air required per 10000 lb of water entering the tower

Solution

From Psychometric Chart

At 70 deg F (21.11 deg C) and 65% RH.

h1=47 kJ/kg

v1= 0.8475 cu. m/kg

W1= 0.0101 k/kg

Solving for h2:

From Steam Table at 110 deg F (43.33 deg C)

Ps=8.803 kPa

Hg=2580.2 kJ/kg

Ps
W= 0.622( )
P−Ps

8.803
W2= 0.622 ( )= 0.0592 kg/kg
101.325−8.803

h= Cpt + Whg

h2= 1.0 (43.33) +0.0592 (2580.2) =196.1 kJ/kg

Heat loss by water = Heat gain by air

MwCp(ta-tb) = ma(h2-h1)

10000 5
( )(4.187)(115-80) = ma(196.1-47)
2.205 9

ma= 2476.35 kg

Va= 2476.35(0.8475)

Va = 2098 cu.m or 74105 cu. ft

23. Temperature of water entering, tb 35˚C
Temperature of water leaving, ta 12.78˚C
Dry bulb temperature of air entering,DB1 34˚C
Wet bulb temperature of air entering,WB1 10˚C
Relative humidity of air entering. RH1 65%
Relative humidity of air leaving, RH2 98%
Temperature of make-up water, tu 23˚C

From Figure 3-1 Psychrometric Chart, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning by Stoecker, p-
41

h1 = 29 kJ/kg W1 = 0.022 kg/kg d.a.

h2 = 91 kJ/kg W2 = 0.075 kg/kg d.a.

Mass Flow Rate of Water

QR = mWcpWΔT
mW = QR / cpWΔT

But,

QR = WC +QA ,WC = 4hp x 0.746kW/HP

 QR = (6.714) + (13.64933) = 20.36 kW

Therefore,

mW= 20.36 kW / (4.187)(35-12.78)

mW= 0.22kg/s

Energy balance at the cooling tower:

Ein = Eout
mwcpwtb + mah1 + mucpwtu = mwcpw ta + mah2
ma (h1 – h2) + ma (W2 – W1) cpatu = mwcpw(ta – tb)
ma = mwcpw(ta – tb) / (h1 – h2) x (W2 – W1) cpatu
ma = 0.22 x 4.187(12.78 - 35) / (29 – 91) x (0.075 – 0.022) x 1 x 23
ma = 0.27 kg/s

For the amount of make-up water:

mu = ma (W2 – W1)
mu = 0.27 kg/s (0.075 – 0.022)
mu = 0.014 kg/s

Approach = tb - ta
= 35 °C – 12.78 °C
Approach = 22.22 °C

Range = tb - tWB1
= 35 °C – 10 °C
Range = 25 °C

Approach
e= Range
 22. 220 C
0
= 25 C
e = 0.8888 or 88.88%

24. Assuming a water-to-air mass flow ratio of 1.0 and an ambient wet-bulb of
20~ (sling), calculate the air quantity likely to be handled by a cooling tower used to cool
water from 32 ~ to 27~ for a refrigeration plant having a coefficient of performance of 4.

Solution:

Heat rejected at the condenser, per kW of refrigeration

= 1.25 kW (because the COP is 4)

Water flow rate through the condenser

= 1.25/(4.2 x 5)
-1
= 0.0596 kg s

Hence the air flow rate through the cooling tower is also 0.0596 kg s -1.

Assuming an induced-draught tower, the fan handling saturated air at 20℃ wet-bulb,

then the humid volume is 0.8497 m 3 kg-1 and the air flow rate is

0.0596 x 0.8497 = 0.0506 m 3s-1 for each kW of refrigeration

25. Estimate the capacity of the cooling-tower break tank necessary for a 720 kW air
conditioning installation. The hardness of the mains water is 100 ppm and the plant runs
for an 8-hour working day.

Solution:

Assuming a coefficient of performance of 4, the heat rejected in the cooling tower is

therefore

720 x 1.25 = 900 kW