INSTRUCTIONAL MANUAL FOR

EXPERIMENTAL WATER COOLING TOWER

OBJECTIVE:-

 Study of the heat transfer in Water Cooling Tower for different flow &
thermodynamic conditions.

AIM:-

 To determine the overall heat transfer coefficient in a counter-current

Forced draft Cooling Tower.

INTRODUCTION:-

Water from condensers and heat exchangers is usually cooled by an

air stream in spray ponds or in cooling Towers using natural draft or forced
flow of the air. Mechanical draft towers are of the forced draft type, where
the air is blown into the tower by a fan at the bottom. The forced draft
materially reduces the effectiveness of the cooling.

THEORY:-

Water may be cooled by the air as its temperature is above the wet
bulb temperature of the entering air. Markel’s Theory is used which
based on enthalpy potential difference as the driving force.
For heat transfer operation: Each particle of water is assumed to be
surrounded by a film of air and the enthalpy difference between the film
and the surrounding air provides the driving force for the cooling process.
Assume that liquid is warmer then gas
Then, the enthalpy balance is

GdhG  d  LH L 

(Where HL & HG are the enthalpies of liquid & gas phase respectively.)

The rate of heat transfer from liquid to interface is

QL=d (LHL) =HL (TL-Ti) ADZ

The rate of heat transfer from interface to gas is

QG=GdHG =HG (Ti-TG) ADZ

Where hG hL= heat transfer coefficient

A = heat transfer area
Z = height of tower
Ti = interface temperature

Then the rate of heat transfer from interface to gas

GCS (TG1-TG2) =GdHG = hG (Ti- TG) AdZ

These above equation can be simplified &rearranged to find out the

heat transfer coefficient

The enthalpy of the liquid

HL = CL (TL-T0)

Where CL = specific heat of liquid

T0 = base temperature for computing enthalpy

Then
d(LHL) = LdHL =LCL dTL
 Putting it in equtation-2
We will get
LCLdTL = hL (TL-Ti) AdZ

So, equtation for liquid phase heat transfer,

dTL h A
 L dZ
TL  Ti LCL

Then, for gas phase heat transfe.

dTG h A
 G dZ
Ti  TG CS G
The total amount of heat transferred

Q = UAZ (∆T)

Where U = overall heat transfer coefficient

At study state Q = QG=QL
So,
hL hG
U
hL  hG

FORMULA OF HEAT TRANSFER OPERATION:

h  w
Head in terms of air = ∆H = (  1) m in air.
100  a

a1a2
Flow rate of air = Qa= Cd 2 g H m3/s
a2 a
2
1
2

Mass flow rate of air = Ma = Qaa m

T1  T2
Average interface temperature = TI =
2
 Heat transfer coefficient from interface to gas=

hG = G∆H/(TI-T6)AZ

Heat transfer coefficient from liquid to interface,

T2  TI
In( ) LC L
T1  TI
hL =
AZ

Overall heat transfer coefficient =

h LhG
U=
hL  hG

DESCRIPTION:-

The apparatus is provided for the process of Forced draft counter current
cooling of hot water using air. The water to be cooled is heated in a heating
tank using a heater. It is then circulated; through a rota meter; to the top
of the cooling tower mounted over the heating tank. Cooled water is then
re-circulated to the heating tank. A blower is provided for the cooling air. A
valve is provided in airline to regulate the flow rate of air. There is an
Orifice meter mounted with its taps connected to a manometer to find the
flow rate of air. A set of two temperature sensors is provided at both inlet
and outlet of air stream. These sensors gives Dry bulb & Wet bulb air
temperatures. The cooling tower is packed with Aluminium expanded wire
mesh.

UTILITIES REQUIRED:-

 Water Supply & Drain

 Electrically supply: 1 phase, 220 V AC and 2 kW

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE:-

1. Fill the heating tank with water and switch on heater.

2. Switch on pump & blower after 70oC temperature achieved.
3. Set the flow rate of water.
4. Record the flow rate of water and manometer reading and all temperature
after one minute.
5. Steps 3 to 5 may be repeated for different water flow rates within
operational range.

TEMPERATURE CONVERTION FORMULA

1. °C to °F = (°C × 9/5) + 32 = °F)

2. °F to °C = (°F - 32) x 5/9 = °C)

OBSERVATION & CALCULATIONS:-

 Cross section area of chamber(a) = 150*150mm

= ...............m2
 Diameter of Orifice, (d1) = 20mm
 Diameter of pipe, (d2) = 53mm
 Orifice Size (a1) = 35*35mm .......m2
 Pipe Size (a2) = 70*70mm .......m2
 Coefficient of discharge Cd = 0.6

 Density of Manometer Fluid (Water) w = 1000 kg/m3

 Density of Air, a = 1.21 kg/m3

 Height Of Packing = 1m
 Rotameter Range (Qw) = 1 LPM (5 LPM)
 Acceleration due to gravity = 9.81 m/s2

OBSERVATION TABLE:-
S.
T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 ∆h QW (LPH)
No.
1
2
3

Enthalpy of the inlet gas (corresponding to temperature T 3 & T4 from

psychometric chart)
= H1 (kcal/kg of dry air)

Enthalpy of the outlet gas (corresponding to temperature T5 & T6 from

psychometric chart)
= H1 (kcal/kg of dry air)

NOMENCLATURE:-

Cd = Coefficient of discharge (Orifice)

a = Cross section area of tower, m2
a1 = Cross Section area of Orifice, m2
a2 = Cross Section area of Pipe, m2
Qw = Water Flow rate of LPH
∆h = Manometer difference (for air flow), m
g = Acceleration due to gravity, 9.81 m/s2
w = Density of Manometer Fluid (Water), kg/m3
a = Density of Air, kg/m3
H1 = enthalpy of air stream (inlet), kj/kg
H2 = enthalpy of saturated air (outlet), kj/kg
L = mass velocity of water, kg of water/h m2
TI = Average interface temperature
T1 = Water Inlet temperature, OC.
T2 = Water Outlet temperature, OC.
T3 = Air Inlet dry bulb temperature, OC.
T4 = Air Inlet wet bulb temperature, OC.
T5 = Air Outlet dry bulb temperature, OC.
T6 = Air Outlet wet bulb temperature, OC.
 PRECAUTIONS & MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS:-

1. Heater should not be switched on before filling the water in heating tank.
2. Pump should not be switched on at low voltage.
3. Water in heating tank should be properly drained after experiment is over.

TROUBLESHOOTING:-

In case of any problem regarding operation of the apparatus; the

apparatus should be quickly switched off and electric supply should be cut
off.

Electrical:

1. Electric Shock: It means that either earth wire inside the panel is loose or
there is no earth provided in the socket to switch the equipment is
plugged. So, make it sure that the equipment is earthed properly.
2. Display of ‘1’ on D.T.I.: It means sensors connections are loose. Locate
the point of loose connection and solder it properly.
3. No rise in temperature despite heater is ON: It means there is some
loose connection. Check out for the same and then either solder it or tight
it, whatever is applicable.

General:

Leakage: The point of leakage should be detected & the concerned part is
tightened properly. If the problem still persists then the part is removed &
Teflon tape is wrapped on the threads properly & the part is then refitted
carefully.