Cooling Tower Application, according Treibal

1 Data
2 Tower height
3 NTU and HTU
4 Tower area
5 Compensation water
6 Operaqting diagram
7 Cooling tower schematic
Index
Cooling Tower Application, according Treibal
Rev. cjc. 30.01.2014
Data for cooling tower application
Main equations and results
Cooling Tower height, NTU and HTU
Free-cross sectional surface of tower
Compensation, elimination, evaporation and entrainment fow rates
Equilibrium curve and operation lines
Schema
Index
Cooling Tower Application Data
This application will be realized with following numerical data (Note 1).
Data for numerial example
Water flow rate entering the tower L1' = 18.0555556 kg agua/s
Temperature of water entering the tower at the top (2) t
L2
= 45 C
Dry bulb temperature of air entering the tower tdb
G1
= 30 C
Wet bulb temperature of air entering the tower twb
G1
24 C
Local height above sea level H = 0 m
Mximum cooling temperature will be defined with
a differential temperature At above air wet bulb temp. At = 5 K
Air to water flow rates ratio shall be "r" times its
minimum possible value r = 1.5
The compensation water entering the system wil have
temperature t
comp
= 10 C
and will have a hardness da
_c
= 500 ppm
The in system circulating water sould have a maximum
hardness da
_M
= 2000 ppm
Mass transfer coefficient in the air k
y_kmol
= 6.2E-05
kmol / ( m
2
*s)
Air molecular mass M
air
= 28.96 kg/kmol
Tower effective heat or mass transfer surface a = 500 m/m
Liquid unit mass flow rate L
u
= 2.7
kg/(s*m
2)
Air unit mass flow rate G
u
= 2.0
kg/(s*m
2)
Note 1
Basic data has been taken from [1], pages 278-281.
Help Variables Cooling Tower Schema
State L1
Water leaving the tower
t
L1
= twb
G1
+ At L2' =
tbh
G1
24 t
L2
=
At = 5 K
t
L1
= 29 C
Compensation water
State G1 ta
comp
= 10 C
Ambient air entering the tower da
c
= 2000 ppm
tbs
G1
= 30 C
tbh
G1
24 C
H = 0.0 m
h = Psychro_Enthalpy_tdb_twb_H Q
h = N/A kJ/kg
x = Psychro_AbsoluteHumidity_tdb_twb_H
x = N/A kg/lg
Mass transfer coefficient
Mass transfer coefficient in the air
k
y_kmol
= 6.2E-05
kmol / ( m
2
*s)
Air molecular mass
M
air
= 28.96 kg/kmol
Mas transfer per kilogram da
M
=
k
y
= k
y_kmol
* M
air
k
y_kmol
= 6.2E-05
kmol / ( m
2
*s)
M
air
=
28.96 kg/kmol
k
y
= 0.0018
kg / ( m
2
*s)
Product Ky*a
K
y*
a = Ky*a
k
y
= 0.0018
kg / ( m
2
*s)
a = 500 m/m
K
y*
a = 0.90
kg / ( m
3
*s)
Q = 270 W

Blowdown water: B
Rev. cjc. 30.01.2014
Cooling Tower Schema
18.0555556 kg / s
45 C Air
Water
tdb
G1
= 30 C
twb
G1
24 C
Water
Air
2000 ppm
Rev. cjc. 30.01.2014
L1
G1
Torre
enfriadora
G2
2
Blowdown water: B
G1
L2

Cooling Tower height
Tower packing height [2] Number of Transfer Units
The packing height (l) of a tower can be calculated as The number of transfer units (NTU)
is calculated by numerical integtation.
[1], eq. (7.53), page 276 Sheet "2.- NTU" presents a calculation
example of the NTU.
with
Result of NTU example (sheet NTU)
NTU =
NTU =
and [1], eq. (7.54), page 277 Height of Transfer Unit "HTU"
Z : Tower packing height [m]
Q
S
=V :
flow rate of dry air (is a constat) [kg/s] HTU =
M
B
: molar mass of air [kg/kmol] HTU =
k
y
: mass transfer coefficient in the air [kmol/(ms)]
a: effective heat or mass transfer surface [m/m] Tower packing height
A : free cross-sectional surface of the tower [m] Z =
I
y
: enthalpy in the air phase = enthalpy of humid air [J/kg] HTU =
(in the bulk phase) NTU =
I
y,i
: enthalpy in the air phase (i: at ther boundary, [J/kg] Z =
that is, in saturated condition)
HTU : Height of Transfer Unit
NTU : Number of Transfer Units
Subscripts
B : dry air
y : air phase = humid air
a : top of the tower
b : bottom of the tower
i : corresponds to the boundary (i.e., saturated state)
NTU HTU Z =
A a k M
Q
HTU
y B
S

=
( )
}

=
a y,
b y,
I
I
y
y i y,
dI
I I
1
NTU
A a k M
Q
HTU
y B
S

=
Rev. cjc. 30.01.2014
Number of Transfer Units
The number of transfer units (NTU)
is calculated by numerical integtation.
Sheet "2.- NTU" presents a calculation
example of the NTU.
Result of NTU example (sheet NTU)
(hL_a - hL_b) / N * Ef(x)
#VALUE! -
Height of Transfer Unit "HTU"
G
S
/ (M
B
* k
y
* a * A)
#VALUE! m
Tower packing height
HTU * NTU
#VALUE! m
#VALUE! -
#VALUE! m

A a k M
Q
HTU
y B
S

=
NTU and HTU calculations

column 1 column 2
Equilibrium curve for saturated air.
Water temperature at inlet of tower This curve is
t
L2
= 45 C h
air,sat
= f(t)
Water temperature at tower outlet where the function
t
L1
= 29 C hair,sat = Psychro_Enthalpy_tdb_HumRel_H
Range: t
L2
- t
L1
has been used
The curve strats at point
Number of sections 3 (29,96.4)
The range will be divided in a number "N" and ends at point
of sections 4 (45,218.2)
N = 6
Column 1 starts with temperature "t
L2
"
and ends with temperature "t
L1
". column 3
Between both temperatures, "N-1" Operation line for r = 1
temperatures are inserted to define where "r" is the ratio between the actual
the N sections. All section are defined mass flow rate and the minimum flow
with the same temperature differential. rate.
The line strts at a point defined by the
Temperature differential inlet air properties (point 1 in operating
At
L
= t
L2
- t
L1
C diagram) also called state "G1"
t
L2
= 45 C
t
L1
= 29 C State G1 (Point 1)
At
L
= 16 K t
dbG1
= 29 C
t
wbG2
= 24 C
Section temperature increment H = 0 m
At
L_Sect
= At
L
/ N x
G1
= Psychro_AbsoluteHumidity_tdb_twb_H
At
L
= 16 K x
G1
= N/A kg/kg
N = 6 -
At
L_Sect
= 2.67 K h
G1
= N/A kJ/kg
Temperature at point "i+1"
t
i+1
= t
i
+ At
L_sect
1 2 3 3a 4 5
Equilibrium Operation Operation
curve for line for line for
saturated air. r = 1 Ah = r = 1.5 Ah =
t
L
h
air,sat
h
oper_r=1
h
air,sat
-h
op_r=1 h
oper_r=1.5
h
air,sat
-h
op_r=1.5
kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg
25 N/A
Table 1. Tower packing height calculation
25.5 N/A
Top.(2) 45 N/A N/A #VALUE! #VALUE! #VALUE!
42.33 N/A #VALUE! #VALUE! #VALUE! #VALUE!
39.67 N/A #VALUE! #VALUE! #VALUE! #VALUE!
37.00 N/A #VALUE! #VALUE! #VALUE! #VALUE!
34.33 N/A #VALUE! #VALUE! #VALUE! #VALUE!
31.67 N/A #VALUE! #VALUE! #VALUE! #VALUE!
Bottom (1) 29 N/A N/A #VALUE! N/A #VALUE!
In Operating diagram (sheet 6)
t H
C kJ/kg
Point 1: 29 N/A
Point 2: 45 N/A Line 1-2: Operation line for r = 1
Point 2': 45 #VALUE! Line 1-2': Operation line for r = 1.5
Point 3: 29 N/A
Point 4: 45 N/A Line 3-4: Equilibrium (saturation) line
From column 3a, is possible to see that the differences between the Equilibrium
curve and the operation line for r = 1 are very small (0.53 kJ/kg) at a certain
temperature (39.67 C). Thus, this operation line is near enough a minimum
flow rate line.
In the operating diagram figure (sheet 6), the operating line for r = 1 appears
to be tangent with the Equilibrium curve. This fact visualizes that this line is close
enough to the real minimum flow rate.
The condition of tangency between these two curves, is due to the fact that if
the operating line would cross the equilibrium line, it would not be possible to
have mass transfer in this region.

Height of tower packing Number of Transfer Units "NTU"
From Treibal, Equation (7-51)
(7.51a)
(7.51b)
The numerial integration of NTU is
performed by means of the trapezoidal
where H'
2
and H'
1
are the enthalpies of integration method.
the air-water mixture for the actual case, According this method, the integration
that is, in this case for r = 1.5. is realized as it is shown in the columns
6, 7 and 8.
The final evaluation is done according
( )
y
y i y
I
I
dI
I I
NTU
a y
b y

=
}
,
1
,
,
}

=
'
2
'
1
' '
'
H
H
i
H H
dH
NTU
| | m
a k
G
HTU
y
S

=
'
| | m
H H
dH
a k
G
Z
H
H
i y
S
}

=
'
2
'
1
' '
' '
(7.51c) following equation
(7.51d)
NTU = (h
L_a
- h
L_b
) /(2* N) * Ef(x)
Also where
h
L_in_r=1.5
=
#VALUE!
h
L_out=r=1.5
= N/A
N = 6
Ef(x) = #VALUE!
Numerical results shown are from next NTU = #VALUE!
calculation sheets.
Treybal [2] result is
NTU = 3.25
The difference comes from the values of
the psychrometric properties. Treybal
takes its values from graphics, and in
the example are taken form psychrometric
functios. Also, the numerical integration
method is not indicated.
Comparison between the example calculation table and the tabvle from Treibal
1 2 3 4 5 6
Curva de Lnea de Lnea de
equilibrio para operacin operacin
aire saturado para r = 1 para r = 1.5 Ah = 1/Ah
t h
air,sat
h
oper_r=1
h
oper_r=1.5
h
air,sat
-h
op_r=1.5
kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg 1/(kJ/kg)
25 N/A
25.5 N/A
29 N/A 72 72 #VALUE! #VALUE!
31.67 N/A 96 87.7 #VALUE! #VALUE!
34.33 N/A 119 103.4 #VALUE! #VALUE!
37.00 N/A 143 119.1 #VALUE! #VALUE!
39.67 N/A 166 134.9 #VALUE! #VALUE!
42.33 N/A 190 150.6 #VALUE! #VALUE!
45.00 N/A 213 166.27 #VALUE! #VALUE!
1 2 3 4 5 6
Curva de Lnea de Lnea de
equilibrio para operacin operacin
aire saturado para r = 1 para r = 1.5 Ah = 1/Ah
t h
air,sat
h
oper_r=1
h
oper_r=1.5
h
air,sat
-h
op_r=1.5
kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg 1/(kJ/kg)
25 N/A
Calculation table, using psychrometric functions.
Table from Treybal [1], page 280

= ) (
2
_ _
x f
N
h h
NTU
b L a L
| | m NTU HTU Z =
| | m
a k
G
HTU
y
S

=
'
A a k M
G
HTU
y B
S

=
25.5 N/A
29 100.0 72 72 28.0 0.0357
31.67 114.0 96 92.0 22.0 0.0455
34.33 129.8 119 106.5 23.3 0.0429
37.00 147.0 143 121.0 26.0 0.0385
39.67 166.8 166 135.5 31.3 0.0319
42.33 191.0 190 149.5 41.5 0.0241
45.00 216.0 213 163.50 52.5 0.0190
The line ends in a point defined by the Slope of line with r = 1.5 Air flow rate
properties of the leaving satutared air S = m = L * Cpw / Gs (7.54)
Point 2' L = 18.0555556 kg/s From heat balance
Estado G2' Cpw = 4.1868 kJ/(kg*K)
t
bsG2
= 45 C Gs = #VALUE! kg as/s
f = 100 % S = #VALUE! (kJ/kg)/K
H = 0 m Exit enthalpy
h
G2
= Psychro_Enthalpy_tdb_HumRel_H S = (h
G2
- h
G1
) / (tbs
G2
- tbs
G1
)
h
G2'
= N/A kJ/kg h
G2
= h
G1
+ S * (tbs
G2
- tbs
G1
)
The operation linefor r = 1, is the
straight line 1.2', where r = G / G
min
con: r = G / G
min
h
G1
= N/A J/kg
Slope of operation line witrh r = 1 S = #VALUE! (kJ/kg)/K
S
r=1
= (h
G2'
- h
G1
) / (t
L2
- t
L1
) tbs
G2
= 45 C
h
G2'
= N/A kJ/kg tbs
G1
= 29 C [1], Eq, (7.54), page 277
h
G1
= N/A kJ/kg h
G2
= #VALUE! J/kg
t
L2
= 45 C
t
L1
= 29 C column 5 G
S
: gas flow rate [kg as/ s]
S
r=1
= #VALUE! (kJ/kg)/K Driving enthalpy difference at a point "i" h
G2
: exit air enthalpy (top) [kJ/kg]
G
S
= G
r=1
= 1/m * L * c
pw
(7.54) Ah
i
= h
air,sat_i
-h
op_r=1.5_i
h
G1
: inlet air enthalpya (bottom) [kJ/kg]
m = S
r=1
L: liquid flow rate [kg/ s]. (assumed constant)
S
r=1
= #VALUE! (kJ/kg)/K column 6 c
pw
: liquid specific heat [kJ/(kg*K)]
m = #VALUE! Reciproc of driving enthalpy difference t
L2
: inlet water temperature (top) [C]
L = 18.0555556 kg agua/s t
L1
: exir water temperature (bottom) [C]
Cpw = 4.1868 kJ/(kg*K) column 7
G
r=1
= #VALUE! kg as/s Coefficients for numerical integration
C
i
= 1 at both ends
column 4 2 in the other elements
Operation line for r = 1.5
The line starts from the same point 1 column 8
the properties at the inlet defined as the Numerical integration elements
state G1. f(x
i
) = C
i
* (1/Ah
i
)
Gs = r * G
r=1
r = 1.5
G
r=1
= #VALUE! kg as/s
Gs = #VALUE! kg as/s
6 7 8
Numerical Air conditions in the tower,for r = 1
integration Conditions at the bottom of the tower (point "1" in diagram)
1/Ah coefficient Point "1"
C
i
f(x)
tbs
1
=
29.0 C
1/(kJ/kg) h
G1
= N/A kJ/kg
Conditions at the top of the tower (point 2' in diagram)
Table 1. Tower packing height calculation
( ) ( )
( )
( )
( )
m
c L
G
t t
h h
m
h h
t t
c L G
t t c L h h G
bottom
top
H H
pw
S
L L
G G
G G
L L
pw S
L L pw G G S
Liquid air

=
=
A = A
1 2
1 2
1 2
1 2
1 2 1 2
: 1
: 2
Point 2'
#VALUE! 1 #VALUE! tbs
2'
= 45 C
#VALUE! 2 #VALUE! h
2'
= N/A kJ/kg
#VALUE! 2 #VALUE!
#VALUE! 2 #VALUE!
#VALUE! 2 #VALUE!
#VALUE! 2 #VALUE!
#VALUE! 1 #VALUE!
Ef(x) =
#VALUE!
Number of Transfer Units "NTU" Height of Transfer Unit "HTU" Height of Transfer Unit "HTU"
From Treibal, Equation (7-51)
HTU =
with
Gs =
The numerial integration of NTU is M
B
=
performed by means of the trapezoidal HTU = G'
S
/( ky * a) k
y_kmol
=
G'
S
: 2.0 kg/(m*s) a =
According this method, the integration k
y*
a : 0.9
kg / ( m
3
*s)
A =
is realized as it is shown in the columns HTU = 2.2 m HTU =

Treybal [2] result is
The final evaluation is done according HTU = 2.2 m Q
S
:
( )
y
y i y
I
I
dI
I I
NTU
a y
b y

=
}
,
1
,
,
a k
G
HTU
y
S

=
'
A a k M
G
HTU
y B
S

=
M
B
:
Height of packing tower k
y
:
a:
A :
Z = HTU * NTU
(h
L_a
- h
L_b
) /(2* N) * Ef(x) HTU = 2.2 m
NTU = #VALUE!
kJ/kg Z = #VALUE! m
kJ/kg
Treybal [2] result is
Z = 7.22 m
-
-
The difference comes from the values of
the psychrometric properties. Treybal
takes its values from graphics, and in
the example are taken form psychrometric
functios. Also, the numerical integration
Trapezoidal numerical integration rule
7 8
Numerical
integration
coefficient
C
i
f(x)
NTU=(h
L2
- h
L1)/
2*N* (f(x
1
) + 2*f(x
2
) + 2*f(x
3
) + .+ 2*f(x
N-1
) + f(x
N
) )
1 #VALUE! NTU = (h
L_a
- h
L_b
) /(2* N) * Ef(x)
2 #VALUE! where
2 #VALUE! h
L_in_r=1.5
= 166.3 kJ/kg
2 #VALUE! h
L_out=r=1.5
= 72.0 kJ/kg
2 #VALUE! N = 6
2 #VALUE! Ef(x) = #VALUE!
1 #VALUE!
Ef(x) =
#VALUE! NTU = #VALUE! -
7 8
Numerical
integration
coefficient
C
i
f(x) Treybal table differs from the calculation
table in the values of the psichrometric
properties.
Calculation table, using psychrometric functions.
Table from Treybal [1], page 280

= ) (
2
_ _
x f
N
h h
NTU
b L a L
) 1 ( ... 2 2
1 1
2
) (
1
= =
= =

~

}
=
N i para g
N y i para g
f g
N
a b
dx x f
i
i
k
N
k
i
b
a
NTU HTU Z =
Additionaly, Treibal uses a different
1 0.03575 numerical integration method, where
1 0.04545 the numerical integration coefficienst are
1 0.04292 not required (or C
i
= 1)
1 0.03846 The numerical integration used is not
1 0.03195 indicated and Treybal gives as a
1 0.02410 final result a NTU value
1 0.01905
Ef(x) =
0.23767 NTU = 3.25 -
Rev. cjc. 30.01.2014
Page 1 of 4
From heat balance
[1], Eq, (7.54), page 277
G
S
: gas flow rate [kg as/ s]
h
G2
: exit air enthalpy (top) [kJ/kg]
h
G1
: inlet air enthalpya (bottom) [kJ/kg]
L: liquid flow rate [kg/ s]. (assumed constant)
c
pw
: liquid specific heat [kJ/(kg*K)]
t
L2
: inlet water temperature (top) [C]
t
L1
: exir water temperature (bottom) [C]
Rev. cjc. 30.01.2014
Page 2 of 4
Conditions at the bottom of the tower (point "1" in diagram)
(Column 1)
(Column 3)
Conditions at the top of the tower (point 2' in diagram)
Table 1. Tower packing height calculation
( ) ( )
( )
( )
( )
m
c L
G
t t
h h
m
h h
t t
c L G
t t c L h h G
bottom
top
H H
pw
S
L L
G G
G G
L L
pw S
L L pw G G S
Liquid air

=
=
A = A
1 2
1 2
1 2
1 2
1 2 1 2
: 1
: 2
(Column 1)
(Column 3)
Page 3 of 4
Height of Transfer Unit "HTU"
G
S
/ (M
B
* k
y
* a * A)
#VALUE! kg as/s
28.96 kg/kmol
6.2E-05
kmol / ( m
2
*s)
500 m/m
#VALUE! m
#VALUE! m
flow rate of dry air (is a constat) [kg/s]
A a k M
G
HTU
y B
S

=
molar mass of air [kg/kmol]
mass transfer coefficient in the air [kmol/(ms)]
effective heat or mass transfer surface [m/m]
free cross-sectional surface of the tower [m]
Page 4 of 4
HTU Treibal
Equation (7-51)
HTU = V / (MB * ky * a * A)
with
V = 56.84 kg as/s
MB = 28.96 kg/kmol
ky_kmol = 6.2E-05 kmol / ( m2*s)
a = 500 m/m
A = 5.33 m
HTU = 11.9 m
Tower height
l = NTU * HTU
A a k M
V
HTU
y B

=
NTU = 4.25 -
HTU = 11.9 m
l = 50.4 m
V = G * A
G = 10.66 kg as/(s*m)
5.33 m
56.84 kg as/s

G'S /( ky * a)
2 kg/(m*s)
Free-cross sectional surface of tower

Area of cross sectional surface Seleted area
From borh results, the smallest value
L = L
u
* A should be selected, to ensure that the
L: liquid flow rate [kg/s] value of the product "k
y
*a" has at least
L
u
: unit flow rate (for unit of cross the indicated value of
sectional surface): [kg/ ( m*s)]
A: area of cross section k
y
*a = 0.90
So
A = L / Lu A = #VALUE!
L = 18.0555556 kg/s
L
u
= 2.7 kg/(m*s)
A = 6.69 m
Using the gas flow rate
A = G
S
/ G
Su
G: gas rate [kg/s]
G
u
: unit flow rate (for unit of cross
sectional surface): [kg/ ( m*s)]
A: area of cross section
Gs = #VALUE! kg as/s
G
Su
= 2 kg/(m*s)
A = #VALUE! m
Rev. cjc. 30.01.2014
From borh results, the smallest value
should be selected, to ensure that the
value of the product "k
y
*a" has at least
kg / ( m
3
*s)
m

Compensation water
Cosidering a compensation and a Entrainment loss rate "W", water that is Application
continuous elimination, the mass being transported with the exit air,
balance is leaving from de top of the tower as a Evaporation rate "E"
(a) loss of water.
1.- Absolute humidity of exit air
Evaporation rate "E", water that is Assuming that the leaving air is basically
A water hardness balance is evapotated in the air flow producing saturated at Point "O"
de cooling of the water flow |
O
=
(b) From equation (d) The enthalpy at this point, from the
calculation Table 1, is
and therefore h
O
=
Assuming initially a temperature value
t
O
=
(.c) the corresponding enthalpy for this
assumed temperature is with
t
O
=
Eliminating M from (a) and (.c) |
O
=
H =
h =
(d) Now, using Solver, find a value of the
temperature t
O
to obtain that h = h
O
With calculated exit air temperature
M : compensation rate [kg/h] the corresponding absolute humidity
B : elimination rate [kg/h] can be be calculated
E : evaporation rate [kg/h] t =
W : entrainment loss rate [kg/h] |
O
=
da
C
: hardness weight fraction of H =
circulating water [kg/kg] or [ppm] x
a2
=
da
M
: hardness weight fraction of
compensation water [kg/kg] or [ppm] 2.- Absolute humidity of inlet air
From sheet 2
Elimination rate "B", required to replace
x
a1
=
water with a maximum allowable salts
content with fresh water with the in this 3.- Humidity change
water existing salt content. This is Ax
2-1
=
called the compensation rate. x
a2
=
(e) x
a1
=
Ax
2-1
=
W E B M + + =
( )
C M
da W B da M + =
( )
M
C
da
da W B
M
+
=
( )
M
C
da
da W B
W E B
+
= + +
W
da da
da
E B
M C
M

=
W
da da
da
E B
da
da da
E
W B
da
da da
E
W B
da
da
E
W B
E
da
da
W
da
da
B
E
da
da
W
da
da
B
E
da
da
W
da
da
W
da
da
B
da
da
W E
da
da
W
da
da
B
W E
da
da
W
da
da
B B
da
da
W
da
da
B W E B
M C
M
M
M C
M
C M
M
C
M
C
M
C
M
C
M
C
M
C
M
C
M
C
M
C
M
C
M
C
M
C
M
C
M
C
M
C

+ =

|
|
.
|

\
|
=
|
|
.
|

\
|

|
|
.
|

\
|
=
|
|
.
|

\
|

=
|
|
.
|

\
|

=
|
|
.
|

\
|

=
+ = + +
1
1 1
1 1
1
1
E = G
S
* Ax
2-1
Dry air flow rate (sheet 2)
Evaporation rate "E" Gs = #VALUE! kg as/s
Ax
2-1
= #VALUE! kg/kg
1.- Absolute humidity of exit air E = #VALUE! kg/s
Assuming that the leaving air is basically
saturated at Point "O" Entrainment loss "W"
100 % To estimate the entrainment losses,
The enthalpy at this point, from the one assumes that these losses are
calculation Table 1, is a percentage &W of the water flow rate
#VALUE! kJ/kg &L = 0.2 %
Assuming initially a temperature value The water flow rate is
30 C L = 18.0555556 kg/s
the corresponding enthalpy for this W = L * &L Compensation water
assumed temperature is with L = 18.0555556 kg/s
40.0 C &L = 0.002 -
100 % W = 0.036 kg/s
0 m.a.s.l.
N/A kJ/kg Elimination rate "B"
Now, using Solver, find a value of the B = E * ( da
M
/ (da
C
- da
M
) ) - W
temperature t
O
to obtain that h = h
O
E = #VALUE! kg/s
With calculated exit air temperature W = 0.036 kg/s
the corresponding absolute humidity da
_M
= 500 ppm
can be be calculated da
_c
= 2000 ppm
40.0 C B = #VALUE! kg/s
100 %
0 m.a.s.l. Compensation rate "M"
N/A kg/kg M = (B + W) * da
C
/ da
M
B = #VALUE! kg/s
2.- Absolute humidity of inlet air W 0.036 kg/s
da
_c
= 2000 ppm
N/A kg/kg
da
_M
=
500 ppm
M = #VALUE! kg/s
3.- Humidity change
x
a2
- x
a1
kg/kg
N/A kg/kg
N/A kg/kg
#VALUE! kg/kg
M, da
M
Rev. cjc. 30.01.2014
Entrainment water

Water
Compensation water

Air
Elimination water

L1 G1
Cooling
tower

G2
E
W, da
C
B, da
C
Operation Diagram
1 2 3 3a 4 5 6
Curva de Lnea de Lnea de
equilibrio para operacin operacin
aire saturado para r = 1 Ah = para r = 1.5 Ah = 1/Ah
t
L
h
air,sat
h
oper_r=1
h
air,sat
-h
op_r=1 h
oper_r=1.5
h
air,sat
-h
op_r=1.5
kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg 1/(kJ/kg)
25.0 N/A
25.5 N/A
29.0 N/A N/A #VALUE! N/A #VALUE! #VALUE!
31.7 N/A #VALUE! #VALUE! #VALUE! #VALUE! #VALUE!
34.3 N/A #VALUE! #VALUE! #VALUE! #VALUE! #VALUE!
37.0 N/A #VALUE! #VALUE! #VALUE! #VALUE! #VALUE!
39.7 N/A #VALUE! #VALUE! #VALUE! #VALUE! #VALUE!
42.3 N/A #VALUE! #VALUE! #VALUE! #VALUE! #VALUE!
45.0 N/A N/A #VALUE! #VALUE! #VALUE! #VALUE!
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1.0
25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
E
n
t
h
a
l
p
y

a
i
r
-
v
a
p
o
r


[
k
J
/
k
g

d
a
]

Liquid temperature [C]
Operation Diagram of Cooling Tower
Equilibrium curve, for saturated air
Operating line with r = 1
Operating line with r = 1.5
2
1
2'
3
4
7 8
Numerical H'
integration (gas-vapor mixture)
coefficient kJ/kg as
C
i
f(x)
H'*
2
4
1 #VALUE! H'
2
2 #VALUE!
2 #VALUE!
2 #VALUE!
2 #VALUE!
2 #VALUE!
1 #VALUE!
H'*
1 3
Ef(x) =
#VALUE!
H'
1
1
Liquid temperature t
L
C
t
L1
t
L2

50.0
Equilibrium curve
Op. L, r = 1
Op. L. r = 1.5
R
S
T
U
( )
'
, H t
L
( ) * , H t
L
( )
'
,
i i
H t
Rev. cjc. 30.01.2014
2
Liquid temperature t
L
C
Cooling tower schematic [3]
[1] Operaciones de transferencia de masa 2/e
Robert E. Treybal
McGraw Hill,2003
Page 274. Enfriamiento de agua con aire
[1] Operaciones de transferencia de masa 2/e
Robert E. Treybal
McGraw Hill, 2003
[2]
[3]
http://library.kfupm.edu.sa/ISI/2006/5-2006.pdf
Packing height and free-cross sectional surface of a tower [2]
1.- Packing height
The packing height of a tower can be calculated
according [2], equation (65)
Z = I : Tower packing height
Q
S
=V : flow rate of dry air (is a constat)
M
B
: molar mass of air
Naming the first term as "Height of Transfer k
y
: mass transfer coefficient in the air
Unit (HTU) " a: effective heat or mass transfer surface
A : free cross-sectional surface of the tower
I
y
: enthalpy in the air phase = enthalpy of humid air
(in the bulk phase)
I
y,i
: enthalpy in the air phase (i: at ther boundary,
and the second term as the Numbert of Transfer that is, in saturated condition)
Units (NTU)
HTU : Height of Transfer Unit
NTU : Number of Transfer Units
Subscripts
B : dry air
the packinh height becomes y : air phase = humid air
a : top of the tower
b : bottom of the tower
i : corresponds to the boundary (i.e., saturated state)
( )
y
y i y
I
I y B
S
dI
I I A a k M
Q
Z
a y
b y

|
|
.
|

\
|

=
}
,
1
,
,
A a k M
V
HTU
y B

=
( )
y
y i y
I
I
dI
I I
NTU
a y
b y

=
}
,
1
,
,
NTU HTU Z =
Tower packing height [m]
flow rate of dry air (is a constat) [kg/s]
molar mass of air [kg/kmol]
mass transfer coefficient in the air [kmol/(ms)]
effective heat or mass transfer surface [m/m]
free cross-sectional surface of the tower [m]
enthalpy in the air phase = enthalpy of humid air [J/kg]
(in the bulk phase)
enthalpy in the air phase (i: at ther boundary,
that is, in saturated condition)
Height of Transfer Unit
Number of Transfer Units
air phase = humid air
top of the tower
bottom of the tower
corresponds to the boundary (i.e., saturated state)