CFD modelling of the condensation, evaporation, coagulation and crystallization processes in the cooling tower emissions

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to develop the CFD model for the environmental impact assessment of the cooling tower. The methods applied for this problem are the single-phase turbulent multispecies flow modelling with the DPM Lagrangian particle tracking. The simulations have been carried out in the steady state SIMPLE solver using the ANSYS Fluent software. User Defined Functions have been defined to enhance the accuracy and versatility of the modelling approach in terms of turbulence, fog formation, evaporation, coagulation and crystallization modelling. The Chalk Point cooling tower experiment, laboratory tests with freezing droplets and analytical correlations are used to verify the customized parts of the new CFD model. The arbitrary small-town geometry is used to demonstrate the simulation capabilities of the fog and drift deposition as well as the temperature and relative humidity values near ground and buildings. The results indicate that the new CFD model is able to predict the cooling tower plume parameters, icing and salt contamination risks as well as drift deposition.