Experimental Studies of Rotation Efficiency of Packing on Characteristics of Counter Flow Wet Cooling Tower

Abstract

Packing in cooling towers is commonly used in nuclear power plants and air conditioning systems. However their efficiency with respect to the inlet air flow rate and the temperature of the water has not been fully investigated. In this research, the efficiency of packing rotational speed with respect to the wet counter flow of a cooling tower is experimentally investigated. In our experimental studies, six elliptical wooden plates that are equally spaced are used as a packing tower. The packing area of 0.85 m2 is considered with the following rotor speed ranges: 0.5, 3.5, 10, 15 and 17 rpm. It is assumed that the water mass flow rate is proportional to the inlet air to the tower. Six mass flow rates starting from 0.2 to 2.8 kg/h and the inlet air and water temperatures of 27°C and 45°C, respectively, are considered. The results illustrate that for the range of 0 to 5 rpm of the packing rotational speed the cooling rate of water is increased 3% for the water flow rate of 2.8 kg/h, and 24% for the water flow rate of 0.4 kg/h. Additionally, as a result of the increased rotational speed from 5 to over 17 rpm the cooling rate at both maximum and minimum water mass flow rates are increased from 13.9 to 34.4 percent, respectively. Furthermore, the water outlet temperature is reduced from 8.6°C to 3.3°C in the least and the most mass flow rates leading to the increased speed from 5 to 17 rpm, respectively. The experimental relationship between the inlet air temperature and the rotational speed of the packing has been determined. Also, the inlet water temperature at the maximum flow rate has been decreased to 3.4 and at the least water mass flow rate it has been decreased to 29 percent for the range of rotational speed from 5 to over 17 rpm of the packing rotation. All the results are depicted in several curves to show the actual variations of the variables.