Influence of layout pattern on thermal performance of mechanical draft wet cooling tower group

Abstract

Mechanical draft wet cooling tower group is often arranged the back-to-back (back-to-back MCT group). However, the thermal performance of back-to-back MCT group will be weakened under crosswind. To resist the adverse effects of crosswind, an annular MCT group is proposed. A 3D model is established to compare the two types of MCT groups. The main research variables are ambient wind speed and direction. The results show that the outlet water temperature of the annular MCT group is lower than that of the back-to-back MCT group under windless or crosswind. The annular MCT group mainly improves the thermal performance of the leeward MCT, and the fluctuation range of outlet water temperature of each MCT in the annular MCT group is reduced. The water temperature drop of the annular MCT group is about 0.3 °C higher than that of the back-to-back MCT group under windless. Under crosswind, the improvement effect is most obvious under the crosswind angle of 45° with the increase of circulating water temperature drop of 0.8 °C on average. That is least under the crosswind angle of 90° with the increase of circulating water temperature drop of 0.3 °C on average.