Guidelines for Tower Specification

Before applying our generalized equations to sizing cooling towers, we need to review some of the criteria for specifying operating conditions. The critical conditions that must be established before the design is initiated are the heat load, wet-bulb temperature, hot and cold water temperature and water rate. 

The determination of the heat to be dissipated by a cooling tower is an essential factor that not only affects the tower size, but also its effectiveness. If the heat load. determination is not accurate, either too high or too low, a larger or smaller size tower than is needed for a particular job could be selected. 

Dependable information has been developed for the heat rejector requirements of different types of power equipment air compressors, refrigeration equipment, steam condensers, diesel engines and natural gas engines. Table 5.1 gives information on the heat absorbed by cooling water for this type of power equipment. 

The wet-bulb temperature is an important factor in the sizing, selection and design of water cooling equipment. It is defined as the temperature (°F) to which air can be cooled adiabatically to saturation by the addition of water vapor and can be expressed as the lowest temperature to which water can be cooled by the evaporative method. 

Two-stage with intercooler Two-stage with intercooler and 1530 

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