Heat Absorbed by Cooling Water for Various Operations

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

Theoretically, a cooling tower will cool water to the entering wet-bulb temperature when operating without a heat load however, a thermal potential is required in all heat rejection processes, so it is not possible to cool water to the entering wet-bulb temperature when a heat load is applied. The wet-bulb temperature has a direct impact on the operating temperature of the plant and influences operating conditions, plant efficiencies and operating cost. 

The selection of the design wet-bulb temperature is made on the condition existing at the tower site and measured with a sling psychrometer. The selected temperature is normally close to the average maximum wet-bulb for the summer months. 

Wind velocities, wind directions, wet and dry-bulb temperatures are available from data collected by the U.S. Weather Bureau or the U.S. Military Forces covering a wide range of chronological periods. Sometimes information can be obtained from weather stations located at nearby airports. 

Once the heat load is known and the wet-bulb temperature established, the selection of hot and cold water temperatures and gpm flow help to determine 

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Table 5.1 Heat Absorbed by Cooling Water for Various Operations...

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