CPB20104 Mass Transfer 2-Experiment 1 Cooling Tower P a g e |1

1.0 OBJECTIVES

To operate cooling tower system

To determine the effects of temperature and flow rate of water on the performance of the
cooling tower.

To determine the effects of temperature and flow rate of air on the performance of the
cooling tower

To determine the effects cooling load on the performance of the cooling tower

To determine the effect of packing density on the performance of the cooling tower

To investigate the effect of air velocity on wet bulb approach and pressure drop through
the packing
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2.0 SUMMARY / ABSTRACT

This experiment was conducted to perform energy and mass balance on the cooling tower system
and to observe the effects of one of the process variables on the exit temperature of water. There
are several parameters that can be adjusted to observe its effect on the evaporation of water. The
parameters are temperature and flow rate of water, temperature and flow rate of air, cooling load
and density.

Cooling tower selection and performance are based on the wet bulb approach. As the nominal air
velocity increased the wet bulb approach decreased. This is because the increase of air velocity
means that the fan or blower is increase in speed can caused the wet bulb approach decreased.
Meanwhile, as the nominal air velocity increased, the packing pressure drop also increased. This
is caused by, as the fan or blower increase in speed, there will be more pressure drop occurs to
eliminate the temperature from hot water to cool water.

In this experiment, it is required to use four different air flows which is 100%, 75%, 50% and
25%. 6 different temperatures and the value of the pressure drop was collected. The result was
interpreted on a graph to show a relationship between wet bulb approach and packing pressure
drop against nominal air velocity.From the analysis of the graph,Wet bulb approach seems to
decrease linearly from 9.8K to 6.7K as the nominal air increase whereby the packing pressure
drop increase linearly from 0.82mm H2O to 2.25mm H2O towards the nominal air velocity.
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3.0 RESULT / DATA

Table A

Air Flow
Description Unit
100% 75% 50% 25%
-1
Packing density m 110 110 110 110
Air inlet wet bulb, T1 C 22.0 21.4 20.8 20.6
Air inlet dry bulb, T2 C 31.5 31.0 30.9 30.9
Air outlet wet bulb, T3 C 28.7 28.9 29.5 30.6
Air outlet dry bulb, T4 C 28.5 28.5 28.8 30.0
Water inlet temperature, T5 C 34.9 34.8 35.1 35.8
Water outlet temperature, T6 C 28.7 28.7 29.1 30.4
Orifice differential, DP1 Pa 88 64 45 22
Water flow rate, FT1 LPM 0 0 0 0
Heater power, Q1 Watt 996 1004 1002 1001
Pressure drop across packing, DP2 Pa 22 20 12 8

Table B

Air Flow 100% 75% 50% 25%

Nominal Velocity of Air, m/s 0.0261 0.0222 0.0187 0.0131
Wet Bulb Approach, K 6.7 7.3 8.3 9.8
Packing Pressure Drops, mm
2.24 2.04 1.22 0.82
H2O
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Figure 1 Graph of Wet Bulb Approach,K and Packing Pressure Drops,mm H2O versus
Nominal Velocity of Air, m/s in the same graph

4.0 DISCUSSION
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This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of air velocity on wet
bulb approach and pressure drop through the packing. The effect of air velocity on the parameter
is based on four different air flows which is 100%, 75%, 50% and 25%. There are 6 different
temperatures that has been collected in this experiment which are air inlet wet bulb (T1), air inlet
dry bulb (T2), air outlet wet bulb (T3), air outlet dry bulb (T4), water inlet temperature (T5), and
water outlet temperature (T6). In this experiment, the readings for orifice differential (DP1),
heater power (Q1), and pressure drop across packing (DP2) are also taken.

From Figure 1 which is a graph that has been plotted to show a relationship between wet
bulb approach and packing pressure drop against nominal air velocity. Wet bulb approach seems
to decrease linearly from 9.8K to 6.7K as the nominal air increase whereby the packing pressure
drop increase linearly from 0.82mmH2O to 2.25mmH2O towards the nominal air velocity. Based
from the theory, the wet bulb approach line should be decreases and cross the intersection line of
the packing pressure drop that is in increasing. This crossing point shows the limit of the wet
bulb approach and packing pressure drop at the highest nominal air velocity or at the 100% air
flow.

Cooling tower selection and performance are based on the wet bulb approach. As the
nominal air velocity increased the wet bulb approach decreased. This is because the increase of
air velocity means that the fan or blower is increase in speed can caused the wet bulb approach
decreased as the air is dry and can hold more water vapour rather than it can hold at high
temperature. Meanwhile, as the nominal air velocity increased, the packing pressure drop also
increased. This is caused by, as the fan or blower increase in speed, there will be more pressure
drop occurs to eliminate the temperature from hot water to cool water. To have flow of gas
upwards through the column, the pressure must be higher at the bottom of the column than at the
top. The liquid flows downward through the packing against the pressure and the flowing gas
phase because the liquid is appreciably denser than the gas and so is pulled down by gravity.
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While carry out this experiment, there are some errors occur. First, the water flow rate,
FT1 is quite hard to control. As the water flow rate is not constant throughout the experiment, the
temperature might be not correct from T1 to T6. This might cause the cooling tower loss its
efficiency. Next, it is very hard to control the air flow with percentage by using blower. For
100%, it look easy because the blower cover just need to fully open but when it comes to 75%,
50% and 25%, it is very hard to measure the value correctly. As a result, the temperature from T1
to T6 might be not accurate as the air flow is not following the percentage it should be. Lastly,
the water inlet temperature should be constant throughout the experiment so that the efficiency of
the cooling tower can be calculated correctly. These errors should be prevented to improve the
efficiency of the cooling tower so that it is suitable to use at real plant.

From the experiment that has been conducted, we can conclude that the
relationship between pressure to nominal velocity and relationship between has been determined.
The higher the data has been collected with different parameters in air flow which are 100%,
75%, 50% and 25%. Meantime, the packing density and water flow rate remain the same which
are 110 m-1 and 2 LPM respectively. Next, the temperature from T1 to T6, Q1, and DP2 is
written down in the table of result prepared. From the data, the temperature for T1, T3, T4, and
T6 is slightly increased. This is caused by the increasing of Q1. Whereas the temperature at T2
and T5 is slightly decreased, this may caused from the cooling process. The result for DP2 is
shown in decreasing value at 35 Pa, 25 Pa, 14 Pa, and 5 Pa respectively.

The differences in air flow give the value for wet bulb approach in ascending orders
which are 3.6 K, 3.8 K, 4.9 K, and 7.5 K respectively.
After done the calculation part, the graph is plotted to show the relationship between wet
bulb approach and packing pressure drops versus nominal air velocity in the same graph.
Basically, at the y-axis, there are two different data which are wet bulb approach (in Kelvin unit)
and packing pressure drop (in mm H2O unit). Based on the plotted graph, as the nominal air
velocity increased the wet bulb approach is decreased. This is because the increase of air
CPB20104 Mass Transfer 2-Experiment 1 Cooling Tower P a g e |7

velocity, means that the fan or blower is increase in speed can caused the wet bulb approach
decreased as a result of cooling process occur.
Meanwhile, as the nominal air velocity increased, the packing pressure drop also
increased. This is caused by, as the fan or blower increase in speed, there will be more pressure
drop occurs to eliminate the temperature from hot water to cool water. From the graph, the wet
bulb approach and packing pressure drop is plotted in the same graph to show that at the highest
nominal velocity of air, the wet bulb approach and packing pressure drop will cross each other.
This crossing point shows the limit of the wet bulb approach and packing pressure drop at the
highest nominal air velocity or at the 100% air flow.
As a result, the temperature from T1 to T6 might be not accurate as the air flow is not
following the percentage it should be.
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5.0 CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS

CONCLUSION

This experiment has been conducted in order to study about the effect of air velocity on
wet bulb approach and pressure drop through the packing. The study of this experiment are based
on four different air flows which is 100%, 75%, 50% and 25%. 6 different temperatures and the
value of the pressure drop have been collected. The result has been interpret on a graph to show a
relationship between wet bulb approach and packing pressure drop against nominal air velocity.
From the analysis of the graph in Figure 1,Wet bulb approach seems to decrease linearly from
9.8K to 6.7K as the nominal air increase whereby the packing pressure drop increase linearly
from 0.82mm H2O to 2.25mm H2O towards the nominal air velocity. As the increase of velocity
it can caused the wet bulb approach decreased as the air is dry and can hold more water vapor
rather than it can hold at high temperature. For air nominal velocity, as it is increase the pressure
drop also will increase. This experiment is successful.

RECOMMENDATIONS

From this experiment there are several aspects that students should improve in order to
produce better and more accurate results.Firstly, the temperature of the water are not heated until
the level that has been setted.This problem should be overcome by waiting for the temperature of
the water to increase about the level that have been setted.This is to ensure that when the water
flows through the cooling tower it will produce an accurate results.Secondly, the valve which to
control the cooling load was loosing which cause incorrect amount of air which enter the valve.
This problem will cause incorrect reading of the experiment due to inefficient of the cooling
tower. In order to reduce this problem, students should consult to the technician or lecturer so
that they can solve and fix the valve or suggest alternative way to continue the experiment.
Lastly, problem which can effect the results are student are confuse with the valve which needs
to be open or closed in order to record the pressure drop.Due to this problem the value of
pressure drop cannot be recorded because of the wrong valve that have been open or closed.
Students should read the manual correctly in order to overcome this problem.Students also
should consult with the technician so that there is no mistakes during this experiments.
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6.0 REFERENCES

1. About the Psychrometric Chart. (2009). Powerknot.com [Online]. [Accessed 25th March,
2016]. Available from World Wide Web: http://www.powerknot.com/how-to-read-and-
use-a-psychrometric-chart.html

2. Cooling Tower. (2004). Wikipedia.org. [Online]. [Accessed 26th March, 2016]. Available
from World Wide Web: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooling_tower

3. Don W.G., Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook, McGraw-Hill, New York, 2007, p16.

4. Don W.G. and Robert P., Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook (8th edition), McGraw-
Hill, New York, 2007, p18.

7.0 APPENDICES

Calculation at 100% Air Flow:

1. Calculate approach to wet bulb
= Outlet Water Temperature (T6) Inlet Air Wet Bulb Temperature (T1)
CPB20104 Mass Transfer 2-Experiment 1 Cooling Tower P a g e | 10

= (28.7 + 273.15) K (22.0 + 273.15) K

= 6.7 K

2. Check the value of specific volume of air at outlet in the enthalpy-specific volume
chart.
T3 = (1.8 x 28.7) + 32 = 84F
T4 = (1.8 x 28.5) + 32 = 83F
~From the enthalpy-specific volume chart, the value of specific volume is
14.25 ft3/lb dry air = 0.8896 m3/kg dry air.

3. Calculate the air mass flow rate, (kg/s)

= 0.0137

h: orifice differential in mm H2O

v: specific volume of air (m3/kg)
= 0.0137

= 0.04351 kg/s

4. Calculate air volumetric flow rate, (m3/s)

= v

= 0.04251 kg/s x 0.8896 m3/kg

= 0.03871 m3/s

5. Calculate nominal air velocity, v (m/s)

v=
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A = packing area (m2)

Calculate packing area:
= 110 x [0.15 m x 0.15 m x 0.6 m]

= 1.485 m2
v=

v = 0.0261 m/s
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Calculation at 75% Air Flow:

1. Calculate approach to wet bulb
= Outlet Water Temperature (T6) Inlet Air Wet Bulb Temperature (T1)
= (28.7 + 273.15) K (21.4 + 273.15) K
= 7.3 K

2. Check the value of specific volume of air at outlet in the enthalpy-specific volume
chart.
T3 = (1.8 x 28.9) + 32 = 84F
T4 = (1.8 x 28.5) + 32 = 83F
~ From the enthalpy-specific volume chart, the value of specific volume is
14.25 ft3/lb dry air = 0.8896 m3/kg dry air.

3. Calculate the air mass flowrate, (kg/s)

= 0.0137

h: orifice differential in mm H2O

v: specific volume of air (m3/kg)
= 0.0137

= 0.0371 kg/s

4. Calculate air volumetric flowrate, (m3/s)

= v

= 0.0371 kg/s x 0.8896 m3/kg

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= 0.0330 m3/s

5. Calculate nominal air velocity, v (m/s)

v=

A = packing area (m2)

Calculate packing area:
= 110 x [0.15 m x 0.15 m x 0.6 m]

= 1.485 m2
v=

v = 0.0222 m/s
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Calculation at 50% Air Flow:

1. Calculate approach to wet bulb
= Outlet Water Temperature (T6) Inlet Air Wet Bulb Temperature (T1)
= (29.1 + 273.15) K (20.8 + 273.15) K
= 8.3 K

2. Check the value of specific volume of air at outlet in the enthalpy-specific volume
chart.
T3 = (1.8 x 29.5) + 32 = 85F
T4 = (1.8 x 28.8) + 32 = 84F
~ From the enthalpy-specific volume chart, the value of specific volume is
14.30 ft3/lb dry air = 0.8927 m3/kg dry air.

3. Calculate the air mass flowrate, (kg/s)

= 0.0137

h: orifice differential in mm H2O

v: specific volume of air (m3/kg)
= 0.0137

= 0.0311 kg/s
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4. Calculate air volumetric flowrate, (m3/s)

= v

= 0.0311 kg/s x 0.8927 m3/kg

= 0.0277 m3/s

5. Calculate nominal air velocity, v (m/s)

v=

A = packing area (m2)

Calculate packing area:
= 110 x [0.15 m x 0.15 m x 0.6 m]

= 1.485 m2
v=

v = 0.0187 m/s
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Calculation at 25% Air Flow:

1. Calculate approach to wet bulb
= Outlet Water Temperature (T6) Inlet Air Wet Bulb Temperature (T1)
= (30.4 + 273.15) K (20.6 + 273.15) K
= 9.8 K

2. Check the value of specific volume of air at outlet in the enthalpy-specific volume
chart.
T3 = (1.8 x 30.6) + 32 = 87F
T4 = (1.8 x 30) + 32 = 86F
~ From the enthalpy-specific volume chart, the value of specific volume is
14.35 ft3/lb dry air = 0.8958 m3/kg dry air.

3. Calculate the air mass flowrate, (kg/s)

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= 0.0137

h: orifice differential in mm H2O

v: specific volume of air (m3/kg)
= 0.0137

= 0.0217 kg/s

4. Calculate air volumetric flowrate, (m3/s)

= v

= 0.0217 kg/s x 0.8958 m3/kg

= 0.0194 m3/s

5. Calculate nominal air velocity, v (m/s)

v=

A = packing area (m2)

Calculate packing area:
= 110 x [0.15 m x 0.15 m x 0.6 m]

= 1.485 m2
v=

v = 0.0131 m/s
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Enthalpy-Specific Volume Chart

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Table of Content

No. Content Page Number

CPB20104 Mass Transfer 2-Experiment 1 Cooling Tower P a g e | 20

1.0 Objectives 1

2.0 Summary / Abstract 2

3.0 Result / Data 3-4

4.0 Discussion 5-6

5.0 Conclusions & Recommendations 7

6.0 References 8

7.0 Appendices 9-17