Numerical Investigation of Cooling Tower Performance under Constant Heat Load

Abstract

Cooling towers play a vital role in many large-scale process applications, and any decline in their performance has a considerable effect on the underlying process. It is known that the efficiency of a power plant is greatly affected by the temperature difference of the condenser. The objective of this paper was to produce cooling tower design recommendations and considerations that would prevent negative impacts and ensure stable and efficient operation. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to examine the components that contribute to cooling tower performance, using steady-state simulations and average weather data from the Egyptian Meteorological Authority. Air flow patterns in and around cooling towers were predicted using computational fluid dynamics. The current study includes a numerical analysis of the performance of the cooling tower at different wind speeds and heights of the cooling tower above the ground. This study found that some wind speeds have a negative effect and others have a positive effect, and the height of the cooling tower above the ground has a positive effect on the performance of the tower.