Theoretical Possibility of the Maisotsenko Cycle Application to Decrease Cold Water Temperature in Cooling Towers

Abstract

In any explanation of cooling tower operation, it is shown that the ambient wet bulb temperature is a physical limit for water cooling. The main advantage of the Maisotsenko cycle (Mcycle) is the possibility to have the cold water temperature lower than the ambient wet bulb temperature, without violation of any physical principle. The idea is based on the fact that the ambient wet bulb temperature depends not only on the absolute humidity value, but also on a current air temperature. On the contrary, the dew point temperature depends only on the absolute humidity value. If we can provide lower temperature of the air (with the same absolute humidity) at the air inlet of the cooling tower, then the wet bulb temperature for such air will be lower. Therefore, if we can cool the air entering the cooling tower, without the change of its absolute humidity, it will be possible to cool the water more and, for some conditions, its temperature could be lower than the wet bulb temperature of the surrounding air at some distance from the cooling tower. However, the main problem is how to cool the air entering the cooling tower, very simply and without significant energy consumption. A theoretical possibility to solve this problem by application of the M-cycle is under analysis in this paper.

Energy Saving Potential by Using Maisotsenko-Cycle in Different Applications

“…That is why it is worth to apply MCT in hot climates. Finally, Sverdlin et al [9] analyzed the M-Cycle cooling tower using simulation program which was validated on the basis of real field data, obtained from existing cooling towers. They confirmed that cooling towers through the M-Cycle may significantly reduce the water temperature.…”

Performance Evaluation of a Maisotsenko Cycle Cooling Tower with Uneven Length of Dry and Wet Channels in Hot and Humid Conditions

“…Morosuk et al [22,23] investigated the exergetic analysis and the coefficient of performance (COP) of MCTs. Although their work proved that MCTs could reduce the water temperature below the inlet air's wet-bulb temperature, it was still a challenge to design MCTs with complicated fills and confirm the real possibility of MCTs in laboratory tests [24]. The EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute) [25] conducted a complicated feasibility demonstration in the laboratory and greatly promoted the technological development of MCTs; however, the advanced fills with cross-counter-flow arrangement proposed by the EPRI were very hard to apply in TWCTs.…”

A comprehensive review of the Maisotsenko-cycle based air conditioning systems

“…Although Maisotsenko cycle is used in different applications such as gas turbine [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31], cooling towers [32][33][34][35] and electronic cooling, [36&37] this paper only focuses on the employment of M-cycle on air conditioning systems. Mahmood et al [7] has presented the only review paper in any reputed journal on M-cycle systems in which the application of Maisotsenko cycle has been classified into 3 main parts (HVAC, cooling tower, gas turbine) and each part has been fundamentally discussed.…”