Numerical Modeling of Wet Cooling Towers—Part 1: Mathematical and Physical Models

Abstract

The paper discusses the limitations of current practices of evaluating thermal performance of wet cooling towers and describes a more advanced mathematical model for mechanical and natural draft cooling towers. The mathematical model computes the two-dimensional distributions of: air velocity (two components); temperature, pressure, and moisture content; and water temperature. The downward direction of water flow is presumed. The local interphase heat and mass transfer rates are calculated from empirical correlations for which two options are provided. In the first option, only one constant (Ka, based on Merkel’s approximations) is employed; in the second option, two separate constants for heat and mass transfer are used. Boundary conditions can be either of the prescribed cooling range or of the prescribed hot water temperature types. The governing equations are solved by a finite difference method. The model is embodied into a computer code (VERA2D) which is applicable for the natural and mechanical draft towers of both the crossflow and counterflow arrangements. Several applications of the code are described in Part II of the paper.