WET-Cooling tower software
Thermal performance, evaluation and design software for wet-cooling towers.
WET-Cooling tower software
Thermal performance, evaluation and design software for wet-cooling towers.
Types of WET-Cooling Towers THAT the software CAN SOLVE
Induced Draft Counterflow
Induced Draft Counterflow
Induced Draft Counterflow
Natural Draft Counterflow
Induced Draft Counterflow
Induced Draft Counterflow
Induced Draft Crossflow
Induced Draft Counterflow
Induced Draft Crossflow
About the software
The competitive advantage of the software is that it is completely independent and not tied to any cooling tower or fill manufacturer. Another advantage is that it has its roots deep in academia and industry. Most software packages like this are basically black boxes with no insight into the solution methodology.
The software is therefore very transparent as all models and theories employed are referenced and demonstrated in detail.
The software is based on the two volume book by Prof D.G. Kröger:
Air-Cooled Heat Exchangers and Cooling Towers: Thermal-Flow Performance, Evaluation and Design, PennWell Corp., Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA, 2004.
There are complete worked examples in the book on how to calculate selected unknown performance variables of wet-cooling towers. The software employs the same models. There are worked examples in the book of the following types of cooling towers and fill tests:
- Counterflow fill test - Example 4.3.1 on page 262 of Volume I. This example is included in the software.
- Crossflow fill test - Example 4.3.2 on page 279 of Volume I. This example is also included in the software.
- Natural draft cooling tower - Example on page 91 of Volume II. This example is included in the software and users can therefore follow the solution methodology in the book.
- Induced draft crossflow cooling tower - Example on 158 of Volume II. This example is also included in the software.
Furthermore, there are more published examples of different types of cooling towers published in the Ph.D. dissertation of J.C. Kloppers, found under the "About" page of this website.
Typical software applications
What can the software solve?
The software has three different solution modes:
- The first solution mode is used for design verification. All the dimensions, atmospheric conditions and water inlet design conditions of a cooling tower are entered into the software. Additionally, a fill can be specified as well as a fan. The software will calculate the water outlet temperature.
- The second solution mode of the software is used for the design of a cooling tower, i.e. the cooling tower dimensions are calculated so that a specified design load is achieved. The design atmospheric conditions, water flow rate and the water inlet and outlet temperatures are specified. A fill type suitable for the water quality are selected by the user. The software then uses sophisticated optimization algorithms to deliver a multitude of designs that meet the design requirements. It is then up to the user to choose the appropriate design for the available real estate requirements and required fan power. A fan then needs to be specified that meets the calculated fan static pressure and volume flow rate.
- Performance curves can be generated in the third solution mode. Like in solution mode 1 (or using the output of solution mode 2) a cooling tower is specified. The range of operating conditions are then specified over which the performance of the cooling tower is calculated. Performance curves are given as output. Various output parameters can be selected, i.e. water outlet temperature, cooling range, water evaporation rate and cooling load.
The most common uses for the software are:
- Calculate the water output temperature, or water cooling range
- Calculate the heat rejection rate
- Calculate the water evaporation rate
- Conduct detailed thermal design verification
- Conduct cooling tower sizing and thermal design
- Optimization to one or more design parameters
- Analyzing visible plume abatement with sophisticated models
- Generating performance curves
The software is ideally suited to answer all those “what-if” questions asked by engineers about cooling towers. Some of the questions the software can answer are:
- What effect has changing ambient conditions (temperature, humidity and inversions) on cooling tower performance?
- The software can help to generate missing or outdated cooling tower performance curves.
- What will the effect on tower performance be if the fill is removed?
- What can be done to increase cooling tower performance?
- Will the cooling tower be able to handle an increased cooling load?
- What will happen if the water flow rate is increased?
- What modifications can me made to the cooling tower to meet a specific cooling load?
- What will the performance be with a different fill?
software development platform
Due to the computational nature of the solution algorithms, MATLAB® was employed for the development of the software. MATLAB® has very sophisticated mathematical optimisation algorithms that are required for the solution of wet-cooling towers. Furhermore, the graphical output capabilities of MATLAB® makes it a preferred platform for software development.
