Numerical Evaluation of Air and Water Mass Flow Rate Ratio on Evaporative Seawater Cooling Tower Performance

In this paper, the effect of mass flow ratio of water to air on seawater cooling tower performance was numerically investigated.The numerical results were validated by experimental data. For mass flow ratio under one, the total heat transfer coefficient isdecreased by increase of tower volume from top to bottom but for mass flow ratio above one, it is increased. For mass flow ratiounder one, the most part of total heat transfer coefficient value is due to the convection heat transfer coefficient. The convectionheat transfer coefficient was decreased by mass flow ratio reduction. The evaporative heat transfer coefficient was increased bymass flow ratio reduction. The required tower volume for water cooling is increased by increase of mass flow ratio. The towervolume was increased to high value in humid weather conditions. The outlet water temperature was increased by increase ofmass flow ratio or atmospheric pressure reduction. By increase of mass flow ratio, the effectiveness was increased but thevariation rate of the effectiveness was decreased. By increase of mass flow ratio or reduction of atmosphere pressure, the towertemperature ratio was decreased,consequently, the variation rate of it was increased.