Design Calculators - Mechanical

This calculator estimates the required heat rejection capacity, water circulation rate, and nominal tonnage for a cooling tower based on hot water inlet/outlet temperatures and the process fluid flow rate. It's a simplified tool for preliminary sizing in industrial applications.

Key Inputs:

• Heat Load (Optional): Direct input of heat to be rejected. If provided, flow rate and temperature difference are ignored for heat load calculation.
• Process Fluid Flow Rate: Flow rate of the fluid being cooled (usually water).
• Hot Water Inlet Temperature (HWIT): Temperature of water entering the cooling tower.
• Cold Water Outlet Temperature (CWOT): Desired temperature of water leaving the cooling tower.
• Wet Bulb Temperature (WBT): Ambient wet bulb temperature, crucial for cooling tower performance.
• Specific Heat of Water (\(c_p\)): Assumed constant (4.186 kJ/kg°C or 1 Btu/lb°F).
• Density of Water (\(\rho\)): Assumed constant (1000 kg/m³ or 8.34 lb/gal).

Calculated Outputs:

• Heat Rejection (\(\dot{Q}\)): Total heat dissipated by the tower.
• Water Circulation Rate (\(\dot{m}\) or \(\dot{V}\)): Required mass or volumetric flow rate of water.
• Range: Temperature difference between HWIT and CWOT.
• Approach: Temperature difference between CWOT and WBT.
• Evaporation Loss: Estimated water loss due to evaporation.
• Estimated Fan Power: A very rough estimate of fan energy required.
• Cooling Tower Capacity (Tons): Equivalent cooling capacity in Tons of Refrigeration.