Optimizing the effect of concentration and flow rate of water/MWCNTs nanofluid on the performance of a forced draft cross-flow cooling tower

Improving the performance of cooling towers has always been of interest to researchers due to their importance and widespread use in various industries. In the present study, after constructing a cross-flow cooling tower, the performance of the tower was investigated by using nanofluid instead of water as the operating fluid. For this purpose, the effect of concentration and flow rate of nanofluid on the characteristics of tower performance, including tower evaporation rate, effectiveness, and cooling range, were examined using an experimental design by response surface methodology based on the central composite design. The results demonstrated that the use of nanofluids at the lower flow rates in the cross-flow cooling tower is more effective, so that the nanofluid containing 0.085 wt% of nanoparticles with an enhance of 15.8% and 10.2%, respectively, indicates the highest cooling range and effectiveness compared to pure water. Also, based on economic optimization, the optimal concentration and flow rate were obtained 0.07 wt% and 2.249 kg/min, respectively. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study investigates the use of nanofluid in a cross-flow cooling tower to improve performance, finding that lower flow rates are more effective and certain concentrations of nanofluid show higher cooling range and effectiveness compared to pure water. Economic optimization resulted in the optimal concentration and flow rate of 0.07 wt% and 2.249 kg/min, respectively.