Improving cooling efficiency of dry-cooling towers under cross-wind conditions by using wind-break methods

Cross-wind can significantly reduce cooling efficiency of natural-draft dry-cooling towers. This paper investigates solutions that may improve cooling performance of cooling towers in windy days, with particular interest in wind-break methods in and around towers. The study explores a realistic scenario with two cooling towers in-tandem arranged under cross-wind conditions. Both experimental and numerical approaches were employed to optimize the wind-break measures. The results show that wind-break walls placed at the lateral sides of cooling towers perpendicular to the cross-wind is a straightforward and effective method, which can recover about 50% of the reduced cooling capacity. The study analyzes the relationship between the cooling efficiency recovery and the size of wind-break walls, indicating an optimal scale of wind-break walls. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.