Experimental research of heat transfer performance on natural draft counter flow wet cooling tower under cross-wind conditions

The experiment in terms of heat transfer performance of natural draft counter-flow wet cooling is done for cases with cross-wind conditions. The variation of circulating-water temperature difference (Delta T) and cooling coefficient of efficiency (eta) with cross-wind velocity, circulating water inlet temperature and flow rate, are shown under cross-wind conditions, compared with cases without wind. According to experimental results, it is found that Delta T and eta are influenced by the cross-wind, and Delta T and eta can decrease mostly by 6% and 5%, respectively. When the critical Fr-l number is less than 0.174, Delta T and eta decrease with increasing cross-wind velocity, however, when it is greater than 0.174, Delta T and eta increase with increasing cross-wind velocity. In addition, based on the data regression analysis, the correlation between Delta T, eta and parameters, such as circulating-water inlet temperature and flow rate, is derived for cases with windless conditions. Furthermore, its correspondence is given out for cases with cross-wind conditions. (C) 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.