Influence of temperature inversions on wet-cooling tower performance

• Published in: Applied thermal engineering Vol. 25; no. 8; pp. 1325 - 1336
• Main Authors: Kloppers, J.C., Kröger, D.G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Devices using thermal energy; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Heat exchangers (included heat transformers, condensers, cooling towers); Heat transfer; Nocturnal temperature inversion; Theoretical studies. Data and constants. Metering; Wet-cooling tower performance; Nocturnal temperature inversion; Wet-cooling tower performance; Natural draft; Wet cooling; Cooling tower
• ISSN: 1359-4311
• DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2004.09.003

Nocturnal temperature inversions have a detrimental effect on the performance of natural draft wet-cooling towers. The effects of the temperature inversion profile, the height of the inversion and the height from which air is drawn into the cooling tower, on the performance of cooling towers are investigated. Relatively simple and accurate equations are employed in the analysis to determine the temperature inversion profiles and inversion heights, which only have ground based measurements as input. The detrimental effect in tower performance, during nocturnal temperature inversions, is due to the reduced potential in draft and the increase of the effective air inlet temperature.