Evaluación de la eficiencia de una torre de enfriamiento mediante análisis técnico-experimental y desarrollo de software para determinar su desempeño.

Abstract

The objective of this research is to evaluate the operational efficiency of an induced-draft counterflow cooling tower, a widely used industrial system designed to reduce water temperature through mass and energy transfer. To determine its performance, key indicators such as efficiency, range, and the number of transfer units (NTU) were employed, allowing for the quantification of the impact of operating conditions on the equipment's heat dissipation capacity. Experimental measurements were conducted on a cooling tower equipped with two layers of hexagonal honeycomb-type PVC fill, with dimensions of 40 cm × 40 cm × 60 cm. During experimentation, variables such as inlet water temperature and flow rate were manipulated, analyzing specific conditions with temperatures of 40 °C, 45 °C, and 50 °C, as well as flow rates determined by pressure differences of 10 PSI, 20 PSI, and 30 PSI. From the analysis of the obtained data, it was observed that efficiency and range significantly improve when operating at higher temperatures and flow rates, suggesting that the cooling tower performs better under these conditions. However, the NTU also exhibited significant variation, indicating that its performance benefits from higher temperatures and flow rates, although with certain limitations due to the reduced heat transfer capacity at elevated temperatures. This implies that, although the equipment increases its operational efficiency at higher temperatures, its design is not optimized for excessively high temperatures, as cooling efficiency tends to decrease as water temperature rises, highlighting the importance of establishing optimal operating parameters.