Cooling towers are among the most ubiquitous commercial industry equipment, and for good reason. They can convert and process metric tons of heat in order to maintain cool temperatures in the area within and surrounding a facility. However, cooling towers are not one-size-fits-all.
If you want to select the best cooling tower for your needs, you need to consider a number of crucial elements. Do not fail to consider the cooling tower’s capacity as a predictive factor of the equipment’s performance abilities.
What Is Cooling Tower Capacity As A Metric?
Cooling tower capacity specifically refers to a tower’s ability to transfer heat. If you demand that a cooling tower convert more heat than its capacity allows, this will tax the cooling tower and render it ineffective in matters of temperature moderation. This is why it is vital that when choosing a cooling tower you factor in the cooling tower’s capacity. Calculating capacity comes down to a math formula. Once you know each of the formula’s elements, you can determine the numbers for yourself.
Capacity is most often measured in tons of refrigeration, and abbreviated in formulas as TR. This is shorthand representing the amount of heat that your tower can transfer. It calculates the required level of heat transfer to freeze or melt one short ton of ice at 0 degrees Celsius within a 24 hour span. Determining how a prospective cooling tower will handle this task can give you insight into whether or not its capacity is sufficient for your facility’s needs.
A tower that is too big wastes both space and utility expenses. Likewise, a tower that is too small will be unable to perform at an optimal level. An expert can help you size your cooling tower(s) so that you can avoid an expensive miscalculation.
How To Measure Cooling Tower Capacity
Measuring the capacity of a cooling tower comes down to a math formula: the product of the rate at which the water flows, specific heat and the temperature difference required, represented as 500 x q x dt/12,000. In other words, you must determine each element of the formula on its own, because your specific facility’s needs and behavior will be unique.
Begin by determining the flow rate of the water. This represents how fast water moves through the cooling tower and is measured in gallons per minute. In the formula, this number is the letter q. Next, you will need to measure both the water entering and exiting the cooling tower so that you can determine the difference in temperature between the two.
Even though capacity refers to how a tower relates to ice at 0 degrees Celsius, this element is measured in Fahrenheit. When you know the temperature difference in your tower, this number in Fahrenheit replaces dt in the formula.
From there, the formula is solvable. Its output reflects your cooling tower’s capacity. You may find that the capacity is no longer enough if your current tower is old or you have expanded operations. An expert can assist you with this calculation so that you can feel confident in selecting a new tower or undergoing renovations.
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Selecting The Right Cooling Tower For You
The right cooling tower for your facility is not always a clear-cut decision. In fact, determining the appropriate cooling tower for your needs is one of the most difficult aspects of designing and managing a commercial facility. Do not hesitate to ask the experts to help you calculate all of the important mathematical information that you need in order to make an informed choice.
You will need to know not only the minimum capacity required for a cooling tower but also which type of flow you need (crossflow, counterflow or others), but also the materials used to construct the tower (some towers are not frost-resistant). Capacity is just one of several determinative factors that will decide how well your equipment functions in the future. Early diligence will save you future time and money.
Trust The Experts To Help You Make The Right Choice
Whether you are buying your first cooling tower or need to replace or add to your current cooling tower setup, the experts at Tower Water can help you make the right decision. Reach out to learn more about all of the important metrics you should consider or to schedule an appointment to talk with a professional and calculate your cooling tower’s capacity.
