Modeling of existing cooling towers in ASPEN PLUS using an equilibrium stage method

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2012

Authors

João A. Queiroz (Author) Other; Vítor M. S. Rodrigues (Author) Other; Henrique A. Matos (Author) Other; F. G. Martins (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Energy Conversion and Management

Vol. 64

Pages: 473-481

ISSN: 0196-8904

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 22 Citations

Scopus - 28 Citations

INSPEC

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Mechanical engineering

Associated Projects

PEst-C/EQB/UI0511/2011 - PROJECTO ESTRATÉGICO - UI 511 - 2011-2012

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-2JN

DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2012.03.030

Abstract (EN): Simulation of cooling tower performance considering operating conditions away from design is typically based on the geometrical parameters provided by the cooling tower vendor, which are often unavailable or outdated. In this paper a different approach for cooling tower modeling based on equilibrium stages and Murphree efficiencies to describe heat and mass transfer is presented. This approach is validated with published data and with data collected from an industrial application. Cooling tower performance is simulated using ASPEN PLUS. Murphree stage efficiency values for the process simulator model were optimized by minimizing the squared difference between the experimental and calculated data using the Levenberg-Marquardt method. The minimization algorithm was implemented in Microsoft Excel with Visual Basic for Applications, integrated with the process simulator (ASPEN PLUS) using Aspen Simulation Workbook. The simulated cooling tower air and water outlet temperatures are in good accordance with experimental data when applying only the outlet water temperature to calibrate the model. The methodology is accurate for simulating cooling towers at different operational conditions.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9