Three-dimensional regularities of distribution of air-inlet characteristic velocity in natural-draft wet cooling tower*

A model for heat and mass transfer in a natural-draft wet cooling tower was established. Numerical simulation with the k-ɛ turbulent model was conducted. Distribution rules of air inlet aerodynamic field were studied. Field experiments were done in a cooling tower in power plant, and the test data was compared with the related results. The definition of characteristic air velocity was proposed and its influencing factors, such as the cross-wind velocity and circumferential angle, were quantitatively studied. It can be used to evaluate the performance of cooling tower and to calculate the ventilation quantity and resistance of air inlet. It is also a theoretical basis for cooling tower design and performance optimization.