A novel design for evaporative fluid coolers

In the present investigation a novel design algorithm is proposed for evaporative fluid coolers (EFCs) and closed circuit cooling towers. The principal of this study is to derive a relationship among heat transfer coefficients, pressure drops, heat transfer area, and mass transfer coefficient. Using maximum allowable pressure drops in this algorithm leads to minimize the required heat transfer area and a straight forward performance appraisal of EFC can be observed. It is revealed that the novel design algorithm can successfully predicts the design outputs given by the other researchers. In addition, the new algorithm is easily adaptable when heat transfer enhancement devices applied inside or outside of the tube bundle of EFCs.

Research highlights
► RDA is extended for design of evaporative fluid coolers.
► Pressure drops are considered in design procedure directly as objectives rather than constraints.
► By considering maximum allowable pressure drops, because of maximum fluid velocities and higher heat transfer coefficients, minimum required transfer area achieved.
► Enhanced evaporative fluid coolers can be investigated by the new design algorithm.