Research Article

Enhancing Thermal Efficiency in Fluidized Bed Cooling Towers: An Experimental Approach to Bed Design

Volume: 45 Number: 1 April 7, 2025
TR EN

Enhancing Thermal Efficiency in Fluidized Bed Cooling Towers: An Experimental Approach to Bed Design

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the thermal performance of a fluidized bed cooling tower (FBCT) by examining the effects of varying bed heights and circular tempestuous spheres on cooling efficiency. An experimental setup was designed to evaluate the FBCT's performance under different conditions, including variable water flow rates, bed heights ranging from 200 to 300 mm, and spherical balls with diameters of 25 mm and 50 mm. Critical parameters such as the range and approach of temperature and the liquid-to-gas (L/G) ratio were analyzed to understand their influence on the cooling tower's efficiency. The findings indicated that more petite turbulence balls significantly enhanced air mixing efficiency, improving thermal performance. It was observed that an increase in the ratio of water mass flux to air mass flux resulted in decreased cooling tower effectiveness. The static bed height was also identified as a critical factor affecting performance, with the entry water temperature impacting the static bed height. The study concluded that optimizing bed height and utilizing more petite spherical balls can enhance the thermal efficiency of fluidized bed cooling towers. The relationship between water and air mass flow rates is crucial for achieving effective cooling performance, highlighting the importance of these parameters in the design and operation of FBCTs in industrial applications.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Not applicable

Project Number

Not applicable

Ethical Statement

Not applicable

References

  1. Agarwal, N. K., Biswas, P., & Shirke, A. (2022). Novel model predictive control by hypothetical stages to improve energy efficiency of industrial cooling tower. Applied Thermal Engineering, 215, 118899. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2022.118899
  2. Amir, F. M., Yusoff, M. Z., & Hassan, S. H. A. (2023). Cooling tower performance and the ambiguity of the L/G ratio scheme in optimization: A single cell control volume approach. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, 142, 106653. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2023.106653
  3. Ayaz, M., Namazi, M., ud Din, M. A., Ershath, M. M., Mansour, A., & Aggounee, M. (2022). Sustainable seawater desalination: Current status, environmental implications, and future expectations. Desalination, 540, 116022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2022.116022
  4. Badruzzaman, M., et al. (2022). Municipal reclaimed water as makeup water for cooling systems: Water efficiency, biohazards, and reliability. Water Resources and Industry, 28, 100188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wri.2022.100188
  5. Chaibi, M. T., Bourouni, K., & Bassem, M. M. (2013). Experimental analysis of the performance of a mechanical geothermal water cooling tower in South Tunisia. American Journal of Energy Research, 1, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.12691/ajer-1-1-1
  6. Crook, B., Willerton, L., Smith, D., Wilson, L., Poran, V., Helps, J., & McDermott, P. (2020). Legionella risk in evaporative cooling systems and underlying causes of associated breaches in health and safety compliance. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 224, 113425. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2019.113425
  7. deNicolás, A. P., Molina-García, A., & Vera-García, F. (2023). Performance evaluation and feasibility study of a cooling tower model for zero liquid discharge-desalination processes. Energy Conversion and Management, 297, 117673. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENCONMAN.2023.117673
  8. Distefano, T., & Kelly, S. (2017). Are we in deep water? Water scarcity and its limits to economic growth. Ecological Economics, 142, 130-147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2017.06.019

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Engineering (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

April 7, 2025

Submission Date

October 15, 2024

Acceptance Date

January 6, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 45 Number: 1

APA
Nedunchezhiyan, M., Jayabal, R., Ramalingam, S., & S, S. (2025). Enhancing Thermal Efficiency in Fluidized Bed Cooling Towers: An Experimental Approach to Bed Design. Isı Bilimi Ve Tekniği Dergisi, 45(1), 111-118. https://doi.org/10.47480/isibted.1567713
AMA
1.Nedunchezhiyan M, Jayabal R, Ramalingam S, S S. Enhancing Thermal Efficiency in Fluidized Bed Cooling Towers: An Experimental Approach to Bed Design. Isı Bilimi ve Tekniği Dergisi. 2025;45(1):111-118. doi:10.47480/isibted.1567713
Chicago
Nedunchezhiyan, Mukilarasan, Ravikumar Jayabal, Sathiyamoorthi Ramalingam, and Senthil S. 2025. “Enhancing Thermal Efficiency in Fluidized Bed Cooling Towers: An Experimental Approach to Bed Design”. Isı Bilimi Ve Tekniği Dergisi 45 (1): 111-18. https://doi.org/10.47480/isibted.1567713.
EndNote
Nedunchezhiyan M, Jayabal R, Ramalingam S, S S (April 1, 2025) Enhancing Thermal Efficiency in Fluidized Bed Cooling Towers: An Experimental Approach to Bed Design. Isı Bilimi ve Tekniği Dergisi 45 1 111–118.
IEEE
[1]M. Nedunchezhiyan, R. Jayabal, S. Ramalingam, and S. S, “Enhancing Thermal Efficiency in Fluidized Bed Cooling Towers: An Experimental Approach to Bed Design”, Isı Bilimi ve Tekniği Dergisi, vol. 45, no. 1, pp. 111–118, Apr. 2025, doi: 10.47480/isibted.1567713.
ISNAD
Nedunchezhiyan, Mukilarasan - Jayabal, Ravikumar - Ramalingam, Sathiyamoorthi - S, Senthil. “Enhancing Thermal Efficiency in Fluidized Bed Cooling Towers: An Experimental Approach to Bed Design”. Isı Bilimi ve Tekniği Dergisi 45/1 (April 1, 2025): 111-118. https://doi.org/10.47480/isibted.1567713.
JAMA
1.Nedunchezhiyan M, Jayabal R, Ramalingam S, S S. Enhancing Thermal Efficiency in Fluidized Bed Cooling Towers: An Experimental Approach to Bed Design. Isı Bilimi ve Tekniği Dergisi. 2025;45:111–118.
MLA
Nedunchezhiyan, Mukilarasan, et al. “Enhancing Thermal Efficiency in Fluidized Bed Cooling Towers: An Experimental Approach to Bed Design”. Isı Bilimi Ve Tekniği Dergisi, vol. 45, no. 1, Apr. 2025, pp. 111-8, doi:10.47480/isibted.1567713.
Vancouver
1.Mukilarasan Nedunchezhiyan, Ravikumar Jayabal, Sathiyamoorthi Ramalingam, Senthil S. Enhancing Thermal Efficiency in Fluidized Bed Cooling Towers: An Experimental Approach to Bed Design. Isı Bilimi ve Tekniği Dergisi. 2025 Apr. 1;45(1):111-8. doi:10.47480/isibted.1567713

Cited By