Cooling towers are commonly used in businesses as they effectively remove a lot of heat. This helps keep cool temperatures inside and outside a building. However, not all cooling towers are the same, and selecting the right one requires considering several important factors. Among those, the cooling tower’s capacity is a key indication of its performance capability.
Cooling tower capacity is how much heat a tower can take away from a system. It is usually measured in tons of refrigeration (TR) or kilowatts (kW). One ton of refrigeration equals 12,000 BTU/hr (or 3.517 kW).
How to Measure Cooling Tower Capacity?
To calculate cooling tower capacity, you use this formula:
Capacity (TR)=500×q×ΔT/ 12,000
Where:
- q = water flow rate in gallons per minute (GPM)
- ΔT = temperature difference between water entering and leaving the tower (in °F)
Start by measuring the flow rate of the water through the cooling tower. Then, determine the temperatures of the water entering and exiting the tower to find the temperature difference. This difference, typically measured in Fahrenheit, is plugged into the formula to calculate the tower’s capacity.
Technical Formula for Cooling Tower Capacity
Alternatively, capacity can be expressed as:
Q= m×Cp×ΔT/ 3024
Where:
- Q is capacity in TR
- m = mass flow rate of water in kg/hr
- Cp = specific heat of water (approx. 1 kcal/kg°C)
- ΔT = temperature difference (°C)
- 3024 = conversion factor where 1 TR = 3024 kcal/hr
What is TR Capacity in Cooling Towers?
Cooling tower TR i.e. Tons of Refrigeration (TR) refers to the heat taken away by a system. It is equal to melting one short ton (2000 pounds) of ice at 0°C in 24 hours.
This standard unit helps quantify cooling performance and assists in selecting the right cooling tower size. A correctly sized tower ensures efficient cooling without wasting space or energy.
