The Effects of Windbreak Walls with Various Widths on Thermal Performance Enhancements of the Dry Cooling Tower under Crosswind

Abstract

A numerical model of the dry cooling tower is established, considering the detailed structures of the delta-type radiators. Heat transfer characteristics of the radiators, along with cooling water temperature drop of the whole tower are obtained, and the impacts of windbreak walls with various widths on thermal performance enhancement of the tower are analyzed and compared. It’s found that the effects caused by windbreak walls are not always positive, walls with small width would lead to performance deterioration of the tower. As wall width increases, the walls would enhance thermal performance of the tower gradually, and the optimal benefit brought by windbreak walls appears at the width between radiator height and 5/4 radiator height. Moreover, at large wall width, the positive effect brought by the walls is decreasing, but thermal performance of the tower in this condition is still superior to that at no-wall condition. This study provides guidance for the design, manufacture and practical application of windbreak walls in the dry cooling towers.