1. What is the Cooling Tower Capacity Formula?

The Cooling Tower Capacity (CTC) formula calculates the cooling capacity of a tower in tons based on heat load, fluid properties, and temperature difference. It's essential for proper sizing and selection of cooling tower systems in various industrial applications.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the CTC formula:

Where:

• \( Q \) — Heat load (BTU/hr)
• \( \rho \) — Density of fluid (lb/ft³)
• \( C_p \) — Specific heat of fluid (BTU/lb·°F)
• \( \Delta T \) — Temperature difference (°F)

Explanation: The formula calculates the cooling capacity by dividing the total heat load by the product of density, specific heat, and temperature difference.

3. Importance of CTC Calculation

Details: Accurate CTC calculation is crucial for proper cooling tower selection, ensuring efficient heat rejection, energy optimization, and preventing system overloading or underperformance.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter heat load in BTU/hr, density in lb/ft³, specific heat in BTU/lb·°F, and temperature difference in °F. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a typical density value for water?
A: For water at 60°F, density is approximately 62.4 lb/ft³.

Q2: What is the specific heat of water?
A: The specific heat of water is approximately 1.0 BTU/lb·°F.

Q3: How is heat load typically determined?
A: Heat load is calculated based on the process cooling requirements, often derived from the product of flow rate, specific heat, and temperature difference.

Q4: What factors affect cooling tower capacity?
A: Ambient wet-bulb temperature, approach temperature, flow rate, and tower design all impact actual cooling capacity.

Q5: When should professional engineering consultation be sought?
A: For complex systems, critical applications, or when precise calculations are required for large-scale industrial cooling systems.