Abstract
The size and cost of a cooling tower varies with certain conditions, some of which are inherent in the design, others are influenced by location and type of service, and still others may be fixed by the purchaser. In the last group are proper relation of water circulated and range of cooling for a given heat dissipation, the location of the cooling range in the temperature scale, and the relative size of the cooling tower compared to heat exchanger when both are operated as a unit. The purchaser is often unaware that reasonable modification of these factors may considerably reduce the size and cost of the cooling system.
Narrow cooling ranges with relatively high water circulations are conducive to optimum heat transfer, both from the standpoint of high temperature differences and high heat transfer coefficients in the heat exchanger.
The choice of the kind of engine-cooling system depends on many factors besides first cost, such as space requirements, operating cost, and trouble-free operation. The use of closed systems, while relatively high in first cost is often justified on the basis of yearly operating charges and low maintenance cost.
