1. What Is Recirculation Rate In Cooling Tower?

The recirculation rate represents the total water flow circulating through a cooling tower system, accounting for all water losses including evaporation, blowdown, and drift loss. It is a critical parameter for maintaining proper cooling tower operation and water balance.

2. How Does The Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the recirculation rate formula:

Where:

• \( Evaporation \) — Water lost through evaporation (GPM)
• \( Blowdown \) — Water intentionally drained to control concentration (GPM)
• \( Drift\ Loss \) — Water lost as fine droplets in exhaust air (GPM)

Explanation: The recirculation rate represents the total water flow needed to maintain system balance by accounting for all water losses in the cooling tower operation.

3. Importance Of Recirculation Rate Calculation

Details: Accurate recirculation rate calculation is essential for proper cooling tower sizing, water treatment chemical dosing, energy efficiency optimization, and preventing scale formation and biological growth.

4. Using The Calculator

Tips: Enter evaporation rate, blowdown rate, and drift loss rate in gallons per minute (GPM). All values must be non-negative numbers representing the respective water loss components.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the typical range for recirculation rates?
A: Recirculation rates vary by tower size but typically range from hundreds to thousands of GPM depending on cooling load and tower design.

Q2: How does recirculation rate affect cooling efficiency?
A: Higher recirculation rates generally improve heat transfer efficiency but increase pumping energy costs and water consumption.

Q3: What factors influence evaporation rate?
A: Evaporation rate depends on cooling load, wet-bulb temperature, relative humidity, and tower design characteristics.

Q4: Why is blowdown necessary?
A: Blowdown controls the concentration of dissolved solids in the circulating water, preventing scale formation and corrosion.

Q5: How can drift loss be minimized?
A: Drift loss can be reduced through proper eliminator design, maintaining water distribution systems, and optimizing operating conditions.