Numerical simulation of fluid flow and thermal performance of a dry-cooling tower under cross wind condition

Using the finite volume method (FVM), the fluid flow and temperature distribution around and in a dry-cooling tower under cross wind are simulated numerically. Since the flow is turbulent, the k-epsilon turbulence model is used. The numerical results are used to estimate the heat transfer between radiators of the tower and air around it. The numerical results are also compared with full-scale measurement data, the agreement is satisfactory. The numerical simulation explained the main reason for decline of the thermo-dynamical performance of dry-cooling tower under cross wind. The results provided some foundation to improve its thermal performance under cross wind condition. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.