Optimizing Cooling Tower Performance: Loss Analysis and Efficiency Enhancement Strategies

Cooling tower are essential components in industrial heat rejection systems, where performance losses directly affected operational efficiency and energy consumption. This study presents a performance analysis of a mechanical draft cooling tower, focusing on identification and evaluation of major losses. Parameters such as water inlet and outlet temperature, wet-bulb temperature, and flow rates were measured under load condition. Losses due to evaporation, Drift, blow down, and heat exchange inefficiencies were quantified. Results show that these losses contribute to overall efficiency reduction. Based on the findings, improvement strategies such as effective use of drift eliminator, precise fan speed control, and setting blade angle are proposed. Implementation of these measures can enhance efficiency; reduce water wastage and low operating cost. The study provides a practical framework for diagnosing cooling tower losses and guiding efficiency enhancement in industrial applications.