Thermodynamic and economic study and cost comparison for different heating systems to control the visible plume from wet cooling towers

SYNOPSIS: This communication presents a case study on the thermodynamic and economic considerations of the control of the visible plume from wet cooling towers of a commercial building. Detailed thermodynamic and economic studies for various cases have been carried out and compared for different costs, taking other constraints into account. The total power consumption first decreases and then increases while the power consumption in the chillers decreases, whereas the COP of the chillers increases as the number of cooling towers increases. On the other hand, the power consumption in the fan solely depends on the mode and operation of the cooling towers. It is found that all costs are much lower for a solar collector system followed by an electric heat pump system, and then a biogas plant and finally a geothermal heat pump system, while all costs are found to be highest in the case of an air cooled geothermal heat pump system. Detailed comparison among various systems is also given for different cases.