1. What is a Cooling Tower Evaporation Rate Calculator?

Definition: This calculator estimates the evaporation rate in a cooling tower based on water circulation rate and temperature range.

Purpose: It helps HVAC professionals and engineers determine water loss due to evaporation in cooling tower operations.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( E \) — Evaporation rate (gallons per minute)
• \( Q \) — Water circulation rate (gallons per minute)
• \( \Delta T \) — Temperature range (°F)

Explanation: The formula calculates approximately 1% evaporation for each 10°F of temperature range.

3. Importance of Evaporation Rate Calculation

Details: Proper evaporation rate estimation helps in water treatment planning, makeup water requirements, and system efficiency analysis.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the water circulation rate in gpm and temperature range in °F. All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is the constant 0.001 used?
A: This represents the approximate 1% evaporation per 10°F temperature range (0.001 = 1%/10°F).

Q2: What's a typical temperature range for cooling towers?
A: Most cooling towers operate with a 10-30°F range, with 15-20°F being common.

Q3: Does this account for other water losses?
A: No, this only calculates evaporation. Blowdown and drift losses must be calculated separately.

Q4: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It provides a good estimate for typical conditions but may vary with humidity and specific tower design.

Q5: What units should I use?
A: The calculator uses gallons per minute (gpm) for flow and °F for temperature.