Draft Cooling Tower Analysis Using SOLIDWORKS Simulation & SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation (Tracer Study)  

Introduction:

Objectives  

• To evaluate the dispersion behaviour of carbon monoxide (CO) released as a tracer gas.

• To visualize CO distribution using iso surface plots of mass fraction.

• To understand CO dispersion characteristics in airflow using the tracer study method.

What is a Tracer Study in the HVAC Module?  

The HVAC module includes tools to simulate airflow and pollutant dispersion in HVAC and ventilation systems. A tracer study involves injecting CO as a passive gas tracer to track its concentration and movement in the airflow, helping engineers visualize pollutant spread and identify critical zones within ventilation structures.

Cooling Tower Model & Simulation Setup Using

Solidworks Flow Simulation  

Boundary Conditions  

Inlet air enters at the bottom in cooling tower at a velocity of 2.5 m/s and formula-driven wind velocity in the Z direction. Due to the buoyancy-driven natural draft considered, air velocity is generally considered in cooling tower is 2.5 m/s.

CO is injected at the base as a tracer gas with a mass flow rate of 0.5 kg/s, using the predefined tracer option available in the HVAC module’s Engineering Database in SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation.

Ambient conditions are set to 1 atm pressure and 25°C temperature.

It is common in engineering practice to describe the wind profile with a power-law in non-complex terrain up to a height of about 10 m above ground level. The velocity has been defined in a Z direction with a variable wind speed based on the height of the structure.

V(h) is the wind speed at height h.

Vr is the known wind speed at a reference height hr.

Here the power-law exponent p is considered as 0.25 for noncomplex terrain, which is an empirically derived coefficient that varies dependent upon the stability of the atmosphere from about 0.1 to about 0.6.

The larger the power-law exponent, the larger the vertical gradient in the wind speed.

Gravity is enabled to simulate buoyancy-driven natural draft flow within the tower.

Simulation Type: Steady-state airflow with tracer study using HVAC module.

Results:

Velocity Contour Plot  

The velocity contour plot helps visualize the airflow distribution within the cooling tower and understand how airflow patterns influence the movement and dilution of the tracer gas.

Iso Plots of CO Dispersion  

These Iso Plots (Iso surfaces) visualize various mass fractions of CO. They demonstrate the dispersion of the CO tracer in the cooling tower as it moves through the tower.

Plot 1 shows highest concentration zones near the CO injection at the tower base.

Plot 4 shows the Air velocity distribution influence which governs the transport and dilution of CO tracer gas.

These Iso plots (Iso Surfaces) show concentration thresholds and reveal how far and wide CO spreads inside the tower structure.

How the HVAC Module Facilitates Tracer Study

Tracer Gas Definition: A CO tracer gas, at is injected at the base of the tower. This utilizes a predefined tracer option found in the HVAC module’s Engineering Database within SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation.

The SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation HVAC module provides visualization features such as cut plots and Iso plots (Iso surface) contours for detailed analysis of CO dispersion to interpret the results.

 Practical Applications   

Using HVAC module’s tracer study capabilities for identifying zones with potential hazardous CO buildup inside structure for safety assessments in industrial environments.

SOLIDWORKS FEA Analysis can also be considered as part of broader engineering simulation workflows where structural behaviour needs to be evaluated alongside flow and environmental conditions.

The results from solidworks simulation can provide engineers with useful insights when assessing systems that involve multiple engineering parameters and operating conditions.

SOLIDWORKS FEA Analysis in Engineering Simulation  

SOLIDWORKS FEA Analysis can complement flow-based studies by helping engineers evaluate structural considerations in engineering systems where airflow, pressure, thermal effects and structural performance may need to be assessed together.

 Conclusion   

Using the Tracer study in SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation HVAC module to conduct tracer studies provides engineers with a powerful and accessible way to analyse CO dispersion in draft cooling towers. By leveraging tracer gas features combined with gravity effects, it delivers valuable insights into pollutant transport and ventilation design optimization.

This approach demonstrates how solidworks simulation can be used to understand airflow behaviour and tracer dispersion within complex industrial structures.

Reference  

1. Guo, Dong-Peng, et al. “Wind Tunnel Experiment for Predicting a Visible Plume Region from a Nuclear Power Plant Cooling Tower.” Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, vol. 53, no. 2, 2014, pp. 538-549.

We Urge You To Call Us For Any Doubts & Clarifications That You May Have. We Are Eager to Talk To You

Call Us: +91 7406663589

We Urge You To Call Us For Any Doubts & Clarifications That You May Have. We Are Eager to Talk To You

Call Us: +91 7406663589