The term "cooling range" in a cooling tower refers to the difference in the temperature of

ANS:C - hot water entering the tower and the cooled water leaving the tower.

Certainly! In a cooling tower, the primary purpose is to remove heat from a hot water stream by transferring it to the surrounding air through evaporation. Here's how the process works:

1. Hot Water Entering the Tower: The cooling tower receives hot water from an industrial process or a heat exchanger. This hot water typically carries excess heat generated from various industrial processes such as power generation, HVAC systems, or chemical processing. The temperature of this hot water is relatively high, often above the desired temperature for optimal operation of equipment or processes.
2. Cooled Water Leaving the Tower: Inside the cooling tower, the hot water is distributed over a large surface area, such as a series of fill media or spray nozzles. As the hot water is distributed, it comes into contact with air flowing through the tower. Through the process of evaporation, a portion of the hot water is converted into vapor, absorbing heat from the remaining water. This process causes the temperature of the water to decrease, leading to the formation of cooled water.

The "cooling range" refers to the temperature difference between the hot water entering the tower and the cooled water leaving the tower. It represents the effectiveness of the cooling tower in removing heat from the hot water stream. A larger cooling range indicates better heat removal efficiency and more effective cooling. Overall, the process of hot water entering the tower and cooled water leaving the tower is essential for dissipating heat and maintaining optimal operating conditions in industrial processes.