What is the cooling capacity in tons for a cooling tower circulating 2,850 GPM of water?

To determine the cooling capacity of a cooling tower, the flow rate of the water and the specific heat of water are crucial. In this case, with a flow rate of 2,850 gallons per minute (GPM), we can calculate the cooling capacity in tons.

First, we convert GPM to the number of pounds of water being circulated. Since there are 8.34 pounds in a gallon, the weight of the water flow can be calculated as follows:

2,850 GPM x 8.34 lbs/gallon = 23,706 lbs/minute.

Next, to find the cooling capacity in tons, we use the formula:

Cooling capacity (tons) = (Flow rate in lbs/minute x Temperature change) / 12,000.

In many practical applications, a common temperature change is assumed to be around 10°F for calculation purposes unless a specific temperature drop is provided. Therefore, if we apply a temperature change of 10°F, the capacity can be calculated:

Cooling capacity (tons) = (23,706 lbs/min x 10°F) / 12,000 = 197.55 tons.

This number indicates the cooling capacity at the assumed temperature drop. However, keep in mind that a proper