Which two methods are commonly used to enhance the evaporation rate of water in cooling towers?

The two methods commonly used to enhance the evaporation rate of water in cooling towers are splash and wetted-surface.

The splash method involves designing the cooling tower in such a way that water is broken into smaller droplets or splashed over surfaces, increasing the surface area exposed to air. This maximizes evaporation because more water surface is available for contact with air, which facilitates heat transfer and cooling.

The wetted-surface method utilizes surfaces that are continuously kept wet, such as packing or fill media within the cooling tower. This setup allows water to flow over surfaces where it can absorb heat from the surrounding air, promoting evaporation. Wetted surfaces enhance the cooling process by maintaining a large surface area around which air can circulate, further increasing the efficiency of heat exchange and evaporation.

In contrast, while methods like fill and draught or jet and forced-air may contribute to the cooling process in cooling towers, they do not specifically focus on enhancing the evaporation rate as effectively as splash and wetted-surface methods. Understanding the mechanisms by which splash and wetted surfaces enhance evaporation is crucial for optimizing cooling tower performance in commercial air management systems.