3E (Energy–Exergy–Environmental) Performance Analysis and Optimization of Seawater Shower Cooling Tower for Central Air Conditioning Systems
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The thermodynamic, exergy and carbon reduction potential of seawater shower cooling towers for central air conditioning systems was investigated under various geometric, physical and environmental conditions. A mathematical model of the shower cooling tower was proposed, and the governing equations considering droplet diameter changes were numerically solved during evaporation. The results showed that compared with the downward-spraying tower, the upward-spraying tower achieved 15.59% higher cooling efficiency, 4.89% higher exergy efficiency and 34.58% higher heat dissipation. Increasing droplet diameter significantly weakened the tower’s cooling capacity, with heat dissipation decreasing by 78.11% as the diameter increased from 1 mm to 2.25 mm. The cooling efficiency, thermal efficiency and exergy efficiency demonstrated consistent declining trends with increasing droplet diameter. Under high-salinity conditions (105 g/kg), compared with standard salinity (35 g/kg), the average reduction of cooling efficiency was 2.96%, and exergy efficiency decreased by 2.73%. The increase in air velocity from 2.5 m/s to 4.0 m/s led to a 13.76% improvement in cooling efficiency and a 22.44% increase in heat dissipation, and exergy efficiency decreased by less than 2%. Through multi-objective optimization analysis, the cooling efficiency increased by 14.69% and exergy destruction decreased by 37.87%, demonstrating significant potential for energy conservation and carbon emission reduction in central air conditioning applications.
Source: Processes
DOI: 10.3390/pr13051336
Authors: Lincong Luo, Pengjiang Guo, Gang Wang
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,896
OpenAlex ID: W4409896726