The engineering task
A process stream must be cooled or condensed against ambient air without cooling water. Maximum design air temperature limits the achievable process outlet temperature.
Air-side transfer is weak and requires large finned area. Fouling, hot-air recirculation, wind, fan failure and seasonal operation affect duty and controllability.
Required design data
- Process stream and target temperature
- Summer and winter air conditions
- Allowable process- and air-side pressure drop
- Fin geometry, fouling and noise limit
Technical solution approach
Set the design point
The hottest relevant air condition and minimum approach establish thermal feasibility.
Close the heat balance
Calculate duty and required air volume for the design case.
Size the finned bundle
Iterate tube rows, pitch and finned area with air- and tube-side transfer.
Calculate the air side
Determine bundle pressure drop, fan operating point and power.
Check off-design
Assess winter operation, fan staging, fan failure and recirculation for overcooling or lost duty.
Expected deliverables
Suitable SOL ALPHA modules
The modules form a technically plausible toolchain. Their final selection and sequence will be confirmed during the later calculation against the applicable code and project conditions.