modelCoolingTowerVariableSpeed

Base class for cooling towers with variable speed fan

Extends from Buildings.Fluid.HeatExchangers.CoolingTowers.BaseClasses.CoolingTower (Base class for cooling towers).

Information

Base model for a steady-state or dynamic cooling tower with a variable speed fan. This base model is used for both the Merkel and York calculation.

Parameters

TypeNameDefaultDescription
BooleanhomotopyInitialization (from TwoPortHeatMassExchanger)true= true, use homotopy method
Assumptions
BooleanallowFlowReversal (from PartialTwoPort)true= false to simplify equations, assuming, but not enforcing, no flow reversal
Nominal condition
Modelica.Units.SI.MassFlowRatem_flow_nominal (from PartialTwoPortInterface)Nominal mass flow rate
Modelica.Units.SI.PressureDifferencedp_nominal (from TwoPortFlowResistanceParameters)Pressure difference
Advanced
Modelica.Units.SI.MassFlowRatem_flow_small (from PartialTwoPortInterface)1E-4*abs(m_flow_nominal)Small mass flow rate for regularization of zero flow
Advanced › Diagnostics
Booleanshow_T (from PartialTwoPortInterface)false= true, if actual temperature at port is computed
Flow resistance
BooleancomputeFlowResistance (from TwoPortFlowResistanceParameters)true=true, compute flow resistance. Set to false to assume no friction
Booleanfrom_dp (from TwoPortFlowResistanceParameters)false= true, use m_flow = f(dp) else dp = f(m_flow)
Realn (from TwoPortFlowResistanceParameters)2Flow exponent, n=1 for laminar, n=2 for turbulent
BooleanlinearizeFlowResistance (from TwoPortFlowResistanceParameters)false= true, use linear relation between m_flow and dp for any flow rate
RealdeltaM (from TwoPortFlowResistanceParameters)0.1Fraction of nominal flow rate where flow transitions to laminar
Dynamics › Nominal condition
Modelica.Units.SI.Timetau (from TwoPortHeatMassExchanger)30Time constant at nominal flow (if energyDynamics <> SteadyState)
Dynamics › Conservation equations
Modelica.Fluid.Types.DynamicsenergyDynamics (from TwoPortHeatMassExchanger)Modelica.Fluid.Types.Dynamics.DynamicFreeInitialType of energy balance: dynamic (3 initialization options) or steady state
Initialization
Medium.AbsolutePressurep_start (from TwoPortHeatMassExchanger)Medium.p_defaultStart value of pressure
Medium.TemperatureT_start (from TwoPortHeatMassExchanger)Medium.T_defaultStart value of temperature
Medium.MassFraction[Medium.nX]X_start (from TwoPortHeatMassExchanger)Medium.X_defaultStart value of mass fractions m_i/m
Medium.ExtraProperty[Medium.nC]C_start (from TwoPortHeatMassExchanger)fill(0, Medium.nC)Start value of trace substances
Fan
Modelica.Units.SI.PowerPFan_nominalFan power at full speed
RealyMin0.3Minimum control signal until fan is switched off (used for smoothing between forced and free convection regime)
cha.fanfanRelPowFan relative power consumption as a function of control signal, fanRelPow=P(y)/P(y=1)

Connectors

TypeNameDefaultDescription
Modelica.Fluid.Interfaces.FluidPort_aport_a (from PartialTwoPort)Fluid connector a (positive design flow direction is from port_a to port_b)
Modelica.Fluid.Interfaces.FluidPort_bport_b (from PartialTwoPort)Fluid connector b (positive design flow direction is from port_a to port_b)
Modelica.Blocks.Interfaces.RealOutputTLvg (from CoolingTower)Leaving water temperature
Modelica.Blocks.Interfaces.RealInputyFan control signal
Modelica.Blocks.Interfaces.RealOutputPFanElectric power consumed by fan

Components

TypeNameDefaultDescription
Modelica.Units.SI.MassFlowRatem_flow (from PartialTwoPortInterface)port_a.m_flowMass flow rate from port_a to port_b (m_flow > 0 is design flow direction)
Modelica.Units.SI.PressureDifferencedp (from PartialTwoPortInterface)port_a.p - port_b.pPressure difference between port_a and port_b
Medium.ThermodynamicStatesta_a (from PartialTwoPortInterface)if allowFlowReversal then Medium.setState_phX(port_a.p, noEvent(actualStream(port_a.h_outflow)), noEvent(actualStream(port_a.Xi_outflow))) else Medium.setState_phX(port_a.p, noEvent(inStream(port_a.h_outflow)), noEvent(inStream(port_a.Xi_outflow)))Medium properties in port_a
Medium.ThermodynamicStatesta_b (from PartialTwoPortInterface)if allowFlowReversal then Medium.setState_phX(port_b.p, noEvent(actualStream(port_b.h_outflow)), noEvent(actualStream(port_b.Xi_outflow))) else Medium.setState_phX(port_b.p, noEvent(port_b.h_outflow), noEvent(port_b.Xi_outflow))Medium properties in port_b
Buildings.Fluid.MixingVolumes.MixingVolumevol (from TwoPortHeatMassExchanger)
Buildings.Fluid.FixedResistances.PressureDroppreDro (from TwoPortHeatMassExchanger)Flow resistance
Modelica.Units.SI.HeatFlowRateQ_flow (from CoolingTower)preHea.Q_flowHeat input into water circuit

Revisions

  • April 18, 2026, by Michael Wetter:
    Moved TAirInWB_nominal to parent classes to allow this model to also be used for a dry cooler.
  • August 26, 2021, by Baptiste Ravache:
    First implementation.