Autonomous University of Chihuahua

Faculty of Chemical Sciences

Merkel Method.

Unit Operations III

Dr. Armando Quintero Ramos
Group 8L

Oscar Ortega Regalado

336001

13/09/2023
Fundamentals of the Merkel Method.

The theory of the heat transfer process in a cooling tower that has
a more widespread acceptance is what Merkel developed. This analysis
It is based on the difference in enthalpy potential as the driving force.

It is supposed that each particle of water is surrounded by a film of air and that the
The difference in enthalpy between it and the surrounding air provides the force.
driver for the cooling process. The Merkel equation is expressed in
integrated form in the following manner:

T1
= ∫ (ℎ´−ℎ)
T2

where:
- T =Temperatura del agua, (°F).
- h' = Enthalpy of saturated air at the temperature of the water, (BTU/lbm).
ha = Enthalpy of air, (BTU/lbm).
- K = Mass transfer coefficient, (lbm/h*ft^2).
a = Contact area of the interface per unit volume of the tower,
(ft²/ft³)
- V =Volumen de enfriamiento activo de una área plana, (ft^3/ft^2).
L = Water speed, (lbm/h*ft^2).
- T1 =Temperatura del agua en la entrada, (°F).
- T2 =Temperatura del agua en la salida, (°F).

The right side of the equation is fully expressed in terms of the

properties of air and water and is independent of the dimensions of the tower. In the
The following figure illustrates the relationships of water and air and the driving potential that
It exists in a counterflow tower, where the air flows in a parallel direction, but
following a direction opposite to the flow of the water. The understanding of this diagram
It constitutes an important basis for understanding the cooling tower process.

Figure 1. Heat balance of a

cooling tower process.
The water operating line is represented by line AB and is specified by
average of the water temperatures of the tower at the entrance and the exit. The line of
operation of the main air in C, vertically below B, and at a point that
it has an enthalpy corresponding to the inlet temperature of the wet bulb. The
line BC represents the initial driving force (h´-h). To cool the water by 1°F.
Enthalpy per pound of air increases by 1 BTU multiplied by the ratio of pounds of water.
per pound of air. The liquid/gas ratio, L/G, is the slope of the operating line.
The air that comes out of the tower is represented by point D and the range of
Cooling is the projected length of line CD on the temperature scale.
The useful temperature difference in the cooling tower is illustrated in the diagram.
such as the difference between the temperature of the cold water coming from the tower and the
wet bulb temperature of the environment.

The coordinates refer directly to the temperature and enthalpy of any

point on the water operation line; but, on the air operation line, the
the reference is only made to the enthalpy of a point. The wet bulb temperature
corresponding to any point of CD is projecting that point onto
horizontal direction to the saturation curve and then in vertical direction to the coordinate
of temperatures. The Merkel equation is represented by the area ABCD of
this diagram, and that value is known as the tower characteristic, which varies with
the reason L/G.

To predict the performance of the tower, it is necessary to know the characteristics of

towers required for specific conditions of both the environment and the water.

The feature of the KaV/L tower is determined through an integration. The method of
Chebyshev for numerically evaluating the integral is the one that is used the most.
frequency and, according to this:

T1
T1 - T2 1 1 1 1
= ∫ (ℎ −ℎ )
= 4
( ∆ℎ1
+ ∆ℎ2
+ ∆ℎ3
+ ∆ℎ4
)
T2

where
hw = Enthalpy of the air-water vapor mixture at the mass temperature of
water, (BTU/lb of dry air).
ha = Enthalpy of the air-water vapor mixture at bulb temperature
humid, (BTU/lb of dry air).
-h1 = Value of (hw - ha) at T2 + 0.1(T1 - T2).
-Δh2 = Value of (hw - ha) at T2 + 0.4(T1 - T2).
-Δh3 = Value of (hw - ha) at T1 + 0.4(T1 - T2).
-Δh4 = Value of (hw - ha) at T1 + 0.1(T1 - T2).
Mathematical development of the Merkel model.

The total heat transfer rate in a cooling tower can be expressed

as:

= +

where:
- dQ = Differential of the heat transfer.

For the transfer of sensible heat:

= ( − )

H = Heat transfer coefficient.

- tw =Temperatura del agua.
- tdb =Temperatura de bulbo seco.
dAi = Differential of the area of the interface.

For the transfer of evaporative heat, the mass transfer differential is

related to the conduction potential and the mass transfer coefficient
by:

where:
dE = Differential evaporation of mass transfer.
K = Mass transfer coefficient.
B = Potential for mass transfer conduction.

y:

= −

where:
xs = Fraction of mass of water in the saturated air at the temperature of the
surface of the water.
x = Fraction of the mass of water in the air in the mass flow stream of
water.

y:

= (1+T)
 = (1+T)

where:

- T =Humedad absoluta.

Substituting into the previous equation:

( − )
= (1+T)

The heat transfer differential is related to the differential of the

mass transfer through the enthalpy of saturated water vapor, hg, is given
by

=ℎ

where

hg = Enthalpy of saturated water vapor.

Therefore, substituting in the equation:

= ( − ) +ℎ ( − )

Leaving:

where:
a = Interface area per unit volume.
V = Cooling volume.

The equation for dQ is written as follows:

= [( ) ( )
( − )+ℎ ( − )]
( )

where:
- Cp(a) =Calor específico del aire húmedo.

Merkel simplified this equation by suggesting that for a saturated air film in
the air-water interface can express a condition of equilibrium by equalizing the
heat transfer from the air to the film by convection with the transfer of
heat from the movie to the environment through evaporation:
 ( − )= ℎ ( − )

Multiplying both sides of the equation by Cp(a) and combining terms, the result
It is the Lewis factor:

ℎ ( − )
= = ( − )
( ) ( )

If we assume a value of Le = 1, then dQ is as follows:

= [ ( )
( − )+ℎ ( − )]

Observing that the heat transfer from the air is lost to the water,

= ( ( )
)

L = Mass flow of water.

And also noting that the change in the differential of the enthalpy of moist air is:

ℎ= ( )
+ℎ

Assuming average constant values of Cp(a) and hg, the enthalpy equation becomes
convert into:

ℎ= ( )
+ℎ

Combining these equations:

( ( )
) = (ℎ − ℎ )

hs = Enthalpy of saturated air at the temperature of water.

ha = Enthalpy of the air.

If it is assumed that L and Cp(w) are constants, where Cpm = 1, then:

(ℎ −ℎ )
=

This yields the Merkel equation. This approach requires several assumptions.

The right side of Merkel's equation is a measure of filling depth.

required in a counterflow cooling tower for a given air flow.
Applications of Merkel's equation.

The Merkel equation, or Merkel method, has its main application in towers.
of cooling, specifically in the design of these. This design depends
many parameters such as the liquid-to-water ratio (L/G), the temperature
wet bulb environment and the inlet and outlet water temperatures. Each
one of these parameters gives us a different value of what KaV/L is for enabling
obtain a useful adjustment of the temperature difference.

This value can also vary depending on whether it is a counterflow tower or a

crossflow tower

Exercise 9 solved on computer.

Determine the theoretically necessary value of KaV/L to carry out a
Cooling of 105°F of inlet water, 85°F of outlet water, 78°F of
wet bulb temperature of the environment and a L/G ratio of 0.97.

According to the air-water vapor mixture tables, the enthalpy h1 of the ambient air at
The temperature of 78°F wet bulb is 41.58 BTU/lb.

ℎ2( ) = 41. 58 BTU/lb+ 0. 97(105 - 78)°F = 60.98 BTU/lb

Image 1. Excerpt from Table 12-1. Thermodynamic Properties of Air

humid (standard atmospheric pressure, 29.921 (In Hg)).

Image 2. Excerpt from Table 12-1. Thermodynamic Properties of Air

humid (standard atmospheric pressure, 29.921 (In Hg).
 T,°F threat hair hw - ha 1/ h

= 85 49.43 ℎ1= 41.58

2

+ 0.1(20) 51.93 ℎ1+ 0.1L/G ∆ℎ1= 8.41 0.119

2
= 87 (20) = 43.52

+ 0.4(20) 60.25 ℎ1+ 0.4L/G ∆h2= 10.91 0.092

2
= 93 (20) = 49.34

- 0.4(20) 66.55 ℎ2- 0.4L/G ∆h313.33 0.075

1
= 97 (20) = 53.22

- 0.1(20) 77.34 ℎ2- 0.1L/G ∆h4equals 18.30 0.055

1
103 (20) = 59.04

105 81.34 ℎ2= 60.98 0.341

1

105−85
= 4
(0. 341)= 1. 71

A faster method, although less accurate, consists of using the following

nomogram

Figure 2. Nomogram of the characteristics of a cooling tower.

Typically, mechanical draft cooling towers are designed for reasons of

L/G ranging from 0.75 to 1.5, thus, the values of KaV/L vary from 0.5 to 2.5.
Bibliography.
-Perry, (1994). Chemical Engineer's Handbook. 9th Edition. McGraw-Hill,
Mexico. Section 12.
(s.a.) (2014). Merkel Equation. Academic Library.
https://ebrary.net/195369/engineering/merkel_equation