Abstract:
In this work, application of the Golden Section
Search Method (GSSM) is illustrated to inversely retrieve the
controlling parameter meeting a desired performance
requirement in an induced draft cooling tower. Merkel
number is an important performance parameter because it
involves various parameters such as global heat and mass
transfer coefficient, water flow rate, dimensions (interfacial
area per unit volume) and range within itself. At first,
experiments have been performed to get accurate correlations
for Merkel number against the controlling parameter that is
required to be estimated, which is the air mass flow rate. Then,
an inverse optimization technique involving GSSM has been
used to estimate the required air flow rate in order to satisfy a
given performance parameter. It is found from the present
study that the controlling parameter estimated using GSSM
yields a very good reconstruction of the Merkel number.
