Abstract
In this study the performance of an indirect evaporative cooling system (IECS) of cross-flow configuration is numerically investigated. Considering the variation of water film temperature along the flowing path and the wettability of the wet channel, a two-dimensional theoretical model is developed to comprehensively describe the heat and mass transfer process involved in the system. After comparing the simulation results with available experimental data from literature, the deviation within +/- 5 % proves the accuracy and reliability of the proposed mathematical model. The simulation results of the plate type IECS indicate that the important parameters, such as dimension of plates, air properties, and surface wettability play a great effect on the cooling performance. The investigation of flow pattern shows that cross-flow configuration of primary air with counter-flow of secondary air and water film has a better cooling performance than that of the parallel-flow pattern. Furthermore, the performance of a novel flat tube working as the separating medium is numerically investigated. Simulation results for this novel geometry indicate that the tube number, tube long axis and short axis length as well as tube length remarkably affect its cooling performance.