Title: Exergy-based parametric analysis of induced draft cooling towers in ammonia and urea production units

Authors: Dino Dewantara; Ambo Intang; Muhammad Djoni Bustan; Sri Haryati; Ismail Ismail; Fatur Assyidiq

Addresses: Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitas Sriwijaya, Ogan Ilir, Indonesia ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitas Tamansiswa, Palembang, Indonesia ' Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitas Sriwijaya, Ogan Ilir, Indonesia ' Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitas Sriwijaya, Ogan Ilir, Indonesia ' Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitas Sriwijaya, Ogan Ilir, Indonesia ' Department of Chemistry, Universitas Sriwijaya, Ogan Ilir, Indonesia

Abstract: This study presents a parametric exergy analysis of an induced draft counterflow cooling tower employed in ammonia and urea production units. The analysis was based on operational data collected over a ten-day period, incorporating variables such as water circulation rate, inlet air temperature, and humidity ratio. A comprehensive evaluation of key thermodynamic parameters was conducted, encompassing physical and chemical exergy, exergy efficiency, exergy destruction, and entropy generation. The findings indicated that the ammonia cooling tower demonstrated an average exergy efficiency of 18.64%, accompanied by a exergy destruction of 28,990.40 MW and entropy generation of 97,234.28 kJ/kg·K. In contrast, the urea cooling tower exhibited superior performance, with an exergy efficiency of 21.22%, a exergy destruction of 17,401.3 MW, and entropy generation of 58,364.2 kJ/kg·K. The study underscores the impact of ambient air conditions, specifically temperature and humidity, on exergy-based performance, offering insights into enhancing the thermodynamic behaviour of industrial cooling systems.

Keywords: exergy analysis; cooling tower performance; ammonia and urea production; entropy generation; exergy destruction.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2025.150727

International Journal of Exergy, 2025 Vol.48 No.4, pp.308 - 322

Received: 06 May 2025
Accepted: 30 Jul 2025
Published online: 22 Dec 2025 *

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