On the Merkel Equation: Novel ε-Number of Transfer Unit Correlations for Indirect Evaporative Cooler Under Different Lewis Numbers

An innovative relationship between the effectiveness $(ε)$ and number of transfer unit (NTU) was presented in this work for indirect evaporative cooler (IEC). This relationship is featured by its simplicity in use and has noniterative procedure to be implemented as the traditional one in the literature. The new model can be implemented in sizing and rating design of the IEC at different Lewis numbers with a reasonable accuracy. General integral equation, which is similar to that of Merkel equation, is developed in this model. The new relationship was verified through comparison with experimental and numerical work reported in the available literature for closed or indirect cooling tower (ICT), as an example of IEC. Additionally, the predicted results of the present model were compared to those obtained from the traditional numerical models at different Lewis numbers. The simulated results from the new model show a satisfactory agreement with those obtained from the experimental work of less than 10%. The new correlations can be implemented easily in predicting the thermal design and performance of IEC in any simulation program or in real site.