Excessive wind velocity in a natural draft cooling tower may cause?

• A. Damaged Louvres
• B. High Drift Losses
• C. Unstable Sump Water Level
• D. Over-Cooling of the Water

Answer: (B)

Excessive wind speeds over a natural draft cooling tower push more water droplets out with the exhaust air as drift. The tower sprays water into a rising buoyant plume, and when the wind is strong, the exiting air can entrain more droplets and carry them away, increasing drift losses. This is the direct consequence of higher wind interacting with the spray and plume, so makeup water must compensate for the additional water lost. Other possibilities, like damaged louvers, unstable sump water level, or over-cooling of the water, aren’t the primary or direct outcomes of increased wind in this setup.