Evaluating the Impact of the Uncertainty of Evaporative Cooler Effectiveness on the Net Power for a PTC 46 Test

This paper discusses how relative humidity impacts the effectiveness of an evaporative cooler, the uncertainty of the calculated effectiveness and the corresponding impact of the limits of this uncertainty on the power output. This is particularly related to a combined cycle facility where performance guarantees are based upon the evaporative cooler being in service. Different options for testing with and without the evaporative cooler in service are discussed as well as the need for an uncertainty when using a K factor.