Closed-loop co-simulation of indirect air-cooling system for improved prediction of thermal performance

The indirect air-cooling system comprises core components including condensers and air-cooling towers, where coupled interactions critically influence thermal performance. As these core components collectively constitute a closed-loop system, this study developed an integrated co-simulation framework coupling the condenser and air-cooling tower to achieve accurate thermal performance forecasting. MATLAB hosts a one-dimensional condenser thermal model while FLUENT simulates three-dimensional flow dynamics model of the indirect air-cooling tower. Closed-loop data exchange between the two platforms is achieved through datagram socket communication using the UDP protocol, facilitating system-level co-simulation. This approach facilitates real-time circulating water temperature updates and unit back pressure computation. Verification confirms superior prediction accuracy under rated operating conditions. Furthermore, across variable operating conditions including wind speeds from 4 to 14 m·s⁻¹ and ambient temperatures ranging from 29 to 39 °C, the co-simulation achieved 2.13 and 2.10 % lower back pressure errors than independent simulation while maintaining more stable error profiles, demonstrating consistent thermal performance prediction in dynamic environments.