Perhaps you’ve seen large structures inside a chemical plant or a nuclear power station and wondered what the purpose of this device is. It is a called a cooling tower, and it is essential for many factories to operate efficiently. So, what exactly is a cooling tower and what is its function?
Cooling Towers
Simply put, a cooling tower is a device that rejects heat. It takes in heat and puts that air into the atmosphere at a much cooler temperature, thanks to the cooling process of a water stream. You will generally find these large applications in chemical plants, nuclear power plants, HVAC systems and oil refineries. Cooling tower sizes will vary depending on location. The largest towers currently used measure more than 600 feet tall. These cooling towers, known as hyperboloid towers, are used mainly in nuclear power plants.
Cooling towers were initially developed in the 1800s, used for steam engines. By the time the next century began, many newer evaporative methods for recycling water were underway. These devices were especially popular in urban areas that lacked municipal water mains. The very first hyperboloid cooling tower was built in the Netherlands in 1918.
Types Of Cooling Towers
While the process in which a cooling towers works is quite simple, the actual construction of these towers can be quite complicated. There are several different cooling tower versions utilized today. The crossflow cooling tower is one of the most popular models. In this model, the water flows vertically while the airflow goes horizontally. This means air will not flow through the distribution system.
Counterflow cooling towers, of course, operate in the opposite way of crossflow versions. With air flowing upwards, pipes and nozzles inside the tower must be far apart, ensuring the flow is not interrupted. Induced draft and forced draft towers are two other popular models for factory or plant use. Induced versions utilize fans to push air into the tower. Forced versions are just that; they force the air through for the recycling process.
Here is a short list of cooling tower versions:
- Crossflow cooling towers
- Counterflow cooling towers
- Factory assembled cooling towers
- Forced draft cooling towers
- Induced draft cooling towers
Universal Tower Parts In Phoenix, AZ
Universal Tower Parts provides stainless steel and galvanized options, welded and gasketed, direct, gear reducer and belt drive units, with efficient Jedair fans, and Jedair low noise fans. Strainers, fan guards and louvers are well constructed, and designed to operate efficiently as they perform their function. Cool Core drift eliminators and fill are made by Universal Tower Parts expressly for our towers.
