An air cooling tower is a device used in many industrial processes to dissipate the heat generated in a production process. But still many people do not know how they function fundamentally and how they can be useful in many industries.
A cooling tower uses atmospheric air to naturally cool the hot water in the system, thereby dissipating the heat generated in the production process, with the residual heat being discharged to the atmosphere.
The basic principle of air cooling towers is simple: hot water is supplied to the air cooling tower. The water is then sprayed in the cooling tower and interacts with the outside air. The air in contact with the hot water absorbs any residual heat, which then escapes into the atmosphere. The cooled water is collected in the cooling tower tank and reused in the production process.
Modern cooling towers come in several types, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Their use must be controlled to avoid negative environmental impact.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF COOLING TOWERS
There are several types of cooling towers.
Natural circulation cooling towers are the most common. They can be found mainly in power plants, refineries, and chemical plants. The natural circulation cooling tower uses the difference in density of warm and cold air to dissipate heat. In a cooling tower, the warm air naturally rises upwards and the cold air is sucked into the base of the cooling tower structure along with the draft. The advantage of natural draft cooling towers is that they are inexpensive.
Mechanical draft cooling towers are the second type of cooling tower. They are typically used in air conditioning systems for indoor air conditioning, wastewater treatment plants, and the food processing industry. A mechanical draft cooling tower uses fans that pull hot air in and out of the cooling tower to provide air flow. Mechanical draft cooling towers are more efficient than natural draft cooling towers, but they are also more expensive.
Closed circuit cooling towers also exist. These are used primarily in industries where large quantities of water are required for the production process. Closed circuit cooling towers use a refrigerant to dissipate heat. The refrigerant passes through a heat exchanger where it comes into contact with hot water. On contact with the hot water, it is cooled and the refrigerant is heated. The refrigerant is then pumped to another heat exchanger where it comes into contact with atmospheric air for cooling.
