Cooling towers work to eliminate excess heat from industrial processes. They’re a hugely important part of industry and play a role in temperature control in homes and businesses too. Yet many people are still unaware of exactly what cooling towers are and how they work. Read on for a quick introduction to different types of cooling towers and where to find them.

Types of cooling towers

One of the most prominent types is the natural draft cooling tower. These huge convex cylinders are a popular way of cooling water in large industry. Warm water enters a natural draft tower from the top and trickles down its sides. This helps water cool more quickly and increases the rate of evaporation. Air is drawn in through inlets and the open mouth of the cooling tower, and the process of heat exchange occurs. The water continues to cool and evaporate as it reaches the bottom of the tower, where it is reintroduced to the industrial process. In some cases, there may be too much evaporation and make up water must be added to the cycle to replenish it. There may also be a waste water pipe in a natural draft tower, which sends some water to sewers or storm drains to reduce the concentration of elements in the system.

Alternatively, mechanical cooling towers may be used instead. These work in a similar fashion to natural draft towers but there are some important distinctions. Again, water enters the tower from the top. This time, it’s directed down the sides of the tower in a particular pattern. A fan blasts the water stream with air to catalyse the process of heat exchange. These fans often appear at the top of the cooling tower – which remains open in natural draft towers – but can also be located inside or at the base. As water flows to the bottom of a mechanical tower, it cools and is re-circulated.

Where to find cooling towers

Cooling towers can be found in a range of industrial and domestic locations. Natural draft towers are most commonly found in power plants and large factories, and are a prominent feature of industrial landscapes. Mechanical cooling towers are usually smaller and are often found on top of offices and commercial buildings as part of a temperature control system, like an air conditioner. Even domestic air conditioners contain small cooling towers.

Sometimes, when an office or factory increases its capacity, it may need to depend on cooling tower rental to cool greater amounts of warm water. In this way, cooling towers are integral to industrial processes and understanding how they work is vital.