2.

Types of cooling towers

Show this slide as an overview of the material to be covered in this topic.

Slide 1:
Learning Outcomes
Types of Cooling
Towers

2.1 Introduction
This topic looks at the different types of cooling towers available on the market. It
also looks at the principles of operation of each type of cooling tower.

2.2 Principles of operation

Activity 2.2 PowerPoint presentation / discussion 2 min
Refer participants to section 2-10 to 2-20 in the DA17 AIRAH/IRHACE Cooling Towers
Manual.

Show the following slide and review:

Slide 2:
Two types of cooling
towers

Selecting a Cooling Tower – Facilitator Guide Version 1.0 1

 2.3 Direct contact towers
Activity 2.3 PowerPoint presentation / discussion 10 min
Refer participants to section 2-20 in the DA17 AIRAH/IRHACE Cooling Towers
Manual.

Review the following then show the subsequent slide:

Evaporative cooling of recirculated water is achieved by it being spread

over a large surface area by spraying, splashing or film formation, or any
combination of these, within a tower. A once through air flow directly
contacts the surface of the water with in the tower.

Slide 3:
Direct contact
evaporative cooling
tower

Explain:

There are basically 2 types of direct contact cooling towers:

§ natural draft tower

§ mechanical draft tower.

Mechanical draft towers dominate the market as they are available in

any size and as their thermal performance is independent of wind
velocity, it is possible to design for exacting conditions.

2 Selecting a Cooling Tower – Facilitator Guide Version 1.0

 Natural Draft
Show the following slide and review:

Slide 4:
Natural draft tower

Mechanical Draft
Explain:

This type of cooling tower utilizes a motor -driven fan to move air
through the tower, the fan being an integral part of the tower making the
thermal performance more stable than the natural draft tower.

Mechanical draft cooling towers are classified as either:

§ forced draft, or

§ induced draft.

Forced Draft
Show the following slide, review then discuss the points below:

Slide 5:
Mechanical - Forced
draft tower

Selecting a Cooling Tower – Facilitator Guide Version 1.0 3

 § Fans in forced draft towers are typically centrifugal blower type to
overcome high air resistance.

§ Can be located in plantrooms or enclosures and their discharge can be

ducted away to minimise recirculation.

§ Generally quieter than propeller type fans.

Induced Draft
Show the following slide, review then discuss the points below:

Slide 6:
Mechanical - Induced
draft tower

§ Fans are usually propeller type

§ The location of the fan, motor and drive mechanism in the humid exit air
stream means that these components require weatherproofing to prevent
the entering of moisture and protection against corrosion.
2.4 Types of air flow
Activity 2.4 PowerPoint presentation / discussion 8 min
Refer participants to section 2-30 in the DA17 AIRAH/IRHACE Cooling Towers
Manual.

Discuss:

Cooling towers are also categorised by the relative relationship of air

and water flows. Towers are either:
§ counter flow or

§ cross flow.

4 Selecting a Cooling Tower – Facilitator Guide Version 1.0

 Counter flow
Refer participants to figure 2-30A in the DA17 AIRAH/IRHACE Cooling Towers
Manual.

Slide 7:
Counter flow cooling
tower

Discuss:

In this type of tower the air moves vertically upwards and through the
fill as the water falls downwa rds.
§ Water is usually delivered by means of fixed sprays, or in the case of the
circular or bottle shape tower, by means of rotating spray arms.

§ Eliminators are usually placed above the sprays to prevent loss of water
through drift.
Cross flow
Refer participants to figure 2-30B in the DA17 AIRAH/IRHACE Cooling Towers
Manual.

Explain:

One of the most advantageous characteristics of the cross flow design is

its low internal pressure drop which means that greater air flow is
achieved.

Show the following slide and review:

Selecting a Cooling Tower – Facilitator Guide Version 1.0 5

Slide 8:
Cross flow cooling
tower

Refer participants to the following two examples and discuss:

The following are two examples of cooling towers from B.A.C. showing
characteristics and operative principles.

Characteristics Principles of operation

• Water from the heat source enters a single inlet

• crossflow design
connection located on the louver face of the unit
• induced draught configuration
and is distributed over the wet deck surface
• single side horizontal air entry through gravity flow diffuser nozzles.
• vertical air discharge
• Simultaneously, air is induced through air inlet
• aluminium or steel axial fans
louvers across the wet deck surface and causing a
• gravity water distribution low fan power
small portion of the water to evaporate.
• spacious interior for ease of maintenance
• This evaporation removes heat from the remaining
• low sound levels
water. The cooled water flows into the tower sump
• suitable for outdoor locations
where it is returned to the heat source.

6 Selecting a Cooling Tower – Facilitator Guide Version 1.0

Characteristics Principles of operation

• counterflow design
• low height
• forced draught configuration
• horizontal air entry at one end
• vertical air discharge
• galvanized steel centrifugal fans with Corrosion
Protection System
• low pressure water distribution system
• BACount film fill with 15 mm spacing
• V-belt drive
• close capacity control options available
• suitable for indoor and outdoor locations
• low noise levels
• Water from the heat source is distributed
over a wet deck surface by spray nozzles.
Air is simultaneously blown upward over
the wet deck surface, causing a small
portion of the water to evaporate. This
evaporation removes heat from the
remaining water. The cooled water is
collected in the cooling tower sump and
returned to the heat source.

2.5 Indirect evaporative cooling towers

Activity 2.5 PowerPoint presentation / discussion 3 min
Refer participants to section 2-40 in the DA17 AIRAH/IRHACE Cooling Towers
Manual.

Show the following slide, review and elaborate using the notes below :

Slide 9:
Two methods of
indirect evaporative
cooling

Selecting a Cooling Tower – Facilitator Guide Version 1.0 7

 There are two methods of indirect evaporative cooling.
§ One cools air prior to it being passed through a dry air heat exchanger.

§ The second comprises a fluid circulated within coils or heat exchanger

tubes, mounted within a cooling tower or fluid cooler.

? Cooling is achieved by the evaporation of cooling water which

is recirculated and distributed over the external surface of the
tubes.
? A once through air flow is passed through the tower to contact
the water surfaces on the coil and above the tubes where the water is
distributed, as well as below the coil before it falls into the water
basin.

Indirect evaporative coolers require a small quantity of water so the cost

of c ontrolling water quality and preventi ng bacteriological
contamination is lower than direct cooling tower systems.

However, capital cost is higher and the tubes must be kept clean to avoid
corrosion caused by solid deposits.

8 Selecting a Cooling Tower – Facilitator Guide Version 1.0

 Activity 2.6 Review Box
Participants may complete this Review box in their own time or at the discretion of
the facilitator. Answers are provided only within the facilitator guide.

Question Answer

How is evaporative cooling of • Being spread over a large surface area by

spraying, splashing or film formation, or
recirculated water achieved?
any combination of these, within a tower...

What are the 2 basic types of • Natural draft

• Mechanical draft – of these are forced an
direct contact cooling towers?
induced draft.

Name the 2 categories of air and • Counter flow

• Cross flow
water flows in cooling towers.

What is the most advantageous • Its low internal pressure drop which
means that greater air flow is achieved.
characteristic of cross flow
design cooling towers?

Describe the two methods of
indirect evaporative cooling.
• One cools air prior to it being passed
through a dry air heat exchanger
• The second comprises a fluid circulated
within coils or heat exchanger tubes,
mounted within a cooling tower or fluid
cooler.
• They require smaller quantities of water so
conserves water.

Summary
Review the learning objectives, summarise the key points of the topic and be
prepared to answer any questions from participants for clarification on the content.

Further reading
Section 2 of the DA17 AIRAH/IRHACE Cooling Towers manual.

Selecting a Cooling Tower – Facilitator Guide Version 1.0 9