When discussing the different types of cooling towers, several variables come into play. Sometimes, towers are defined based on their build (package vs. field-erected). Other times, we classify towers by airflow generation (forced vs. natural draft). However, when talking about the different types of towers based on heat transfer mechanisms, there are three main categories – dry cooling, wet cooling, and fluid cooling. Companies rely on cooling towers in many different applications, big and small. What might work best in one application will not be ideal for another. It’s important to understa ..read more

Similar to selecting a new cooling tower for a large commercial application, choosing a residential HVAC option is an important decision for homeowners and shouldn’t be taken lightly. With the multitude of options and manufacturers on the market currently, making a decision might seem overwhelming. The team at Cooling Tower Expert knows this challenge well, and in addition to our cooling tower services, we also guide homeowners looking to upgrade their HVAC systems. The first step in deciding is to clearly understand the available system types to determine which will work best for your home.i ..read more

Cooling towers aren’t all crafted the same or even from the same materials. For example, natural draft towers use convection for air circulation. Mechanical draft towers instead use fans to encourage or increase air circulation. Even within a mechanical draft unit, construction can vary depending on the airflow direction (crossflow vs. counterflow). However, one component all cooling towers share is a fill, or fill media. The fill is essentially what allows cooling and evaporation to happen as it provides a surface on which water and airflow to meet. Understanding clearly what fills are, the t ..read more

Water leaves a cooling tower in several ways. In addition to evaporation, some water leaves while still in liquid form. It does so through a couple of avenues, including drift and cooling tower blowdown. While blowdown makes up the majority of the liquid leaving a unit, it’s important to properly manage both and consult with water treatment experts along the way. Neither drift nor blowdown is inherently bad. However, properly controlling both processes and taking steps to reduce them often means more efficient tower operations and greater safety.   What is Drift in a Cooling Tower? Much o ..read more

For those who’ve ever spotted the cooling towers at a nuclear power plant, large factory, or other large application – you probably noticed a unique shape. The shape is wider at the base and top of the structure and curved in the center to form a quasi-hourglass. It almost appears to be a cylinder that has been cinched in the middle. This shape is referred to as a hyperboloid, and it provides a perfect option for crafting efficient and long-lasting cooling towers. Over the years, tower design has evolved as new science emerged and new technologies were introduced. Architects and engineers have ..read more

Cooling towers are incredible additions to large HVAC systems. During operation, other HVAC components generate heat. High temperatures can lead to system failure, so counteracting that heat build-up is essential. Cooling towers work to keep HVAC systems at a safe and functioning temperature. As with any piece of equipment, cooling towers and their components often depreciate in quality or get damaged over time. Even minor issues within a tower cause both safety and efficiency concerns. While some of these issues are visible by operators during regular tower use, others require specific thorou ..read more

Cooling towers contain many different components – all working together to foster heat exchange during the cooling process. Like any other machine, it’s quite common for different components to fail over time. While this can be somewhat prevented through proper and regular preventative maintenance, it’s nearly inevitable that parts fail at some point. The good news is that usually when this happens, simply replacing the broken part fixes the issue. Especially with how cooling towers are designed, many issues are easily fixed by swapping out a part or two.    However, even small tower ..read more

In large HVAC systems, cooling towers often provide critical support when it comes to keeping components cooled. Like any HVAC unit – towers must be monitored and maintained to function efficiently and achieve a long lifespan. Part of this monitoring means looking out for common problems that exist in most towers. Knowing how to identify these cooling tower issues and implement solutions can add years to the unit’s lifespan – not to mention, keep it functioning at its top potential throughout that lifespan.     Corrosion   When you expose metal to water over time, the risk ..read more

Cooling towers are expensive to purchase. Like any other piece of equipment, they require proper operation and preventative maintenance to function efficiently throughout their lifecycle. The types of maintenance tasks required will vary depending on the type of tower application and configuration, as well as other factors, such as location. Some efforts should happen daily, while others are suggested less frequently, such as once a month or annually.     When operating at their peak level, cooling towers are incredible pieces of equipment for an HVAC system. To fully reap the b ..read more