Open Circuit Cooling Tower
Open circuit cooling tower is a cooling device that achieves process circulating water cooling by spraying hot process circulating water on the packing and undertaking heat transfer by contacting with the air flowing through the packing.
Compared with closed circuit cooling towers, open circuit cooling towers require less initial investment but higher water consumption. Closed circuit cooling tower is an upgrade of open circuit cooling towers suitable for cooling industries with higher requirements for the cleanness of process fluid.
According to the water flow direction and air inlet direction, open circuit cooling towers are divided into counter flow open circuit coolers and cross flow open circuit coolers. In the counter flow open circuit cooler, as the direction of spray water is opposite to the direction of air inlet, therefore, it is named as counter flow open circuit cooling tower. In the cross flow open circuit cooler, as the direction of spray water is perpendicular to the direction of air inlet, therefore, it is called as cross flow open circuit cooling tower.
- Compact structure, space saving design
- Simple system, easy installation
- Low noise
- Lightweight
- Low electricity consumption
- Low investment cost
Process circulating water from the heat source is evenly sprayed on the packing. The packing shall be designed to enlarge the contact area between the air and water flow as much as possible. The packing allows the water to form thin flow films, so that the water surface area can be exposed to the interacting flow as much as possible. At the same time, the air isdrawn in through the side air inlet, moving upward and undertaking heat transfer with spray water via the packing. Spray water becomes cool, falls into the water tank and then returns to the process circulating water for recycling. The cold air turns into hot and humid air, flows through the drift eliminator and collects the excess moisture to the water tank. It is then induced to the top of the cooling tower by the fan and is discharged into the atmosphere.
Open circuit cooling towers are widely used in cooling furnaces, induction heaters, metal parts production lines, hydraulic stations, generators and other public utilities that require a large amount of cooling water with low requirements for water quality.