Industrial water cooling can be achieved in one of four ways dependent on your required process water temperature:- EVAPORATIVE COOLING TOWERS To cool water to within 3°C of wet bulb ambient. ADVANTAGES Low capital cost Lower power consumption DISADVANTAGES Has to be registered with local authorities Requires water treatment which can be expensive Has to be cleaned twice per year System water loss Corrosion Contamination of water circuit. DRY AIR COOLERS At best will only cool water to within 3°C of ambient. However, the greater the temperature difference, the cheaper the plant. ADVANTAGES Moderate capital cost Low power consumption Little or no water treatment Low maintenance No water loss Possible heat reclaim DISADVANTAGES Will only cool to within 3°C of ambient which in the summer for a few days for short periods will be 30°C or higher. WATER TO WATER COOLING To cool water to within 3°C of existing source. ADVANTAGES Minimal capital cost Very low power consumption Little or no water treatment Minimal maintenance No water loss DISADVANTAGES You must already have a source of cool water i.e., ring main of chilled water with surplus capacity. REFRIGERATED WATER CHILLERS To cool water/glycol to any temperature below ambient. ADVANTAGES Stable water temperature independent of ambient Little or no water treatment No water loss Possible heat reclaim DISADVANTAGES High capital cost High running cost WHAT SIZE COOLER DO I NEED?
