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.