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.