How to Choose the Right Type Cooling Tower
- Space and Height Constraints: Low-profile horizontal units for rooftops, cylindrical for standard pads.
- Efficiency Goals: Counter-flow (V-Flow) designs typically offer the best thermal performance.
- Redundancy Requirements: Horizontal forced draft towers can easily be designed with multiple independent fan systems.
- Maintenance Access: V-Flow and horizontal designs often provide easier access to the coil for cleaning.
- Environmental Factors: Induced draft towers are better at preventing plume recirculation. Forced draft fans handle higher static pressure if ducted.
- Acoustic (Noise) Requirements: Forced draft towers can be quieter and easier to acoustically treat.
In practice, the cylindrical induced draft tower is the workhorse of the industry, but the low-profile horizontal and efficient V-Flow designs are increasingly popular for specific project needs.