Selection Criteria for type of Packing for cooling tower.
The choice depends on the specific application:
- Water Quality: Dirty, high-solids, or high-scaling potential water favors splash or trickle fill. Chemically treated, clean water allows for high-efficiency film fill.
- Thermal Performance Requirements: Where space is limited or cooling duty is high, film fill is preferred.
- Maintenance & Accessibility: Film fill may require more frequent cleaning or water treatment.
- Structural & Weight Constraints: Film fills are lighter, while some grid packs offer superior structural support for very large towers.
- Plume Abatement: Some specialized packings are designed to aid in reducing visible plumes.
In summary, for counterflow cooling towers, vertical film fill is the standard for efficiency where water quality permits, while splash or trickle/grid packings are chosen for rugged industrial applications with challenging water conditions.