An adiabatic cooling tower is a closed-circuit cooling system that utilizes ambient air to cool process water, often incorporating pre-cooling pads for enhanced efficiency. It works by drawing air through wetted pads, which evaporates the water and cools the air, effectively reducing the temperature of the incoming air before it’s used to cool the process water. This system can save water compared to traditional evaporative cooling towers, particularly in hot, dry environments.
Here’s a more detailed explanation:
How it works:
- Water-moistened pads: Adiabatic cooling towers use pads that are kept moist with water.
- Air flow: Air is drawn through these pads by a fan.
- Evaporation: As the air flows through the wetted pads, water evaporates, absorbing heat from the air.
- Cooling: The air’s temperature is reduced due to this evaporation, and the cooled air is then used to cool the process water or other fluids in a closed-loop system.
Dry mode: When ambient temperatures are low enough, the adiabatic cooler can operate as a dry cooler without using water