Comparison of Adiabatic Cooling Tower Vs Evaporative (Wet) Cooling Tower Vs Dry Cooler / Air Cooler
| Feature | Adiabatic Cooling Tower | Evaporative (Wet) Cooling Tower | Dry Cooler / Air Cooler |
| Principle | Hybrid: Adiabatic pre-cooling + sensible heat transfer | Full evaporative cooling | Sensible heat transfer only |
| Process Circuit | Closed-loop (fluid is protected) | Open-loop (fluid is exposed to air) | Closed-loop (fluid is protected) |
| Cooling Limit | Approaches Wet-Bulb Temperature | Wet-Bulb Temperature | Dry-Bulb Temperature |
| Water Usage | Low (only for pre-cooling) | High | None |
| Energy Efficiency | Very High | Highest | Lowest (in hot weather) |
| Risk of Fouling | Low (closed process loop) | High (open loop, scaling, algae) |