Dry Cooling Tower vs. Wet Cooling Tower
This comparison highlights the key differences:
| Feature | Dry Cooling Tower | Wet Cooling Tower |
| Principle | Sensible Heat Transfer (like a radiator) | Evaporative Cooling (latent heat) |
| Water Usage | Minimal to zero (only for minor makeup) | Very High (constant evaporation and blow down) |
| Cooling Efficiency | Lower; limited by the dry-bulb temperature of the air | Higher; enhanced by the wet-bulb temperature of the air |
| Energy Consumption | Higher (requires massive fans and more surface area) | Lower (fans are smaller, pumps handle water) |
| Visible Plume | None | Yes (a white cloud of water vapor) |
| Capital Cost | Higher (due to more expensive materials – finned tubes) | Lower |
| Operating Cost | Lower water cost, higher energy cost | High water cost, lower energy cost |
| Environmental Impact | Conserves water, no drift (chemical discharge) | High water consumption, potential for drift |