Pultruded cooling tower Manufacturer in Saudi Arabia

Dry Cooling Towers vs. Wet Cooling Towers: Key Differences

Cooling towers are essential for rejecting waste heat in industrial and HVAC systems. The two main types—dry (air-cooled) and wet (evaporative) cooling towers—differ in operation, efficiency, and applications. Below is a detailed comparison.

1. Basic Working Principle

Parameter	Dry Cooling Tower	Wet Cooling Tower
Heat Rejection Method	Uses air cooling only (no water evaporation).	Uses evaporative cooling (water + air).
Water Consumption	Zero water loss (closed-loop system).	High water loss (evaporation, drift, blowdown).

Cooling Medium	Ambient air (fans blow air over finned tubes).	Water spray + air (evaporation cools water).
Efficiency Driver	Depends on dry bulb temperature (DBT).	Depends on wet bulb temperature (WBT).

2. Efficiency & Performance

Parameter	Dry Cooling Tower	Wet Cooling Tower
Cooling Efficiency	Lower (limited by DBT).	Higher (WBT is lower than DBT).
Approach Temperature*	15–20°C above DBT (less efficient).	3–7°C above WBT (more efficient).
Energy Consumption	Higher (larger fans needed).	Lower (evaporation aids cooling).
Climate Suitability	Best in cold/dry climates.	Best in hot/humid climates.

*Approach Temp = Difference between cooled water and ambient (DBT/WBT).