FILLS (Cooling Tower Fill / Packing)
Definition & Core Purpose
Fills (also called packing or wetted deck) are the heart of the cooling tower’s heat transfer system. They are internal structures designed to maximize the surface area and contact time between the falling hot water and the rising air stream, thereby enabling efficient evaporative cooling.
Primary Function: To break up the water flow into thin films or small droplets, creating a vast surface area for simultaneous heat and mass transfer (evaporation).
Why Fills Are Critical
Without fill, water would fall in solid streams with minimal air contact. Fill increases contact by 300-1000x compared to an empty tower, making the tower compact and efficient.