Tipo Heat Exchangers Manufacturers, Cooling Towers Manufacturers, and Industrial Chillers Manufacturers-Heat Exchangers Manufacturers, Cooling Towers Manufacturers, and Industrial Chillers Manufacturers

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NCT 47

PVC Fills in Saudi Arabia

Film vs. Splash

ParameterFilm FillSplash Fill
EfficiencyVery High. More surface area per unit volume allows for a more compact tower design.Moderate to Good. Requires a larger tower volume for the same cooling duty.
Pressure DropHigher (due to more restrictive, closely spaced channels).Lower (more open structure).
Fouling TendencyHigh. The small, vertical channels are easily clogged by scale, silt, algae, or debris.Low. The open structure allows solids to pass through easily.
MaintenanceRequires clean water and more vigilant water treatment/cleaning.More forgiving; easier to clean manually.
CostHigher efficiency, but higher material and water treatment cost.Lower material cost, but larger tower footprint may increase overall cost.
Typical UsePower plants, HVAC, modern industrial towers with good water treatment.Heavy industrial, wastewater, river water cooling, harsh environments.

Critical Design & Selection Factors for Fills

  1. Material of Construction (MOC):
    1. PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride): The industry standard for film fills and splash bars. Good balance of cost, wetability, and fire resistance.
    1. CPVC: Used for higher temperature applications (~65-75°C vs. ~50°C for PVC).
    1. Polypropylene (PP): Good chemical resistance, used in specific industrial applications.
  • Wood (Redwood/Fir): Traditional, still used in some lumber or harsh chemical environments. Biodegradable and can harbor microbial growth.
    • Ceramic/Concrete: Used in very high-temperature specialized applications (e.g., certain metallurgical processes).
  • Fill Configuration & “Flute” Size:
    • Film fills come in various corrugation patterns (flutes). The angle and size of the flutes affect film distribution, surface area, and air/water contact time.
    • Smaller, more tightly packed flutes = higher efficiency but higher fouling risk.
    • Larger, more open flutes = lower efficiency but better fouling resistance (sometimes called “foul-resistant” or “self-cleaning” fill).
  • Fill “Block” or “Sheet”:
    • Fills are supplied in pre-assembled modular blocks (for easy installation/replacement) or in loose sheets that are stacked on-site (common in large FEP towers).
  • Fire Safety:
    • Fire-retardant (FR) PVC is almost universally required for indoor installations or near other equipment. It is designed to self-extinguish.