A Field-Erected Cooling Tower (FEP) is a large-scale, custom-engineered cooling tower that is assembled entirely on-site from individual components delivered to the project location. Due to their size and capacity, they cannot be factory-built as a single unit and are designed for heavy-duty industrial applications requiring long service life and high thermal performance.
Key Characteristics
- On-Site Construction: The primary defining feature. Major components (structure, casing, fill, drift eliminators) are shipped separately and assembled in the field.
- Large Capacity: Designed for heat rejection loads typically exceeding 1,000 tons of refrigeration and can go into the tens of thousands of tons. Water flow rates are measured in thousands of gallons per minute.
- Custom Design: Engineered for the specific project’s requirements (site conditions, water quality, heat load, climatic data, plume abatement, sound restrictions).
- Structural Materials: Primarily use durable materials suited for long life in harsh environments:
- Structure: Hot-dip galvanized steel, stainless steel (Type 304, 316), or concrete.
- Casing: Fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP), galvanized steel, or concrete.
- Fill: High-efficiency PVC film, wood, or plastic splash bars.
- Long Service Life: With proper maintenance, a well-built FEP tower can last 30 years or more.