Everyone has likely seen a cooling tower system at least once in their life — these tall, cylindrical structures are hard to miss when driving through the country.
However, there may be much more to these towers, which cool the hot water waste from industrial and nuclear processes, than you had ever realized possible.
Do you know all that there is to know about industrial cooling towers? These three fascinating facts might just amaze you:
Some water cooling towers can do their jobs naturally
The most energy-efficient cooling towers rely on natural forces like gravity and the atmospheric temperature to cool down water. For example, natural draft towers rely on the natural circulation of air and wind to cool the water within them, rather than through the use of fans to create a draft. These towers are usually very tall in order to encourage the rising of warm air up the tower.
Some cooling towers also help clean wastewater
After being used to cool nuclear or industrial processes, the wastewater left over can contain a number of contaminants that would be harmful if released into the environment without being cleaned first. That’s why some cooling towers contain their own water purification and cleaning systems, which range from water softening to traditional filtration to the use of “green” chemistry that purifies water without the use of chemicals.
When used correctly, cooling towers can be incredibly efficient
There are several things one can do to ensure the improved efficiency of a cooling tower system. In most cases, it’s as simple as performing regular maintenance and repairs on your cooling towers. However, you can also boost your cooling towers’ efficiency by reusing blowdown water and investing in the right process control systems.
Have any other interesting facts to share about water cooling towers? Share with us and your fellow readers in the comments below!
