Differences Between Various Kinds Of Cooling Towers

Cross flow cooling tower

Principle

In cross flow cooling tower, water is falling from above, the air and water are flow in vertical way. Because heat dissipation material is closed to the collection basin, the advantage is reducing water falling noise. Cross flow type usually used in square cooling tower, but the structure is fixed with large amount of iron piece, so it cost more higher than round cooling tower.

Characteristic

　　Simple design.

　　Easy maintenance.

　　Low noise of water pressure.

　　Smaller floor space, more economic benefits for long term use.

Counter flow cooling tower

Principle

In counter flow cooling tower, cooling air and water flow are in opposite direction, for this reason, it can reach maximum area of dissipation. It commonly used in round cooling tower, and also used in square cooling tower in some case.

Characteristic

　　High efficiency of heat exchange.

　　Inside structure complicated, difficult to maintenance.

　　Easy to produced limescale and moss.

　　Fills of round cooling tower can’t be maintenance regularly.

　　It’s easier to occurs splash drift losses problem.

The Difference Between Cross Flow Cooling Tower and Counter Flow Cooling Tower: 

They have differences for the air inlet directions. 

In the cross flow cooling tower, the air is introduced from the side of the cooling tower and flows horizontally, making a right angle to the direction of spray water. However, in the counter flow cooling tower, the air is introduced at the bottom of the cooling tower and flows from bottom to top, in the opposite direction of spray water. Cross flow cooling tower is equipped with access doors and channels in the middle of the cooling tower, while the counter flow cooling tower does not. In the counter flow cooling tower, coil or tubular bundle serves as heat transfer, however, in the cross flow cooling tower, a combination of coil and packing or a combination of tube bundle and packing serves as heat transfer. 

The Difference Between Cross Flow Cooling Tower and Mixed Flow Cooling Tower: 

In the cross flow cooling tower, the air inlet direction and spray water flow direction make a right angle. However, mixed flow closed circuit cooler has two air inlet directions. In one direction, the air enters from the top of the cooling tower. In the other direction, the air enters from one side of the cooling tower at the bottom. 

The Similarity Between Cross Flow Cooling Tower and Mixed Flow Cooling Tower: Both cooling towers are equipped with access doors in the middle to create convenient access conditions. They are specifically developed for high capacity applications, such as data centers, factories, and large HVAC systems.