Industrial cooling towers are often overlooked in the grand scheme of things, even though countless businesses rely on cooling tower systems to function efficiently. So what exactly are industrial cooling systems, and what do they do?

As the name suggests, cooling towers remove excess heat that is produced during various mechanical processes, and by keeping the entire system at a reduced temperature, these towers ensure that the processes will continue functioning properly. Although cooling tower systems can be used in any nearly any industry, and plenty of companies use small versions of the conventional cooling tower in order to regulate machinery temperatures, these towers are most often used in oil refineries, chemical plants, energy stations, and HVAC stations.

The most common type of cooling towers are called wet cooling towers, which use water and the natural process of evaporation to move excess heat out of the machinery. Dry cooling towers work in a similar way, although the excess heat is transferred solely through air streams, and this process is generally considered to be a little less efficient than what’s used in wet cooling towers (simply because heat can be transferred much faster when water is used).

Additionally, cooling tower systems are occasionally classified into air flow methods, the two most popular methods being natural draft towers (which function a bit like chimneys and allow hot air to escape naturally), and mechanical draft towers (which use motor-powered fans to move hot air outside).

In terms of eco-friendliness and efficiency, cooling tower systems can actually be incredibly efficient; because these systems often use natural processes and because engineers have been developing cooling towers for so long, these towers are able to provide an essential service for many industrial businesses.