A cooling tower is a heat exchanger which works by combining air and water in order to reduce the waters temperature. As this occurs, a small volume of water is evaporated, reducing the temperature of the water being circulated through the tower.
When the air and water meet, a small amount of water is evaporated which creates a cooling action. The cooled water is then pumped back to the condenser or process equipment where it absorbs heat. It will then be pumped back to the cooling tower to be cooled once again.
Water, which has been heated by an industrial process or in an air-conditioning condenser, is pumped to the cooling tower through pipes. The water sprays through nozzles onto banks of material called “fill,” which slows the flow of water through the cooling tower, and exposes as much water surface area as possible for maximum air-water contact. As the water flows through the cooling tower, it is exposed to air, which is being pulled through the tower by the electric motor-driven fan.