Acooling tower is a device for cooling a stream of water. Evaporating a portion of the circulating stream does this. Such cooled water may be used for many purposes, but the main concern here is its utilization as a heat sink for a refrigeration-system condenser. A number of types of cooling towers are used for industrial and commercial purposes. They are usually regarded as a necessity for large buildings or manufacturing processes. Some of these types have already been mentioned, but the following will bring you more details on the workings of cooling towers and their differences.
Cooling water concerns that must be addressed for the health of those who operate and maintain the systems. There is the potential for harboring and for the growth of pathogens in the water basin or related surface. This may occur mainly during the summer and also during idle periods. When the temperature falls in the 70 to 120°F (21 to 49°C) there are periods when the unit will not be operational and will sit idle. Dustfrom the air will settle in the water and create an organic medium for the culture of bacteria and pathogens. Algae will grow in the water—some need sunlight, others grow without. Some bacteria feed on iron. The potential for pathogenic culture is there, and cooling-tower design should include some kind of filtration and/or chemical sterilization of the water.
