A cooling tower is a heat exchanger that uses the direct contact with the air to cool down water. The heat exchange happens partially through a heat exchange between air and water, but mainly through the evaporation of a small quantity of the water that needs to be cooled. This will allow to cool down to a temperature lower than the ambient temperature.

When the water that needs to be cooled cannot get into contact with the air (e.g. in the food industry), it is necessary to use a heat exchanger.

The heat exchanger separates the process water that needs te be cooled from the “evaporation water” of the cooling tower. This will avoid contact between the process water and the air.

The use of anti-freeze is not necessary in the Jacir-Air Traitement closed cooling towers.

Process side

The process water that needs to be cooled will be guided through the heat exchanger (A). This heat exchanger consists of stainless steel plates and is situated next to the cooling tower in a separate adjacent room.

Inside the heat exchanger, the heat of the water from the process side is transmitted to the cooling water on the cooling tower side.

The process water is now cooled down again and can be reused as cooling water in the process. Consequently, the cooling water circulates in a closed circuit between the consumers (production machines, condensers, etc.) and the heat exchanger.

Cooling tower side

Once the reheated cooling water has left the plate heat exchanger, it will be directed through the piping to the upper part of the cooling tower, where nozzles (B) will distribute the water over the tower packing (C).

The cooled down water falls through the packing and is gathered in the basin. This is where the fresh water will be led back through the recirculation pump (D) to the heat exchanger in order to be reused.

The water is cooled down by the air which is developed by the fan(s) in counter flow. This air will warm up and get saturated after contact with the water flowing over the packing. The air is exhausted through the top.

The drop eliminators above the nozzles make sure that the water drops don't leave the cooling tower.