Field Erected Cooling Towers: Scalable Solutions for Industrial Heat Rejection
A field erected cooling tower is a large-scale, custom-built structure designed to remove excess heat from industrial systems by transferring it to the atmosphere. These towers are assembled on-site to accommodate the specific needs of large facilities, such as power plants, petrochemical complexes, steel manufacturing, and refineries.
How Field Erected Cooling Towers Work
The core function of any cooling tower is to cool down water that has absorbed heat from an industrial process. In field erected cooling towers, hot water is distributed over fill material, which increases surface area and allows for efficient heat exchange. As air flows through the tower—either naturally or mechanically—it facilitates the evaporation of a small percentage of the water, thereby lowering the temperature of the remaining liquid.
Types of Field Erected Cooling Towers
Natural Draft Cooling Towers: Use the buoyancy of heated air to induce airflow. These are typically hyperbolic in shape and used in massive installations like nuclear power plants.
Mechanical Draft Cooling Towers: Employ fans (either induced or forced draft) to circulate air. They provide more control over airflow and are commonly used in medium to large facilities.
Hybrid Cooling Towers: Combine features of both natural and mechanical systems, often designed to meet environmental regulations concerning water vapor plumes or noise.
Advantages of Field Erected Systems
Customization: These towers can be engineered to meet the specific thermal performance, footprint, and structural needs of a project.
High Capacity: Ideal for applications requiring large volumes of water cooling, especially where packaged systems would be insufficient.
Durability: Built with robust materials such as concrete, fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP), or treated wood, ensuring a long operational life even under extreme conditions.
Efficiency: With tailored designs, field erected towers can achieve optimal performance in varying environmental and process conditions.