Work will always produce heat. There is no getting away from the laws of physics. And when there’s too much work, too much heat will also be produced. And it can be a major problem for the efficiency of manufacturing plants. That is why it is a must for such industries to have industrial cooling to regulate temperatures efficiently for the safety and efficiency of industrial processes.
Now, industrial cooling systems can have several major groups. And it can have different subtypes depending on its use. With that in mind, below are the major types of industrial cooling you may encounter in industrial and manufacturing plants.
Natural Draft Cooling Systems
You will typically see this industrial cooling system used in power stations and natural gas plants. You can compare it to a massive, complex chimney.
This industrial cooling system is quite massive because it needs to induce adequate airflow. Its shape will naturally draw draft into the tower, meaning you don’t need to use any machine with a propeller or motor. It also gives that iconic look of power plants.
Mechanical Draft Cooling Systems
Mechanical draft cooling is an industrial cooling system that uses evaporation for the cooling process. When the condenser and other equipment produce hot water, the system will spray it on corrugated PVC fill-packs or horizontal slats where ambient air will mix with the water droplets. The temperature difference between the cold ambient air and hot water will transfer the heat to the dry air. This process is achieved with the help of power-driven fans, making it a mechanical cooling system.
You will find various shapes and sizes of this industrial cooling system in major industrial complexes. There are even smaller variants in the form of rooftop units.
Some major considerations you need to make for mechanical draft cooling are the construction materials and the durability and ease of maintenance. You need this system to work all the time. Or production will slow down and stop.
Packaged vs. Field Erection Types
One of the most common types of industrial cooling systems is packaged towers. Its main characteristic is it’s pre-designed and factory built, which means all you have to do is bring it to the target location and installation. It’s the complete opposite of field erection types since you’ll need to transport and assemble an industrial cooling system on-site.
Packaged towers are quicker and easier to install. And are cheaper than field erection types. But they can be small and less potent. They are best suited to basic manufacturing processes and HVAC buildings. On the other hand, massive plants and heavy industries will typically construct their industrial cooling systems on-site. But as was said, they can be expensive.
Water Cooling, Dry Cooling, or Fluid Cooling
You can classify industrial cooling systems through their heat transfer technique. Water cooling systems are the first major subgroup. They are very cost-effective because they can rapidly decrease temperatures.
Dry cooling is another industrial cooling system that uses mechanical means to cool fluids in the air. Heat goes through air-cooled heat exchangers, separating the working fluid. No water loss happens in this process. But this system is not as efficient as mechanical open industrial cooling systems since it produces warmer cold water.
Fluid cooling systems are smaller but are customizable for industrial cooling. You can find them in many industrial applications and in supermarket refrigeration systems.
Conclusion
That said, it’s essential to remember that there is no ideal cooling system. It all depends on your needs since you can run various industrial cooling systems in different ways. So, if you know anyone wondering what industrial cooling is, share this article with them.
