Cooling tower use is a necessity in industrial and larger spaces, such as hospitals, because it is the best and most efficient way to cool and heat the space, depending on what the needs are of the building. However, just as with any piece of equipment, there are pros and cons to using cooling towers. Many of the cooling tower advantages and disadvantages deal directly with the type of cooling tower you opt for. In other words, you’re going to compare the cooling tower pros and cons across different types to decide what is best for you. If you’re trying to heat a school, hospital, or industrial plant, you’ve likely already decided on a cooling tower—you just need to weigh the pros and cons of each type.
What Are the Different Types of Cooling Towers?
To weigh what type of cooling tower is best for you, you must determine your cooling tower needs and look closely at each type and its benefits and detriments. Types of cooling towers include:
- Gear drives. This is the most common type of cooling tower used today. These have high horsepower and high efficiency but can be moderately costly to start up. However, over their lifetime, their running costs are moderate.
- Belt drives. These have lower overall efficiency, and their horsepower is limited. However, they are relatively inexpensive when it comes to startup costs, making them an attractive choice.
- Direct drives. These cooling towers use permanent magnet (PM) motors or electronically commutated (EC) motors, however, the EC technology is fairly new and is limited to smaller-size cooling towers. Both types of direct drives require less maintenance than other cooling towers and have lower lifetime costs, but are the most expensive to install.
The Importance of Cooling Towers and Maintenance
One of the primary cooling tower disadvantages across all types of cooling towers includes the growth of Legionella. The structure and design of cooling towers allow for large amounts of water to be stored in the cooling tower at all times. Because of this, the cooling tower becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, particularly Legionella. This bacteria can be inhaled in the air via water droplets expelled from an “infected” cooling tower. When you breathe in the contaminated droplets, you can develop Legionnaires’ disease, a very serious type of pneumonia. However, regular maintenance and upkeep of cooling towers can help squash the growth of Legionella. Water should be tested regularly and maintenance should be performed to ensure that the cooling tower is not infected.
Contact us
For more information on different types of cooling towers, or which one may be best for you, contact Pinnacle Cooling Tower Service today at 732-570-9392. We pride ourselves on the best in safety, service, and customer satisfaction.
