Whether for a commercial building or a manufacturing plant, construction is incomplete without a cooling tower. A well-designed cooling tower is at the heart of your HVAC system and helps regulate temperature by removing excess heat. With the right cooling tower, your new building or plant can run smoothly for years.
The question is: how do you find the perfect cooling tower for your new construction project?
At Pinnacle CTS, we understand how critical it is to choose the right cooling system for your new construction project. In this blog post, we will cover everything you need to know about cooling tower selection.
But first, let’s understand what a cooling tower is.
What Is a Cooling Tower
At its core, a cooling tower is a heat-rejection device. It expels heat from the water and recirculates the cooled water into your HVAC system. Cooling towers, unlike split air conditioners, are better suited for large-scale applications like commercial buildings and industrial plants.
New construction cooling towers typically include natural draft, mechanical draft, and hybrid towers. Each type has its own strengths and is suited for different cooling requirements. Picking the right one depends on your project’s cooling load, energy-saving goals, and space constraints.
Common Types of New Construction Cooling Towers
As mentioned, new construction cooling towers often include natural draft, mechanical draft, and hybrid systems. Let’s break them down one by one.
1. Natural Draft Cooling Towers
Natural draft cooling towers rely on the natural airflow generated by the temperature difference between the hot air inside the tower and the cooler ambient air. These systems are typically large and perfect for power plants and other industrial projects with significant cooling demands.
2. Mechanical Draft Cooling Towers
Instead of natural airflow, these types of cooling towers use fans to move air. Their compact and flexible design makes them ideal for commercial buildings and small industrial plants.
Mechanical draft cooling towers allow for precise temperature control. Plus, the small size makes them perfect for tight spaces, like the roofs on small commercial or residential buildings.
3. Hybrid Cooling Towers
Hybrid cooling towers are a combination of both natural and mechanical draft systems. Hybrid towers are energy-efficient and environmentally friendly as they minimize energy consumption and water evaporation.
These towers are ideal for projects where sustainability is a priority, such as LEED-certified buildings or industrial plants looking to reduce their environmental footprint.
5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Cooling Tower for New Construction
When you plan a new construction, you have to decide many things, and choosing a cooling tower is one of them. This process doesn’t have to be difficult, and you can shortlist a few options by considering the following factors.
1. Cooling Capacity and Load Requirements
The first factor you must consider when choosing a cooling tower is the required cooling capacity for your project. It is typically measured in tons or BTUs (British Thermal Units) and depends on the building’s size, local climate, and intended use.
If you plan to build a chemical plant with higher cooling demand, you would want to invest in a natural draft cooling tower with more cooling capacity. On the other hand, a mechanical draft tower is more suited for small commercial buildings.
2. Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is another critical factor in cooling tower selection, which can help you save money on energy and run your tower sustainably. Many cooling towers offer energy-saving upgrades like variable frequency drives or VFDs.
With VFDs, you can run your cooling tower at 50% capacity when the demand is low. Likewise, hybrid cooling towers can help you save both energy and water. These towers can control the rate of evaporation, which lets you save and recycle more water when the demand is low.
3. Space and Location Constraints
Even with meticulous planning, you still need to consider the available space and the tower’s location. A general rule of thumb is to place your cooling tower as close to the HVAC or industrial units as possible.
The cooling tower should be easily accessible for preventive maintenance and emergency repairs. As mechanical draft towers are compact, they are a perfect fit for most projects with limited space and lower to medium cooling demand.
4. Environmental and Regulatory Considerations
Cooling towers have to comply with several environmental, health, and safety regulations. For one, your new construction cooling towers must adhere to the local building codes and safety regulations while getting installed.
Secondly, you may have to register your cooling tower, create a maintenance plan, and monitor its Legionella levels. Many local and state health authorities require you to share this information regularly. In New York, you must inform the health department if there is likely to be a Legionella outbreak.
Likewise, you might have to consider local regulations related to noise, especially in urban or densely populated areas. Some mechanical draft towers can be loud and lead to substantial noise pollution.
5. Budget and Cost
When choosing a cooling tower, think about both the upfront investment and long-term operational and maintenance costs. It is also wise to consider potential field upgrades and their future costs.
Keep in mind that:
- While natural draft towers may have higher upfront costs due to their size, they can be more cost-effective over time, thanks to lower energy consumption.
- Mechanical draft towers have a lower initial investment but may require more maintenance.
- Although hybrid cooling towers have higher upfront costs, they can result in significant long-term savings in water and energy.
Customize Your New Construction Cooling Towers
While a customized cooling tower means higher upfront costs, it can pay for itself in the long run. Every project is unique, and choosing a cooling tower tailored to your requirements helps you keep your cooling and maintenance costs down.
A customized system is also optimized to handle the cooling demand, which reduces the risk of breakdowns and helps you save money on emergency repairs. Another benefit of customization is it allows you to plan for future expansion or changes in cooling needs.
Always Work with Experts
Cooling tower selection isn’t hard but requires expert guidance. As cooling tower installation and maintenance experts ourselves, we recommend consulting a professional throughout the process.
Choosing the right system and installing it properly will help you:
- Keep your cooling costs down.
- Avoid unexpected breakdowns.
- Save money on operation and maintenance.
- Run the tower at its peak for years.
That’s why you should have a professional on your side right from the beginning.
Choose and Install the Right Cooling Tower for Your New Construction
Choosing the right cooling tower for your new construction project requires you to consider factors like cooling capacity, energy efficiency, space limitations, and budget. Whether you opt for a natural draft, mechanical draft, or hybrid tower, make sure the tower can meet your cooling demands without breaking the bank. As this is a substantial investment, thinking long-term will help you save money and get the most out of your system.
At Pinnacle Cooling Tower Service, we can help you with everything, from choosing a cooling tower to installing and maintaining it. Our team has installed cooling towers for hospitals, commercial and residential buildings, and industrial plants. We serve the greater tri-state area and provide 24/7 emergency service.
Contact us today to learn how we can help with your cooling tower needs.
