Jäähdytystorni

A jäähdytystorni, or cooling tower in English, is a device used to discharge waste heat to the atmosphere through the cooling of a water stream to a lower temperature. Cooling towers are commonly used to remove heat from industrial processes, power plants, and large buildings. The fundamental principle of operation involves evaporating a small portion of the circulating water. This evaporation process absorbs a significant amount of heat, thereby cooling the remaining water.

There are several types of cooling towers, including natural draft and mechanical draft. Natural draft towers rely on the difference in density between the hot, moist air inside the tower and the cooler, drier ambient air to create airflow. Mechanical draft towers use fans to force or induce airflow, offering greater control over the cooling process. They can also be classified by their heat transfer mechanism: wet, dry, or hybrid. Wet cooling towers, the most common type, utilize direct contact between water and air for evaporative cooling. Dry cooling towers use heat exchangers to transfer heat without direct water-air contact, minimizing water consumption. Hybrid towers combine both methods.

Cooling towers are essential components in many industrial operations. They play a crucial role in maintaining optimal operating temperatures for equipment, preventing overheating, and ensuring efficiency. The water used in cooling towers can be recirculated, though periodic blowdown is necessary to remove dissolved solids and maintain water quality. Proper maintenance of cooling towers is important for their performance, energy efficiency, and to prevent the spread of waterborne pathogens like Legionella.