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Oasis Iceberg
13
2024
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07
Are closed-circuit cooling towers the same as evaporative condensers?
Closed-circuit cooling towers and evaporative condensers (commonly referred to as “evaporative coolers”) are two widely used cooling devices in industry. So what exactly are their similarities and differences?
Closed-circuit cooling towers and evaporative condensers (commonly referred to as “evaporative coolers”) are two widely used cooling devices in industry. So what exactly are their similarities and differences?
Today, let’s take a look together with Xiaozhou from the Oasis Ice Peak Closed-Circuit Cooling Tower Technology Innovation Center!
1. Appearance
From an external perspective, closed-circuit cooling towers and evaporative condensers are made of the same materials and have very similar structures. In a sense, a closed-circuit cooling tower is essentially an evaporative condenser.
2. Differences in Operating Principles
A closed-circuit cooling tower is a heat-exchange device that removes heat by cooling a hot fluid within the tower. It employs two completely isolated internal and external circulation cooling systems, utilizing multiple heat exchanges between sprayed water and cool air to lower the temperature inside the tower, and then leveraging the latent heat of vaporization to cool the internal circulating water.
An evaporative condenser is a device that utilizes the principles of evaporation and condensation to transfer heat. It is commonly used in refrigeration and air-conditioning systems to cool high‑temperature, high‑pressure steam into a liquid. Its operating principle involves passing the hot, pressurized steam through the condenser, where it releases heat and gradually cools, eventually condensing into a liquid.
3. Different methods of transferring caloric value
Closed-circuit cooling towers achieve cooling through heat transfer between the spray water and the medium being cooled.
In contrast, an evaporative condenser achieves cooling by transferring heat during the processes of evaporation and condensation. In such a condenser, heat is transferred between high‑temperature, high‑pressure vapor and the condensing medium via these two phase changes.
4. The cooling medium inside the pipe is different.
In a closed-circuit cooling tower, water flows through the coils, whereas an evaporative condenser uses another refrigerant.
The fundamental difference between the two lies in the fact that, in an evaporative condenser, the cooled medium undergoes a phase change—its gaseous state is cooled and condensed into a liquid.
In contrast, in a closed-circuit cooling tower, the form of the cooling medium remains unchanged; cooling simply reduces the temperature of the medium.
5. Differences in System Piping
Evaporative condensers are connected to closed-loop systems and typically operate at a certain pressure.
Moreover, the circuits connected to closed‑type cooling towers can be either sealed or open; consequently, under many operating conditions, the pressure is relatively low or even absent.
6. Differences in Application Areas
Closed-circuit cooling towers and evaporative condensers also differ in their application areas.
Closed-circuit cooling towers are primarily used in industrial and chemical applications, such as metallurgy, power generation, and petrochemical industries. They are employed to treat cooled return water, circulating water, coolants, and other fluids, with the aim of reducing their temperature.
Evaporative condensers are primarily used in air conditioning, refrigeration, and the chemical industry to condense and recover high‑temperature, high‑pressure steam for reuse.
In summary, closed‑circuit cooling towers and evaporative condensers do differ in certain respects. But how should you choose between them? Xiao Zhou advises that the decision ultimately depends on your industry’s specific requirements and the particular operating conditions. Feel free to consult our expert engineers at 400‑1411‑001 for a customized solution tailored to your needs.
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