Table 2.

1  Cooling tower types and characteristics

Sketch Characteristics and application notes

Tower type
(Typical) (Typical)

Air Flow •  Air movement depends on induction forces.

•  Fluid movement is parallel or crossflow.
Hot water
in
•  Low maintenance as no moving parts.
•  No recirculation of air occurs.
Natural •  High pump head required as towers are high.
draft •  Unobstructed location necessary.
spray
•  Performance depends on prevailing  
tower wind velocity and direction.
•  Capital cost almost as high as for mechanical  
draft tower.
Cold water
out •  Quiet operation and lower running costs.
•  Rarely used in HVAC&R systems.
Natural draft spray tower

Air
Out
•  Stack effect increases with height.
•  Better and more consistent performance 
than atmospheric towers.
•  Low maintenance costs.

Natural •  Not suitable for high dry bulb applications.

draft •  High capital cost due to size.
hyper-bolic •  Close water temperature control difficult.
tower
•  Used for high heat loads, large water flow rates
and large approach temperatures.
Hot water
in •  Rarely used in HVAC&R systems.
Air in
•  Common in power generation and large  
Cold water out industrial applications.
Natural draft hyperbolic tower

•  Fan situated at air intake.

•  High air entry and low exit velocities.
Air out
•  May be susceptible to recirculation.
•  Typically centrifugal fans with high resistance
Hot water capability.
in
•  Generally noisier than towers with axial flow fans.
Fill •  Generally incorporate fill.
Forced
•  Discharge and intake air may be ducted.
draft
tower
Centrifugal
Fan
•  Fan, drive and motor located in dry air stream  
so less maintenance and corrosion is likely.
•  Fans located at lower level so less vibration  
Air in
and better access.
Cold water
out •  Higher fan power requirement.
•  Less physical space required for fan.
•  Generally zero performance at zero fan speed.
•  Common in HVAC&R applications.
Forced draft counterflow tower
 Sketch Characteristics and application notes
Tower type
(Typical) (Typical)

Air out

Hot water
in

•  Fan situated at air outlet usually  

at high level.
Fill Air in
•  High air exit and low air entry  
velocities so less prone to recirculation.
Basin •  Large fans with low speed  
Cold water Sump and noise possible.
out
•  Lower drift potential.
Induced draft, single flow cross flow tower with fill
Induced •  Can operate with or without fill.
draft •  Fan, drive and motor located in moist  
tower air stream so electrical protection is required  
Air out
and more maintenance and corrosion is likely.
•  Fan more susceptible to vibration.
•  Less access for maintenance.
Hot water
in
•  Generally smaller footprint than forced draft.
Fill •  Generally up to 10–15% performance  
at zero fan speed.
Air in Air in •  Common in HVAC&R applications.

Cold water
out

Induced draft counter flow tower with fill

•  Vertical air movement is induced  

Air out in opposition to the water flow  
across the fill.
•  Coldest water contacts the driest air  
for maximum performance.
Hot water

Counter-flow
in •  Can be difficulties with access  
for maintenance.
induced
•  Flexible air inlet location.
draft
tower •  Air inlets on all sides reduce height  
Air in Air in
and pump head.

Cold water
•  Better suited to sub zero operation.
out
•  Good option with small packaged  
towers using centrifugal fans.
Induced draft counter flow tower without fill
•  Common in HVAC&R applications.
 Sketch Characteristics and application notes
Tower type
(Typical) (Typical)

•  Horizontal air movement is induced over  

the fill and water flows across the air stream.
•  Generally a larger plan area but lower height.
Air out •  Better access for maintenance.
•  Lower pump head required due to reduced height.
Crossflow Hot water
in
Hot water
in
induced •  Higher water loading reduces fouling potential.
Air in Fill Fill Air in
draft •  Risk of recirculation higher due to reduced height.
tower Basin •  Less tolerant of obstructions to airflow.
Sump
Cold water out
•  Air inlets on two sides desirable.
•  Good option with small packaged towers  
using propeller fans.
•  Common in HVAC&R applications.
Induced draft double-flowcrossflow tower

Air out •  A closed circuit cooling tower in which the  

process fluid does not contact the cooling air.
•  Different types of fluids can be cooled including
water, plating solutions, quenching oils, chemical
Cooling solutions, gases, refrigerants and air.
Water water in
distribution
system Hot •  The fluid cannot contact the atmosphere.
Fluid
in
•  Only a small quantity of water is required  
Heat
exchanger in the open evaporating water circuit.
Fluid Cool
Fluid
•  Can be natural, forced or induced draft.
cooler Centrifugal
out
•  Reduced water treatment and corrosion.
Fan
•  Reduced pumping requirement.
Air in •  Can be heavier and larger  
than open circuit alternatives.
•  Increased fan energy requirement.
Cooling
water out •  The tubes are sensitive to local  
Pump
dry areas caused by solid deposits.

Closed circuit cooling tower •  Common in industrial applications.

Air out

Water Cooling •  See Fluid coolers.

distribution water in
system
•  A closed circuit cooling tower in which the
Refrigerant refrigerant is cooled or condensed directly  
Heat in
exchanger
in a closed coil.
Evaporative •  Can be air or water cooled or both.
condenser Refrigerant
out •  Refrigerant management issues may restrict
system location or size.
Air
in •  Sometimes referred to as DX systems.
Fan
•  Common in industrial/refrigeration applications.
Water basin
Cooling
water out
Pump
Evaporative condenser
 Sketch Characteristics and application notes
Tower type
(Typical) (Typical)

•  An attempt to combine the cooling tower heat

rejection effect with an architectural water feature.
•  Water quality issues.
Ponds •  Public exposure issues.
and
•  Lower performance levels expected.
fountains
Cold water •  Performance depends on prevailing wind velocity
Hot water
out and direction.
in
•  Rarely used in HVAC&R systems.
Fountain