Push or Pull? Forced vs.

Induced Draft Cooling Towers

by admin | Mar 7, 2023 | Industry | 0 comments

What is a cooling tower? An essential part of any HVAC system of course! Cooling towers
are tall and open-top structures that are responsible for cooling equipment used for a
building or facility’s comfort-cooling purposes.

By getting rid of warmer air and returning colder water back to the chiller, cooling towers are the
most effective and least expensive solution to removing the heat generated by your building. Besides,
no one wants to spend much time in a place with bad air conditioning! When determining what kind
of cooling tower system is best for your building, induced versus forced draft, it comes down to
applications and whether a push or a pull is better.

Induced Draft Cooling Towers

Induced draft towers feature a fan (or multiple) located on the top of the cooling tower. The tower
allows induced, hot air to move upward and out while water flows downward. By focusing the
pressure at the inlet of the fan, the air is pulled through the system. Some water evaporates as it
passes through the fill which cools the remaining water going back to the basin. These towers tend to
be more compact, requiring less space.

Due to their design, they offer the most efficient cooling solution (using 30%+ less energy) in the
long run. Induced systems can also operate in harsher conditions (e.g. acidic or gaseous airstreams
and higher temperatures), although these conditions may require more maintenance attention to
things like imbalance and vibration. Induced draft cooling tower components include:

 Cooling fill

 Drift eliminators

 Fan and stack

 Outer casing/shell
 Piping

 Spray nozzles

 Water basin

Forced Draft Cooling Towers

The basic difference in forced draft cooling tower setups is that the air-circulating fan is installed at
the base and side of the tower. Focusing the pressure at the fan’s outlet allows the air to
be pushed throughout the system. The hot water in combination with the counterflow of air then
creates heat transfer in the fill. The cleaner ambient air is usually easier on the fan which can mean a
longer equipment lifespan.

Forced draft models are less efficient than induced ones due to potential energy loss but still remove
low-potential heat that is generated. These towers are popular because they are very powerful while
remaining quite affordable. They are also advantageous when you need to address static pressure
due to a building’s or enclosure’s ductwork and can also handle high inlet temperatures. Forced draft
cooling tower components include:

 Cooling fill

 Drift eliminators

 Fan and stack

 Outer casing/shell

 Water basin

 Water distribution system

Which is Right for You?

Like most things in life, the answer depends. An induced draft cooling tower is set up to eliminate any
possibility of discharged air flowing back into the intake area. Forced draft cooling towers, on the
other hand, use less power but air recirculation and lost efficiency potential are also present.

Induced draft benefits Forced draft benefits

Better in cold temperatures Cost-to-power effectiveness

More energy efficient Dry air stream drive
Low-absorbed capacity Easier maintenance access
Requires less space Lower noise levels

In addition to installing or replacing a cooling tower, you can also refurbish your existing one to
extend your equipment life and investment. No matter what type of cooling tower you have, there are
ways that the tower’s energy efficiency can be improved. Here are some things to consider:

 Installing new water piping where needed

 Servicing your tower’s water recycling system

 Increasing cooling cycles (e.g. adjusting from three to six cycles)

What are the advantages and disadvantages of induced-draft fan and forced-draft fan?

Vicky Liu

Professional and modern enterprise integrating R & D, production and marketing of cooling
technology and products.- Luoyang Gaohua Environmental Cooling Technology Co., Ltd

Published Apr 27, 2021

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The air cooler is a device that uses ambient air as the cooling medium and sweeps the outside of the
finned tube to cool or condense the high-temperature process fluid in the tube. It is referred to as
"air cooler" or "air-cooled heat exchanger". Air coolers can be divided into induced draft air coolers
and forced draft air air coolers.

The
advantages of induced draft fans are:

1. The air flow is evenly distributed;

2. Less noise;

3. The space under the tube bundle can be used.

The disadvantages of induced draft fans are:

1. The fan is installed on the upper part of the tube bundle, which is affected by the high temperature
of the tube bundle, which is not conducive to maintaining the fan;

2. The temperature of the air entering the fan after passing through the tube bundle is higher, so the
power consumption of the induced air type is about 10% larger than that of the forced type fan;
3. The tube bundle needs to be repaired from the bottom, which is inconvenient to operate.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of forced draft fans:

The advantages forced draft fans are:

1. It is easy to produce turbulence, which is beneficial to heat transfer;

2. Lower operating costs.

3. The tube bundle can be checked and repaired from the upper part, and the operation is
convenient.

The disadvantages are:

1. The air distribution is uneven;

2 The upper part of the tube bundle is open and easy to be affected by sunlight and rain.
The Characteristics of Cooling Tower Drift Eliminator (Fill)

Vicky Liu

Professional and modern enterprise integrating R & D, production and marketing of cooling
technology and products.- Luoyang Gaohua Environmental Cooling Technology Co., Ltd

Published Apr 1, 2021

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The drift eliminator or cooling tower fill are made of PVC, is the main part for cooling tower.

The drift eliminator should have the following basic characteristics:

1. High water removal efficiency and low ventilation resistance. When the wind speed V =1m/s and
the water density q=8m3/(m2·h), the interception efficiency η of the water separator should not be
less than 75% (silica gel method), and the resistance should not be greater than 0.13 (Pa·m3) /N.

2. It has sufficient assembly rigidity. Under normal operating conditions, its geometric shape should
remain stable for a long time to ensure that the eliminator maintains a long-term stable high-
efficiency and low-resistance operation effect.

3. It has excellent properties of corrosion resistance, aging resistance and no deformation.

 4. The
eliminator assembly block should have sufficient rigidity and strength. Under the condition of simple
support, the test piece with a clear span of 1300mm under a uniform load of 300N/m 2 (38 ℃, 72h)
shall have no obvious deformation at the support and loading surface, and the maximum deflection
shall be ≤510mm.

5. Simple structure, easy to process, economical and durable.

I have normally seen that air cooled heat exchangers are normally equipped with forced draft fans
while cooling towers have induced draft fans...Can anyone give me a technical reason for this ?

pennpiper (Mechanical)14 Apr 13 09:43

This part of your question is not accurate. It is rare but some Cooling Towers are designed with
forced draft fans near grade in the sidewall of the structure. I tried to find a photo or drawing for you
but was not successful.

prognosis: Lead or Lag

mazamm (Mechanical)

(OP)

14 Apr 13 09:50

Wy this is incorrect. I have observed it in my refinery. My supervisor told me to search for the reason.
Is this something to deal with motor power?

DRWeig (Electrical)14 Apr 13 11:10

There is no technical reason to my knowledge. Either way makes air got through the exchanger.

You can buy either type. HVAC air handling units can be draw-thru or blow-thru relative to the heat
exchangers. Cooling towers can be draw-thru, blow-thru, and cross-flow.

I suppose in some circumstances you might want to consider whether you want the motor waste heat
in the air entering the exchanger or added to the air downstream. The temperature levels the motor
is exposed to may play a role -- do you want your motor in the warmer air or the cooler air?

Best to you,

Goober Dave

Haven't see the forum policies? Do so now: Forum Policies

macmet (Materials)14 Apr 13 11:45

I know that some (all?) air cooled condensers have fans that can function as FD or ID fans. I believe
the fans normally draw air from below and "push" it out the top, but the rotation is reversed at times
so you are pulling warm air over the fans to keep them from freezing. I only have second hand
knowledge of ACCs though, so I'm sure someone can explain that better.

rakuday (Mechanical)15 Apr 13 05:51

One reason for using induced draft fans in cooling towers are, water will be falling down from the fill
and will be collected in the sump at the bottom. Fans cannot be fixed in the bottom of the fill, as it
increases the complexity of construction.

Whereas for heat exchangers, the fluid being cooled will usually flow thru tubes, hence the mode
(forced / induced) can be chosen depending upon other criteria. For additional information regarding
the forced & induced draft coolers refer below link:

http://www.hudsonproducts.com/products/finfan/tech...

Hope this helps

mazamm (Mechanical)

(OP)

15 Apr 13 09:12

Thanks rakuday..i was also thinking the same thing which u told about water coolers.
This cleared my confusion

lappygamer (Mechanical)16 Apr 13 18:21

Fans are volumetric machines. The amount of power required to move a gas is a function of the
volumetric flow rate of the gas. In order to reduce the size of the motor required for the fan I would
guess that the fans are placed where gas temperatures and consequently volumetric flow rate are the
lowest.

mazamm (Mechanical)

(OP)

21 Apr 13 04:21

lappygamer

Volume flowrate(Q): Q= Velocity * Area

For a given fan, the velocity is same. Since both hot and gases will occupy same area So how can you
say that lower temperatures yield low volumetric flow rates and consequently low Horsepower??

(though it is 100% true that large volumetric flow rates will require large motor motor)

lappygamer (Mechanical)22 Apr 13 22:56

mazamm,

The velocity and the volumetric flow rate are dependent on the density of the gas.

Let's compare two cases. In both cases, the mass flow of gas through the system is 100,000 lb/hr.

Case 1: At the inlet to an air pre-heater the gas temperature is 60F. The density of the gas is 0.076
lb/ft3. This would be a volumetric flow rate of 21,930 ACFM.

Case 2: At the outlet of an air pre-heater the gas temperature is 500F. The density of the gas is 0.041
lb/ft3. This would be a volumetric flow rate of 40,650 ACFM.

The mass of air through the system is identical but the volumetric flow rate is dependent on the
temperature of the gas at the point you are evaluating. Putting the fan where the temperature is
500F instead of 60F will require 85% motor power.

lappygamer (Mechanical)23 Apr 13 11:20

That last part should read "85% more motor power."

mazamm (Mechanical)

(OP)

23 Apr 13 12:37

cheers mate

mazamm (Mechanical)

(OP)

23 Apr 13 12:38

I was not keeping the mass-flow constant

Forced Draft Vs Induced Draft Cooling Towers

If you are searching for the differences and similarities between forced draft and induced draft
cooling towers, this article is for you!

Induced Draft Cooling Towers

Induced draft cooling towers are a type of mechanical draft tower that features one or more fans.
These fans will be located atop the tower, drawing air upwards against the downward flow of water.
The water is passed around the wooden packing or decking. In these models, the coolest water is
found at the bottom, coming in contact with the driest air since the airflow is counter to the water
flow.

With the warmest water found near the top of the tower in contact with moist air, this results in an
incredibly efficient transfer of heat. Induced towers will either come in round or square shapes,
distributing water via a sprinkler or static branch system. Incoming water is injected throughout the
 tower with a spray distribution header. The spray is directed downwards in order to maximize the
contact of water and air. This process is maximized by the cooling water fill, which is made up of
wood, metal, PVC or other materials. In general, induced draft models offer the most effective
solution to the cooling needs of any industry.

Induced Draft Cooling Tower Components

Most induced draft cooling towers will feature the following components:

 Spray nozzles.

 Fill.

 Basin.

 Piping.

 Casing/Shell.

 Fan.

 Drift eliminator.

Forced Draft Cooling Towers

There are many benefits of using a forced draft cooling tower. And that is exactly why so many
industrial plants opt for this model over the other options. Forced draft cooling towers are very
powerful and affordable at the same time. These models will remove low-potential heat that is
generated in the production process. A counterflow of air combined with hot water results in a
transfer of heat in the cooling fill. Paper and chemical industry plants often prefer to used forced draft
cooling towers.

Forced Draft Cooling Tower Components

Here is a look at all of the components making up a forced draft cooling tower:

 Fan stack.

 Fan with drive.

 Cooling fill.

 Drift eliminators.

 Outer shell.

 Water basin.

 Water distribution system.

Forced Draft Vs Induced Draft Cooling Towers

 So, how do forced draft models differ from induced draft towers? Induced draft versions feature a fan
at the top of tower, pulling the air upward. Fans in induced draft cooling towers then induce the hot,
moist air out of the discharge. A powerful exit air velocity reduces any possible recirculation within
the tower as the end result. That is the main goal for these models: to eliminate the possibility of any
discharged air flowing back into the air intake area.

Induced draft implies an inlet fan placed atop the tower, which creates low pressure. Forced draft,
meanwhile, features an exhaust fan at the base of tower. This will then create the overpressure. Both
centrifugal and axial fans can be used in forced draft models.

Induced Draft Features

 Low-absorbed capacity.

 Higher noise level than forced draft.

 Humid air stream drive.

 Requires little space for installation.

Forced Draft Features

 Ease of maintenance.

 Lower noise levels.

 Dry air stream drive.

 Low-absorbed capacity.

Cooling Tower Installation, Replacement, & Refurbishment in Arizona & Nevada

Our team offers complete cooling tower refurbishment that will save your company tens of thousands
of dollars over buying and installing new cooling towers. Cooling tower refurbishment and
rebuilding adds about another 15 years of life to your equipment and helps you get your money’s
worth out of your original investment in your cooling tower or property. We offer cooling tower
installation, replacement, and refurbishment in Arizona and Nevada. We also sell other cooling tower
parts and products.

The difference between induced or forced draft

Fluid Cooling Systems

Fans

Cooling towers

Knowledge center

Induced draft implies an inlet fan placed on top of the cooling tower and the creation of low
pressure. Axial fans are always used for this type of draft.

Forced draft means an exhaust fan placed at the base of the cooling tower which then causes
overpressure. Both axial and centrifugal fans can be used.

Almeco’s cooling tower range contains all different types.

Advantages and disadvantages

Induced draft - Axial fan

+ -

 Low absorbed capacity  Higher noise level

 Small foot print (requiring little space)  Humid air stream drive

Forced draft - Axial fan

+ -

 Low absorbed capacity  Higher noise level

 Easy maintenance

 Dry air stream drive

Forced draft - Centrifugal fan

+ -

 Low noise level  Higher absorbed capacity

 Easy maintenance

 Dry air stream drive

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Our long-established colleague Frank

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Meet our colleague Wannes!

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https://www.evapco.com/products/cooling-towers-factory-assembled/lste-cooling-tower