The Facts Behind Cooling Towers

Since the opening credits of US cartoon series The Simpsons, cooling
towers have become synonymous with heavy industry and power. Similarly
cooling towers have become familiar facets in the skylines of
industry-focused cities such as Birmingham and Sheffield. So what are
the facts behind these devices that are increasingly becoming part of
the industrial landscape?To begin, a tower's purpose is to remove hot
air and are commonly used to shift excess heat from sites such as
power plants, oil refineries and large scale factories. Cooling towers
measure - on average - around 200 meters tall and 100 meters wide and
are often a fluted, vase-like shape made from cement.Towers used in
heavy industry ensure machinery and production facilities are kept at
a comfortable and safe working temperature by disposing of excess heat
into the atmosphere or by flushing cooled water back into natural
water supplies; without damage to the local ecosystem. Cooling towers
that do not have access to bodies of water or where activity would
raise water temperatures above suitable levels for organisms often opt
to dispose of excess heat via evaporation.Many towers produce a
recognisable plumes of fog. In humid conditions, the levels of water
discharge from the towers can cause low lying fog in areas around the
towers as the level of water in the air becomes saturated. Tower
operators need also be careful of freezing conditions which can affect
the productivity of the tower. Residual ice which gathers in areas of
moisture also adds weight to the tower's structural load which - in
very, very rare conditions - can lead to cracks which could
potentially cause collapse.Naturally, the level of maintenance and
expertise required to keep a tower in optimal condition has lead to
the increased popularity of cooling tower rentals where manufacturers
and construction sites can obtain towers on a temporary basis.