05-23: Hybrid Closed-Circuit Cooling Tower Solves a Water Availability Problem

The owner/operator of a Canadian air-separation plant had planned to install an open cooling tower for summer heat rejection, and an air-cooled heat exchanger for winter operation, because water for evaporation is unavailable at the plant site in the winter. By taking advantage of hybrid, wet-dry closed-circuit cooling tower technology, the owner is now able to handle the heat rejection requirements with a single piece of equipment that provides the advantages of evaporative cooling in the summer, uses no water in the winter, and consumes less energy and less water than either of the other options.