07-24: Living in a Material World

The proper selection of materials of construction is critical to ensuring long life, reduced maintenance, and operational reliability for evaporative cooling equipment. These functional needs must be balanced with the budgetary constraints on each project, both on a first cost and operating cost basis. This paper examines the wide range of materials currently available for components used in open and closed circuit cooling towers as well as evaporative condensers. Whether using galvanized steels, stainless steel, or FRP, we are living in a material world where the right material choices can provide long-term payoffs, but the wrong choices can be costly.