Types & Applications By ventilation mode. Natural-draft cooling tower: Relies on air density difference between inside and outside the tower for air circulation.

Reduces power consumption; widely deployed in thermal power plants. Mechanical-draft cooling tower: Uses fans to force air flow for more controllable cooling performance.

By water-air contact mode.

Wet cooling tower: Water contacts air directly and dissipates heat via evaporation.

Dry cooling tower: Heat transfers across metal tube surfaces; for water-scarce regions. By flow arrangement. Counter flow cooling tower: Water flows downward while air flows upward in opposite directions.

Cross flow cooling tower: Air flows horizontally across the falling water stream.

Application Scenarios Most widely used for air-conditioning cooling and refrigeration systems. High-efficiency chiller plants require the approach temperature controlled at 2–3°C.

Data centers demand year-round continuous operation. New-energy and semiconductor industries impose strict requirements on cooling water cleanliness.

Closed-circuit cooling towers are therefore selected.