Dry and Wet Combined Cooling Technology
The Dry and Wet Combined Closed Cooling Tower combines finned-tube air cooling and evaporative cooling within a closed-loop heat exchange system.
The dry cooling section uses ambient air to remove sensible heat from the circulating medium without spray-water consumption. When additional cooling capacity is required, the wet cooling section uses controlled water evaporation to provide enhanced heat rejection.
Depending on seasonal and operating conditions, the system can operate in dry mode, wet mode or combined dry-wet mode. This flexible configuration helps balance cooling performance, water consumption and operating cost throughout the year.
Key Advantages
Water-Saving Operation
The system can operate in dry mode when ambient conditions allow, eliminating spray-water consumption during those periods. Under suitable project conditions, annual water savings may reach approximately 30%–85% compared with conventional wet cooling configurations.
Flexible Dry and Wet Operation
Dry, wet and combined operating modes allow the cooling system to adapt to changes in ambient temperature and process heat load.
Closed-Loop Process Cooling
The process circulating medium remains inside the closed heat exchange circuit, helping reduce direct exposure to atmospheric contaminants and maintain more stable process conditions.
Efficient Heat Rejection
Dry air cooling provides pre-cooling, while evaporative cooling supplies additional heat rejection when higher cooling performance is required.
Reduced Equipment Footprint
By combining dry and wet cooling functions in one system, the required heat exchange configuration can be optimized according to project conditions, potentially reducing equipment investment and installation requirements.
Designed for Hot and Water-Stressed Regions
The flexible operating concept is particularly suitable for industrial facilities operating under high ambient temperatures or where water consumption is an important operating consideration.
Technical Specifications
Parameter | Specification |
Product Type | Dry and Wet Combined Closed Cooling Tower |
Cooling Method | Dry Air Cooling + Wet Evaporative Cooling |
Operating Modes | Dry / Wet / Combined |
Circulating Flow Capacity | Up to 500 m³/h per unit* |
Water Saving Potential | Approximately 30%–85%* |
Heat Exchange Components | Finned Tubes + Closed Cooling Coils |
Cooling Medium | Process circulating medium |
Control | Intelligent operating control |
Spray Water | Suitable fresh, reclaimed or treated water* |
Installation | Project-specific configuration |
Application | Industrial Process Cooling |
Performance Note: Actual cooling capacity, water consumption and temperature reduction depend on ambient temperature, relative humidity, circulating flow rate, inlet and outlet temperatures, cooling load, operating hours and equipment configuration. Final technical specifications should be confirmed through project-specific engineering calculations.
How the Dry and Wet Combined Cooling Tower Works
Heat generated by production equipment is transferred to the circulating cooling medium. The heated medium then flows through the closed cooling circuit and enters the Dry and Wet Combined Closed Cooling Tower.
Step 1: Dry Air Cooling
The high-temperature circulating medium first enters the dry cooling coil. Heat is transferred through the tube wall and fins to the surrounding air.
High-speed airflow removes sensible heat from the finned tubes, reducing the temperature of the circulating medium without using spray water.
Step 2: Wet Evaporative Cooling
After dry pre-cooling, the circulating medium enters the wet cooling coil when additional cooling is required.
Spray water flows over the external surface of the heat exchange coil and evaporates under the airflow. The evaporation process removes additional heat from the circulating medium.
Step 3: Return to the Process
After passing through the dry and wet cooling sections, the circulating medium reaches the required process temperature and returns to the production equipment through the closed loop.
The cycle then repeats continuously.
Three Flexible Operating Modes
1. Dry Cooling Mode
When the ambient temperature is below the design condition and dry cooling capacity is sufficient, the spray-water system is switched off.
The fans operate in the dry cooling section, allowing ambient air to remove heat from the circulating medium through the finned tubes.
Main Benefit
Zero spray-water consumption during dry operation.
This mode is particularly valuable during cooler seasons, nighttime operation or other periods when ambient conditions provide sufficient cooling capacity.
2. Wet Cooling Mode
During periods of extremely high ambient temperature or high process heat load, the wet evaporative cooling section can be activated.
Air flows across the external surface of the cooling coils while spray water evaporates and removes additional heat.
Main Benefit
Enhanced cooling capacity under high-temperature conditions.
3. Combined Dry-Wet Cooling Mode
In combined operation, both the dry and wet cooling sections operate together.
The circulating medium first passes through the dry cooling section, where ambient air provides pre-cooling. It then enters the wet cooling section for additional evaporative heat rejection.
Main Benefit
A balance between cooling performance and spray-water consumption.
Water-Saving Performance
The dry-wet combined configuration allows the cooling system to make greater use of ambient air before relying on evaporative cooling.
During periods when ambient conditions are favorable, the system can operate with the spray-water system switched off. When higher cooling capacity is required, wet cooling is introduced to provide additional heat rejection.
Depending on climate, process conditions and operating strategy, the system may achieve approximately 30%–85% annual water savings compared with conventional wet cooling configurations.
Factors Affecting Water Consumption
Actual water consumption depends on:
Water-saving performance should be evaluated based on project-specific operating data rather than a single fixed percentage.
Energy and Operating Advantages
The dry and wet combined design is engineered to optimize cooling performance under changing environmental conditions.
Lower Water Consumption
Dry operation eliminates spray-water consumption when ambient conditions provide sufficient cooling capacity.
Optimized Fan and Pump Operation
The system can adjust operating components according to cooling demand, helping avoid unnecessary energy consumption.
Low-Height Configuration
The relatively low tower configuration can help reduce structural and civil engineering requirements depending on the installation layout.
Long-Term Heat Exchange Stability
The finned-tube dry cooling section operates without continuous external water contact, helping reduce the risk of external scaling and corrosion associated with constant wet operation.
Flexible Spray-Water Selection
Suitable reclaimed or treated water may be considered for the spray-water circuit after evaluating local water quality and treatment requirements.
Dry Cooling vs. Wet Cooling
Feature | Dry Cooling | Wet Cooling |
Cooling Medium | Ambient air | Air + spray water |
Spray-Water Consumption | Zero during dry operation | Required |
Cooling Performance | Suitable for favorable ambient conditions | Higher heat rejection capability |
External Coil Condition | Dry | Wet |
Typical Application | Cooler seasons / lower ambient temperatures | High ambient temperatures / high cooling load |
Main Advantage | Water saving | Enhanced cooling capacity |
The combined system uses the strengths of both cooling methods to adapt to changing ambient and process conditions.
Why Closed-Loop Cooling?
In a closed cooling system, the process circulating medium remains inside the heat exchange coils instead of being directly exposed to the external cooling environment.
This configuration can help:
Reduce the risk of external contamination entering the process loop
Maintain more stable circulating-medium quality
Reduce fouling and scaling risks in process equipment
Minimize the need for continuous replacement of process cooling water
Support reliable long-term industrial operation
The exact benefits depend on the process medium, water quality, operating temperature and system design.
Industrial Applications
The Dry and Wet Combined Closed Cooling Tower can be configured for a range of industrial process cooling applications, including:
Chemical and Petrochemical Processing
Cooling reactors, process equipment, compressors and other heat-generating equipment.
Metallurgy and Metal Processing
Supporting continuous cooling requirements for production equipment and industrial processes.
Power and Energy
Providing closed-loop cooling for auxiliary process equipment and heat rejection applications.
Manufacturing
Suitable for production equipment requiring stable circulating cooling conditions.
Industrial Process Systems
Applicable to customized process cooling systems where water consumption and cooling reliability are important considerations.
Is This Cooling Tower Suitable for Your Project?
The Dry and Wet Combined Closed Cooling Tower may be suitable when your project has one or more of the following requirements:
High ambient temperatures
Significant industrial cooling loads
Limited availability of cooling water
High water-treatment or water-discharge costs
Seasonal changes in cooling demand
Requirement for closed-loop process cooling
Need to reduce annual spray-water consumption
Requirement for flexible dry and wet operation
For high-temperature regions such as the Middle East, Southeast Asia and South America, the final configuration should be selected according to local climate conditions and process requirements.
Information Required for Cooling Tower Selection
To recommend a suitable configuration, please provide:
Circulating flow rate
Inlet temperature
Required outlet temperature
Cooling load
Ambient temperature
Relative humidity
Operating hours per day
Annual operating conditions
Cooling medium
Available installation space
Local water quality
Power supply requirements
Based on these parameters, our engineering team can evaluate the required heat exchange area, airflow, spray-water demand and operating configuration.
Request a Project Evaluation
Send Your Cooling Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a dry and wet combined closed cooling tower?
A dry and wet combined closed cooling tower integrates dry air cooling and wet evaporative cooling in one closed-loop system. It can operate in dry, wet or combined mode according to ambient and process conditions.
Can the cooling tower operate without spray water?
Yes. In dry cooling mode, the spray-water system can be switched off and ambient air is used to remove heat from the circulating medium.
How much water can a dry and wet combined cooling tower save?
Depending on ambient conditions, cooling load, operating hours and system configuration, the system may achieve approximately 30%–85% annual water savings compared with conventional wet cooling configurations.
Actual savings must be evaluated based on project-specific conditions.
Is this cooling tower suitable for hot climates?
Yes. The wet evaporative cooling section can provide additional heat rejection under high ambient temperatures. The final design should consider local temperature, humidity, cooling load and required outlet temperature.
What is the maximum flow capacity?
The current design can provide a circulating flow capacity of up to 500 m³/h per unit, subject to the final equipment configuration and operating conditions.
What type of water can be used for the spray system?
Suitable fresh, reclaimed or treated water may be considered depending on water quality. Water chemistry should be evaluated before selecting the spray-water source.
What information do you need for a quotation?
We recommend providing the circulating flow rate, inlet and outlet temperatures, cooling load, ambient temperature and humidity, cooling medium, operating hours and installation conditions.
Request a Dry and Wet Combined Cooling Solution
Looking for a water-saving closed cooling system for your industrial process?
Send us your flow rate, inlet/outlet temperature, cooling load and local ambient conditions. Our engineering team can evaluate the operating requirements and recommend a suitable dry-wet combined cooling configuration.
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