COMPARISON OF CROSSFLOW VS COUNTERFLOW COOLING TOWER
COUNTER FLOW COOLING TOWER
1 1
Counter flow Cooling Towers are designed so
that air flows vertically upward, counter to
the flow of falling water in the fill. Because of
this vertical airflow, it is not possible to use
the open, gravity-flow basins typical in
crossflow designs. But uses a pressurized
water piping distribution system.
2 2
In a counter flow cooling tower the fill area is
not visible from the outside.
For maintenance purposes as well as for
inspection it is essential that the tower is to
be shut down and dismantled before any
inspection/maintenance can be carried out.
3 A running C-flow cooling tower may appear
apparently running fine, however, there may
hidden deterioration / scaling / fouling of the
fill and distribution system as the CT internals
are enclosed inside the casing wall.
Once the fill needs to be cleaned it has to be
done from dried up CW basin by water spray.
For replacement entire fill assembly to be
dismantled and reinstalled.
Maintenance down time is longer and costly.
4 Uses Hot pressed polystyrene for fill and
Eliminator material and louvers are made of
Aluminum or FRP sheets. Polystyrene is highly
inflammable.
5 Fan Power consumption is high due to higher
pressure drop in eliminator, pipe distribution
system , pressurized nozzles, fill and louvers.
6 The water is distributed in the cooling tower
by a sprinkler system where certain minimum
amount of pressure is required for the
sprinkler to distribute water.
Further, if the sprinkler gets choked due to
quality of water, uneven distribution takes
place inside the cooling tower leading to loss
CROSS FLOW COOLING TOWER
In crossflow towers the water flows
vertically through the fill while the air
flows horizontally, across the flow of the
falling water. It employs open gravity flow
basin for water distribution.
The fill area is visible from the outside
and can be approached both from outside
and from plenum area for checking the
condition of the fill whilst the tower is
running.
The hot water distribution deck is also
approachable whilst the tower is running
and choking of fills, nozzles can be
checked easily. Minor repairs including
cleaning of nozzles can be done without
taking a shutdown.
3 As stated above fill area can be checked
even during the running condition of the
cooling tower. Normally cleaning can be
done by water jet from outside or from
plenum area.
4 Employs vacuum formed PVC sheet with
integral louvres & drift eliminators. The
sheet profile ensures proper heat transfer
is achieved throughout the travel length.
PVC has good flame retardant properties.
5 Fan power consumption is low due to
lesser pressure drop across the integral
fill /louver and eliminator and absence of
pipe distribution system and pressurized
nozzles.
6 The water is distributed by gravity and
therefore the pumping head required for
the cooling tower is only the height of the
cooling tower from the basin level.
Nozzles are non-clogging type and can be
cleaned even whilst the tower is running.
 of cooling efficiency.
7 Foot print area requirement is comparatively
higher at a certain duty condition and design
parameter.
8 Can use only Film type fills if water quality is
good.
9 9
7 Because of trapezoidal cross-section of
Cross-flow cooling tower foot print area
requirement is lesser. As a result overall
area requirement for cross flow cooling
tower is lesser with comparison to
counter flow cooling tower.
8 In cross flow cooling tower both film fill
and splash type fills can be used.