Industrial Cooling Towers are Changing
As with any other piece of technology, industrial cooling towers are changing with the times. Where once these towers were made from wood, advancements in design and materials have led to more efficient cooling towers. One of these advancements, FRP, has a had a large impact on the industrial cooling tower world and in today’s blog we here at Industrial Cooling Solutions Inc. want to go briefly go over this amazing material.
What is FRP?
FRP is the abbreviated form of fibre-reinforced plastic. FRP was developed in 1909 by doctor Leo Baekeland as he was trying to find a replacement for shellac. The resulting compound, known as Bakelite was a strong, lightweight plastic that helped to pave the way for the development of a wide range of plastics and polymers. FRPs are best suited for any design that requires little weight, precision engineering, finite tolerances, and the simplification of production and operation parts. Fibre-reinforced plastic is cheaper, faster, and easier to manufacture than cast aluminum or steel parts, and maintains similar and sometimes better tolerances and material strengths than these materials.
How is FRP Used in Industrial Cooling Towers?
FRP cooling towers are quickly becoming the preferred cooling tower worldwide. With an increase in demand, the supply rate of FRP cooling towers has also seen immense growth. FRP cooling towers have become so popular for the following reasons:
- FRP cooling towers are light in weight
- FRP cooling towers are chemical resistant and stand up to a wider range of pH levels
- FRP cooling towers are naturally fire resistance and limit the amount of fire protection devices needed on a site
- FRP cooling towers are quick to assemble and are a cost effective alternative to traditional tower materials
- FRP cooling towers help to inhibit UV penetration and are naturally corrosion resistant.
While all of these benefits make an FRP cooling tower an attractive choice for industrial cooling applications, the biggest benefit is their durability. FRP cooling towers, because of their natural resistance to corrosive chemicals and environmental corrosion, can be placed in areas that normally would not be suitable for an industrial cooling tower. While FRP towers have seen a major popularity boom in developing countries such as India, China, and Indonesia, they are also becoming an increasingly popular option for domestic use as well.
FRP and the Future
Here at Industrial Cooling Solutions Inc., we are always looking toward the future in regard to industrial cooling towers. Our business depends on the fact that we keep up with the latest advancements in technology and building techniques in the industrial cooling tower world. With that being said, we feel the fibre-reinforced plastics are going to continue to play a vital role in the development of lighter, more efficient, and more cost-effective industrial cooling towers.
To learn more about our industrial cooling tower services, or to get a quote on building or retrofitting a current cooling tower, visit our website today. We have the knowledge, skills, and experience you deserve when upgrading your industrial cooling tower.