Industrial Cooling Towers are Made From Many Materials
Here at Industrial Cooling Solutions Inc., we have a wealth of experience in building industrial cooling towers. These towers are vital to a wide range of businesses including, but not limited to, power generation, chemical plants, metal processing plants, and fertilizer production. With such a wide range of businesses in need of industrial cooling solutions, options had to be made available to fit each application’s needs. A cooling tower that may be perfect for a geothermal power plant might not work as well for a plant the specializes in producing industrial chemicals. In today’s post, we are going to go over the different types of materials used in the construction of industrial cooling tower and the advantages and disadvantages that they offer.
Industry and Environment Greatly Affect Industrial Cooling Tower Design
When determining what materials to use in constructing our industrial cooling towers, we here at Industrial Cooling Solutions Inc. consider a wide range of variables. To select the right materials, our team of engineers consider factors such as usage of the tower, the climate of the area the tower will be located, type of exposure to corrosive agents, imposed loads, cost, and the availability of materials in relation to the construction site. Once we have done this research, we determine what type of tower will best suit the needs and budget of our clients. Most commonly, we build towers out of three types of material.
- Wood: Most early cooling towers were built out of wood. At the time, wood was cost-effective, resilient, and, most importantly, easier to work with. In the modern world of industrial cooling towers, wood towers are less common because they are susceptible to environmental factors and are less durable than other types of towers. Despite these drawbacks, wood towers can be desirable for certain projects because they can be constructed quickly and at a lower cost than other cooling tower types.
- Fiberglass Reinforced Polymer: In recent years, fiberglass reinforced polymer, or FRP, has become an increasingly popular choice for industrial cooling tower construction. FRP is praised for its reliability and durability and is also highly cost effective. FRP towers are chemically resistant, lightweight, inorganic, and able to resist rot and decay. Additionally, FRP is sometimes desired in place of wood because it is naturally fire retardant, stronger than wood, and more flexible than wood. This flexibility is especially important in areas that experience heavy storms or an excessive amount of ice build up.
- Concrete: Although concrete towers have many benefits, depending on the country, location of the construction site, and the availability of materials to both mix and reinforce the concrete, concrete may or may not be a cost-effective material choice. However, if concrete is deemed to be the best material to use on a project, it comes with a plethora of benefits. Concrete is long lasting, fireproof, requires very low maintenance, and is an ideal material to use in areas where the industrial cooling tower will be exposed to harsh elements. Though the initial cost may be higher than other materials, concrete is a great material to use if longevity and durability are a main focus in the tower’s design.
We hope that this blog has helped to shed a little more light on the materials used in industrial cooling tower construction projects, why certain materials are used over others, and the advantages that these materials offer to our clients. Here at Industrial Cooling Solutions Inc., we handle every project with a level of care and dedication that sets us apart from the competition. We have built a wide variety of industrial cooling towers in a wide range of conditions and environments, allowing us to gain experience that we can pass onto our clients. We complete our projects in a timely, safe, and efficient manner, helping your industry get back to business with as little interruption or downtime as possible.
When you are ready to plan your next industrial cooling tower construction project, contact the experts at Industrial Cooling Solutions Inc. We have the knowledge, experience, and resources to deliver high-quality industrial cooling towers to a wide range of industries. Don’t settle for second best, contact us today and get your project rolling.