What type of heat exchange occurs at the exterior sides of a cooling tower?

The exterior sides of a cooling tower primarily facilitate heat exchange through convection. In this process, warmer air near the cooling tower rises and is replaced by cooler air from the surroundings. This natural movement of air enhances the heat transfer from the water inside the cooling tower to the outside environment, allowing for efficient cooling.

Convection plays a critical role in the operation of cooling towers because they are designed to maximize air movement across the water as it spills or flows down the fill material. The heat from the water is transferred to the air primarily through this convective process, which allows for the cooling of the water as it passes through the tower.

This method of heat exchange is vital in a cooling tower’s efficiency, as it minimizes the water temperature through evaporation and air convection, leading to the intended reduction in temperature before the water is recirculated in the system.

The other types of heat exchange—conduction, radiation, and evaporation—while relevant in other contexts, do not primarily govern the heat exchange at the exterior sides of a cooling tower.