In an open recirculating system, cooling is achieved through evaporation of a fraction of the water. There are two distinct types of systems for water cooling and reuse: open and closed recirculating systems. The water can be discharged at the increased temperature into a receiving body (once-through cooling system), or it can be cooled and reused (recirculating cooling system).

Water heated in the heat exchange process can be handled in one of two ways. These effects, and the control of conditions that foster them, are addressed in subsequent chapters. The tendency of a system to corrode, scale, or support microbiological growth is also affected by water temperature. Many of the properties of water, along with the behavior of the contaminants it contains, are affected by temperature. The transfer of heat from process fluids or equipment results in a rise in temperature, or even a change of state, in the cooling water. For exceptional cases such as the indirect cooling of molten metal, the heat flux can be as high as 3,000,000 Btu/ft 2/hr. The heat flux is generally low and in the range of 5,000 to 15,000 Btu/ft 2/hr. In most cooling systems, this is in the range of 10-200 degrees F. The driving force for the transfer of heat is the difference in temperature between the two media. However, the heat transfer concepts and calculations discussed in this chapter can also be applied to other fluids.Įfficient removal of heat is an economic requirement in the design and operation of a cooling system. Heat removed from one medium is transferred to another medium, or process fluid. The function of a cooling system is to remove heat from processes or equipment. Learn more about SUEZ's cooling water treatment programs. SUEZ offers a broad range of advanced cooling water treatment solutions, designed specifically to enhance and maximize your heat transfer efficiency.

Heat exchanger flow chart