Used Cooling Towers
Cooling towers reject heat from industrial processes and HVAC systems by evaporating a small portion of recirculated water. They transfer thermal energy from process water to the atmosphere, maintaining the operating temperatures required by equipment and production lines. Designs range from small package units for individual process loads to large field-erected structures serving entire facilities.
Federal Equipment Company stocks used cooling towers with capacities ranging from under 50 tons to over 2,000 tons. Inventory includes crossflow and counterflow configurations, single-cell and multi-cell designs, and units built with galvanized steel housings or stainless steel basins. Available towers come from leading manufacturers and are suited for process cooling, HVAC, and utility applications across a range of industries.
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Cooling towers operate on the principle of evaporative heat rejection. Hot process water enters the tower and flows over fill media, which breaks the water into thin films or droplets to maximize surface area. Air is drawn or forced through the fill by fans, and a small percentage of the water evaporates, absorbing heat from the remaining water stream. The cooled water collects in a basin at the bottom of the tower and recirculates back to the process.
Two primary airflow configurations define most industrial cooling towers. Counterflow towers direct air upward against the downward flow of water, which provides efficient heat transfer in a compact footprint. Crossflow towers draw air horizontally across the falling water, allowing gravity-fed water distribution that simplifies maintenance and reduces pumping requirements.
Cooling towers are available in package (factory-assembled) and field-erected configurations. Package towers ship as complete units ready for installation and typically serve loads up to several hundred tons. Field-erected towers are built on-site for larger capacities and can be customized to meet specific thermal performance requirements. Multi-cell designs use two or more cells operating in parallel, allowing operators to stage capacity based on load and providing redundancy during maintenance.
Federal Equipment Company carries used cooling towers from established manufacturers, including Marley, Baltimore Aircoil Company (BAC), and Evapco. Available units range from approximately 45 tons to over 2,200 tons of cooling capacity, with single-cell through four-cell configurations. Many units include circulation pumps, fan motors, and basin heaters. All equipment is available for inspection, and Federal Equipment Company can coordinate disassembly, rigging, and transportation.
Applications & Industries
- Process cooling for pharmaceutical manufacturing, including reactor jacket cooling, distillation condensers, and HVAC systems in controlled environments
- Cooling water supply for chemical processing plants, including heat exchanger loops, compressor cooling, and exothermic reaction temperature control
- Condenser water systems for chiller plants and central HVAC installations in manufacturing facilities
- Injection mold cooling and hydraulic oil temperature control in plastics processing operations
- Process water cooling for food and beverage production, including pasteurization, blanching, and refrigeration support
- Power generation auxiliary cooling, including generator cooling loops and turbine lube oil systems
- Utility systems providing centralized cooling water to multiple process loads across a facility
Specifications & Configurations
Cooling tower specifications vary widely depending on the application and thermal load. Key parameters to evaluate when sourcing a used tower include:
Cooling Capacity: Measured in tons of refrigeration, with available units typically ranging from under 50 tons for small process loads to over 2,000 tons for large industrial and multi-cell installations. Capacity depends on the design wet-bulb temperature, water flow rate, and the required cooling range (the difference between hot and cold water temperatures).
Airflow Configuration: Counterflow designs direct air vertically upward against the falling water for efficient heat transfer. Crossflow designs draw air horizontally across the water stream. Both induced-draft and forced-draft arrangements are available.
Cell Configuration: Single-cell towers serve smaller loads; multi-cell towers provide higher capacity and redundancy.
Construction Materials: Galvanized steel housings, stainless steel basins, and PVC or polypropylene fill media are common.
Water Flow Rate: Expressed in GPM; inventory ranges from approximately 1,100 GPM to over 6,600 GPM depending on size.
Fan Motors: Fan drive systems range from ~2 HP to 200 HP with direct-drive or belt-driven configurations; VFDs are often used for energy optimization.
Why Buy Used
Used cooling towers offer practical advantages for facility upgrades, expansions, and replacement projects. New tower procurement often involves extended lead times for engineering, fabrication, and delivery, particularly for larger field-erected units. Used towers are available for faster deployment, reducing project timelines significantly.
Cost savings on used cooling towers typically range from 40% to 70% compared to new equipment. Federal Equipment Company can arrange inspection and refurbishment services—such as fill media replacement, fan motor overhaul, basin repair, and structural touch-up—to ensure mechanical and thermal performance prior to shipment.
