Comparison of different recooling systems under the aspect of carbon footprint

Disposal of heat into the atmosphere may seem like a waste of a precious good. But what to do with the heat that cannot be used for other purposes? Probably the temperature level is too low or there is simply no way to use it.

In any case, a recooling system is necessary. There is a wide range of different technologies available: Dry coolers, adiabatic coolers, hybrid coolers, open or closed cooling towers.
The different technologies are not easy to compare, because they influence the basic process.
Until today energy efficiency for a chiller is mainly given for a dry condenser or dry cooler. Wet cooling can lower the condensing or glycol temperature significantly, and by that energy efficiency of the whole process rises.

But this advantage leads to additional requirements for water treatment, and of course water costs.

Materials and production are another point that account for the carbon footprint. Different types of heat exchangers consist of different materials. Fin and tube heat exchanger typically consist of aluminum fins, copper tubes. A cooling tower is made of steel with a significant number of plastic parts. Bot share electrical parts like fans, controller, and pumps.

The aspects energy efficiency, carbon footprint and operational costs are important general points to consider when designing a recooling system. For solving a specific challenge of heat dissipation other points like sound, power density or area of placement could be critical.