Cooling towers on power stations - why?

The picture of the power station in Oman is using an air cooled condenser as against a cooling tower, which is historically more common in the UK. Both can be used by coal fired power stations and CCGT plants like the one in Oman. The third alternative is direct cooling, usually using seawater, but can be from lakes or rivers if the supply is adequate.

Direct cooling is the most efficient, followed by cooling towers, with air cooled condensers being the least efficient.

All UK nuclear power stations are direct cooled, but cooling towers are used in other parts of the world.

Modern UK CCGT power stations with cooling towers use the lower height forced air type i.e. they have a fan, rather than parabolic shaped type, which are more efficient, but more expensive.

The choice of cooling used for nuclear, coal, oil, gas and CCGT plants depends on water availability, environmental constraints and cost. The three cooling technologies will work in each case.

Lynton

The picture of the power station in Oman is using an air cooled condenser as against a cooling tower, which is historically more common in the UK. Both can be used by coal fired power stations and CCGT plants like the one in Oman. The third alternative is direct cooling, usually using seawater, but can be from lakes or rivers if the supply is adequate.

Direct cooling is the most efficient, followed by cooling towers, with air cooled condensers being the least efficient.

All UK nuclear power stations are direct cooled, but cooling towers are used in other parts of the world.

Modern UK CCGT power stations with cooling towers use the lower height forced air type i.e. they have a fan, rather than parabolic shaped type, which are more efficient, but more expensive.

The choice of cooling used for nuclear, coal, oil, gas and CCGT plants depends on water availability, environmental constraints and cost. The three cooling technologies will work in each case.

Lynton