COOLING TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE

Nomenclature for
Industrial Water-Cooling Towers

Revised July 2015 CTI Bulletin BUL-109 (15)

This document was developed using the consensus procedure outlined in the CTI Operating Procedure 304
and has been approved for publication by the CTI Board of Directors
 Foreword
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Nothing contained herein is to be construed as granting any right for the manufacture, sale or use in
connection with any method, apparatus, or product covered by letters patent, nor as insuring anyone against
liability for infringement of letters patent.
This guideline document summarizes the best current state of knowledge regarding the specific subject.
This document represents a consensus of those individual members who have reviewed this document, its
scope and provisions. It is intended to aid all users or potential users of cooling towers.

Approved by the CTI Executive Board.

This document has been reviewed and

approved as part of CTI’s Five Year
review Cycle. This document is again
subject to review in 2020.

Copyright 2015
Approved by the by Cooling Tower Institute CTI - Bulletin
CTI Executive Board Printed in U.S.A. BUL-109
 PART I
GLOSSARY OF TERMS

A
Access Tunnel - Opening in a tower used for access to the cold water basin. It can be large enough for a
man only, or large enough for mechanical equipment.
Acid - any substance that donates a proton (H+) when dissolved in a solution. In water treatment, it usually
means circulating water with a pH of less than 7.0. Sulfuric acid is the most common acid used to control
cooling water pH.
Actuator – A type of motor used for moving or controlling a mechanism or system. Can be automatic or
manual.
Adsorption - assimilation of molecules or other substances onto the physical structure of a liquid or solid
without chemical reaction.
Aeration - blowing or mixing of air through water to sweep out other dissolved gases and to equilibrate the
water with primarily nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Aerobe - an organism that grows only in the presence of free (molecular) oxygen.
Air Cooled Condenser – ACC, a system of tubes usually with fins, connected to steam ducts and
condensate piping usually carrying steam or other fluids where the steam is condensed by air being blown
over the tubes. The air is normally provided by an axial flow fan in a forced or induced draft arrangement.
Air flow - Total amount of dry air and associated water vapor flowing through the tower.
Air power - The measure of useful power required to move a given air rate against a given resistance. The
ratio of air power to fan input power is the measure of fan efficiency.
Air Inlet - Opening in a cooling tower through which air enters a tower.
Air Inlet Velocity – The velocity of air at the inlet and is a function of the air volume and the inlet size.
Algae - A low form of plant life containing chlorophyll that generally requires sunlight and air for
existence. Many are microscopic but under favorable conditions can grow sufficiently dense to plug
cooling tower distributors on the decks and to interfere with water splashing in the fill. Large masses often
slough off the tower and plug heat exchangers or deposit in piping.
Algaecide - A toxic material which will retard or prevent the growth of algae and slimes. An algaecide or
algicide is a biocide (see biocide).
Alkalinity - an expression of the total basic anions (hydroxyl groups) that are present in a solution. It also
represents, particularly in water analysis, the bicarbonate, carbonate, hydroxyl and occasionally the borate,
silicate, and phosphate salts which will react with water to produce acid neutralizable anions.
Ambient - The atmosphere which is adjacent to but not affected by the cooling tower. Generally, this
means upwind of the tower, and the other areas where other heat producing equipment is located that
supplies extraneous sources of heat to the air coming to the tower.
Ambient dew point - The ambient temperature in oF (oC) at which water begins condensing out of air (e.g.
when dew begins to be deposited) if the air is being cooled at a constant pressure.
Ambient wet-bulb temperature - The wet-bulb temperature that is measured in accordance with the
definition of ambient. Readings are obtained by means of a mechanically aspirated psychrometer or wet-
bulb instrument.
Ammonia - a water-soluble, colorless, pungent gas with the formula NH3.
Ammonium - positive ion with the formula NH4+ that forms when ammonia dissolves in water. It adds
non-natural alkalinity to the water.
Anaerobe (facultative) - An organism that can grow under either aerobic or anaerobic conditions.
Anaerobe (strict) - An organism that grows only in the absence of free oxygen (e.g., sulfate reducing
bacteria).
Anchor Bolt - A threaded bolt embedded in a concrete basin or fitted to supported members, to which
anchors are attached.
Anion - A negatively charged ion.
Anode - A positively charged electrode that, during electrolysis, attracts anions.
Anodic Area - Area on a metal surface where electrons are given up and metal dissolves (corrosion).
Anti-fouling Fill – A fill media which is inherently more resistant to propagation of fouling/deposits (see
fouling). Anti-fouling fills are often characterized to have vertical flute design or other geometries which
retard or mitigate the formation of fill deposits/clogging.
Antifoam - An agent that prevents foam from forming or reduces its presence.
Anti-Reverse Rotation Device – A device that prevents fans from freewheeling backwards.
Approach - The difference between the cold water temperature and the wet-bulb temperature in oF (oC).
Atmospheric Tower - One in which air movement through the tower is dependent upon atmospheric
conditions and not by fans.
Atomic Number - A number given to each element representing the number of protons in one atom of that
element.
Atomic Weight – The average mass of an element as it occurs in nature that is expressed in atomic mass
units.
Autotrophic - An organism that is capable of producing its own food through the use of chlorophyll and
light.

B
Bacteria - Unicellular microorganisms which reproduce by fission or spores, identified by their shapes:
coccus, round; bacillus, rod shaped; and spirillum, curved.
Basin - (see Cold Water Basin and Distribution Basin).
Basin cover - Used to cover the hot water basin in a crossflow tower to decrease algae growth.
Basin Curb - The top level of the retaining wall of the cold water basin; usually the datum point from
which tower elevation points are measured.
Basin Sump - (see Sump).
Bay - The area between two bents or lines of framing members.
Beam - (see Joist).
Bent - A line of structural framework composed of columns, girts or ties; a bent may incorporate diagonal
bracing members.
Bevel Washer - A metal fitting used to accommodate through-bolts to angular position of a diagonal
member, usually connecting to columns or other framework members.
Bicarbonate Alkalinity - In a water solution, the presence of ions resulting from the hydrolysis of
carbonates when these salts react with water. A strong base and a weak acid are produced and the solution
is alkaline. Its formula is HCO3-, but its concentration is usually denoted as ppm as CaCO3.
Biocide - A chemical that is designed to kill troublesome microbes.
Biological Deposit - Water-formed deposits of organisms or their waste products (example: slimes,
barnacles, etc.).
Biostat - A chemical that is designed to control the population of troublesome microbes by inhibiting their
reproduction and subsequent increase in population.
Blow out - Water that is blown or pulled out of the air inlet by wind (Sometimes referred to as
“splashout”).
Blow through – Air or water blowing from one cell to another if partition walls are not present.
Blowdown – Water deliberately discharged from the system to control concentration of salts or other
impurities in the circulating water.
Blower - A centrifugal fan usually applied for operation at higher than normal static pressures or for sound
control reasons.
Blue Book - A book of demand curves published by the Cooling Tower Institute used to evaluate
cooling towers. The curves represent the solution of the Merkel equation of a variety of ranges,
approaches, and wet bulb temperatures. The book was replaced by a software version known as the CTI
ToolKit.
Brace - (see Diagonal).
Brake Horsepower (BHP) - The actual power output of an engine or a motor.
Breakthrough velocity - The air velocity at which visible droplets consistently get re-entrained into the
exiting air stream. The actual velocity varies based on the class of drift eliminator.
British Thermal Unit (BTU) - The quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of one lb of water 1oF
from 39oF to 40oF.
Bypass pipe – A secondary pipe or other channel connected with a main pipe for conducting circulating
water around the fill media directly into the cold water basin.

C
Caissons - (see Foundation).
Canopy - Connects the hyperbolic shell of a crossflow natural draft tower to the cooling section, acting as
an air conduit and air seal between the two.
Capability – (see Thermal Capability)
Capacity - (see Thermal Capacity).
Carbonate Hardness - Hardness in water caused by bicarbonates of calcium and magnesium. If alkalinity
exceeds total hardness, all hardness is carbonate hardness; if hardness exceeds alkalinity, the carbonate
hardness equals the alkalinity.
Casing - Material enclosing a sidewall or end wall of a tower, exclusive of the louvers.
Casing Panel - A pre-assembled or pre-cut unit of the casing.
Cathode - A negatively charged electrode (which attracts cations in electrolysis).
Cation - A positively charged ion resulting from dissociation of molecules in solution.
Cell - The smallest tower subdivision which can function as an independent unit with regard to air and
water flow; it is bounded by walls or partitions. Each cell may have one or more fans or stacks and one or
more distribution systems.
Cell Dimensions - (a) Width: dimensions perpendicular to tower longitudinal axis; (b) Length: dimension
parallel to tower longitudinal axis; (c) Height: distance from basin curb to top of fan deck but not including
fan stack. Nominal width and length are measured from and to the column center lines.
Certification – A program whereby the Cooling Technology Institute will certify that all models of a line
of evaporative heat rejection equipment offered for sale by a specific Manufacturer will perform thermally
in accordance with the Manufacturer's published ratings. (see STD-201)
Characteristic curve - A plot of the thermal characteristic value KaV/L on the ordinate axis vs the L/G
(liquid to gas) or G/L (gas to liquid) ratio on the abscissa axis. Characteristic curves can be drawn for any
of the heat transfer sections of a tower – the fill section, rain zone, and spray zone – and curves may
incorporate different combinations or amounts of each of these sections depending on the author of the
curves. Characteristic curves may also be drawn for the total heat transfer characteristic of the entire
cooling tower system.
Chemical Dosage - The amount of chemical added to a system, usually expressed as ppm, or pounds of
chemical per million pounds of water.
Chloramine - A compound formed when chlorine reacts with ammonia or a chemical containing the
ammonium ion. The result is mono-, di-, tri-, and organochloramines. The resulting chloramines are weak
oxidants or nonoxidants. They are a component of total chlorine. These are very weak biocides.
Chlorination - Adding chlorine or a chlorine derivative to water to prevent the growth of various
organisms that cause biofouling. (see Dechlorination)
Chlorine - A poisonous yellow gas with chemical symbol Cl2 used for water treatment. It is soluble in
water but can be removed by reducing aeration and reaction with sunlight.
Chlorine Demand - The relation of the amount of chlorine to be added to a system to react with chlorine-
oxidizable material until a free residual in a given system is achieved.
Chlorine Dioxide - A compound with the symbol ClO2, used mainly for bleaching wood pulp for paper. It
is also used for the taste and odor control of phenolic compounds in water and can be used as a disinfectant
in cooling towers.
Chlorine, Free - The total amount of hypochlorous ion and hypochlorous acid in the system.
Chlorine, Residual - The amount of available chlorine present in water at any given time subsequent to the
addition of chlorine.
Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) - A wood preservative and treatment chemical consisting of
chromium, copper, and arsenic. The EPA has classified CCA as a restricted use product, for use only by
certified pesticide applicators.
Circulating Water Rate - Quantity of water pumped per unit of time from the tower basin to the
equipment to be cooled.
Coil Shed - Portion of the tower structure housing atmospheric (tubular) heat exchangers.
Cold Water Basin - A device underlying the tower to receive the cold water from the tower and direct its
flow to the suction line or sump.
Cold Water Temperature (CWT) - Average temperature of the water at the discharge point from the cold
water basin excluding the effect of any make-up entering the basin. Unit oF or oC.
Column - A main vertical supporting member in the tower framework.
Column Anchor - A device for attaching the tower structure to the foundation.
Combined Chlorine - The amount of chloramine or chloro-organic compounds present in water.
Compounds - Substances formed from the chemical bonding of two or more atoms.
Concentration - The process of increasing solids per unit volume of solution, usually by evaporation of the
liquid; also, the amount of material dissolved in a unit volume of solution. This occurs in a cooling tower
due to evaporation that cools the water. It is normally expressed directly as ppm or indirectly as mhos
conductivity. (See also Water Loading and Cycles Of Concentration.)
Concrete Cooling Tower - Cooling tower in which the structure is made of concrete.
Conductivity - The ability of water to conduct electricity. When measured with a standard apparatus, it is
called specific conductivity and is a function of the total ionic dissolved solids. As a rule of thumb, TDS =
2/3 specific conductance measured as micromhos or microsiemens.
Cooling Range - (see Range).
Cooling Tower Dimensions - (see Nominal or Overall Cooling Tower Dimensions).
Cooling Tower Pump Head - The pressure necessary to pump water through a cooling tower. It
includes the head of water necessary to overcome piping and/or nozzle losses internal to the
cooling tower, the static head required (vertical distance between the inlet centerline and the basin
curb), and any velocity head losses.
Cooling Water - Water circulated through a cooling system to remove heat from heat generating
equipment.
Copper Alloys - Metals made from a mixture of copper and another metal. (Example brass = copper +
zinc).
Corrosion - To be dissolved away, usually by oxidation or acidification. This usually refers to metal loss
in cooling systems, often recognized by the local reaction of the dissolved metal with oxygen, carbon
dioxide, acids or galvanic action. May result in general (widespread) or pitting loss of the metal.
Corrosion Coupon - A small piece of metal that is inserted into a circulating system that can be analyzed
to find the corrosive nature of the system's water.
Corrosion Fatigue - The weakening of a pipe or similar piece of metal due to corrosion acting on it.
Corrosion Inhibitor - Chemical used in a system to prevent corrosion.
Counterflow Cooling Tower – A tower in which air, drawn in (natural draft or induced draft) or forced in
(forced draft) at the base, flows upward through the fill and moves counter current to the falling hot water.
Cross Struts Diagonally oriented framework that holds up the hyperbolic shell of a natural draft tower.
The number of cross struts varies according to shell size.
Crossflow Cooling Tower – A tower in which air, drawn in (natural draft or induced draft) or forced in
(forced draft) through the air intakes, flows horizontally across the fill and moves perpendicular to the
falling hot water.
CWT - (abbr.) - (see Cold Water Temperature).
Cycles of Concentration - Compares dissolved solids in make-up water with solids in the circulating
water. Since chlorides are soluble in water, for example, the cycles of concentration are equal to the ratio
of chlorides in circulating water to chlorides in the make-up water.
Cylinder - (see Fan Stack).

D
Dampers – An operable louver.
DBT - (abbr.) - (see Dry-Bulb Temperature).
Dechlorination - The act of removing chlorine from water, usually via a reducing agent or strong aeration.
Deck Batt – (obs.) - (see Splash Bar).
Deck Stringer – (obs.) – The portion of a wooden splash fill deck that supports the splash bars in a fixed
position.
Deck Support – The horizontal structural member supporting splash fill decks. (Not related to Fan Deck
Support.)
Deflocculation - The ability of some materials such as polyphosphides to peptize and disperse suspensions
of colloidal particles.
Delignification - The dissolving of the lignin portion of wood usually by strong alkaline and/or oxidizing
agents.
Demister - Term often used synonymously for drift eliminator. However, by definition mists are much
smaller than drift droplets. As a result typical cooling tower drift eliminators do not scrub out mists.
Denitrification - The removal of nitrogen from a system. This may be done chemically or biologically.
Design conditions - Typically a reference to thermal design conditions which include: the hot water
temperature (HWT), cold water temperature (CWT), water circulation rate, fan power, and wet-bulb
temperature (WBT) in mechanical draft towers. In natural draft towers; HWT, CWT, GPM, WBT plus
either dry bulb temperature (DBT) or relative humidity (RH). Design Conditions can also refer to other site
specific requirements, such as noise level, drift rate, lateral loads or codes to be used for the structural
design.
De-silting sump - The area in the cold water basin, usually at a low point, where silt can be flushed to a
drain.
Diagonal - (see also Cross Struts for Natural Draft Tower) - A framework or load bearing member
transmitting forces at other than a right angle with reference to columns or horizontal ties. Also known as a
Brace.
Direct Drive Motor – A motor coupled directly to the fan.
Discharge Hood - A walled enclosure extending upward above the eliminators to direct exhaust air
vertically away from fans in a forced draft tower.
Disinfect - To remove microorganisms from a surface or liquid.
Dispersant - A chemical that causes particulates in a water system to remain in or be placed into
suspension.
Dissolved Gases - Total gases dissolved in a liquid.
Dissolved Solids - Total solids that have been dissolved into a liquid. They may be ionic and/or polar in
nature.
Distribution Basin - A shallow basin in a crossflow tower used to hold the nozzles that distribute hot water
over the tower fill.
Distribution Box - Used in conjunction with the manifold and valve assembly in a crossflow tower
distribution basin to disperse the hot water uniformly in all directions thereby increasing the effectiveness
of the distribution nozzles.
Distribution Deck - A fill deck that is located directly under the distribution basin or nozzles. The purpose
of this deck is to receive water from the basin or nozzle and disperse it uniformly over the fill.
Distribution Header - Pipe or flume delivering water from inlet connection to lateral headers, troughs,
flumes, or distribution basins.
Distribution Nozzle - (see Nozzle and/or Distribution System).
Distribution Pad – A shallow layer of cross fluted film fill located directly under the distribution nozzles
whose purpose is to distribute the water uniformly over the fill.
Distribution System – The components of a tower, beginning with the inlet connection, which distribute
the hot circulating, water within the tower to the points where it contacts the air. In a counterflow tower,
this includes the header, laterals, and distribution nozzles. In a crossflow tower, the system includes the
header or manifold, valves, distribution box, distribution basin, and nozzles.
Dog House – a type of basin cover designed as a ‘roof’, which permits access to the Hot Water Basin
without the cover being removed.
Double-flow Cooling Tower - A crossflow tower with two fill sections, two distribution basins, and one
central plenum chamber under the fan.
Down spout – (obs.) - A short vertically placed pipe or nozzle used in an open top gravity distribution
system to divert water from a flume or lateral to a splash plate.
Drift - Water lost from the tower as liquid droplets of circulating water entrained in the exhaust air. It is
independent of water lost by evaporation. Drift eliminators control this loss from the tower.
Drift Eliminator – A component that serves to minimize entrained water droplets from the discharged air.
Drift eliminators can be either blade or cellular in design and operate on the principle of inertial impaction.
Drift rate – The drift emission from a cooling tower, usually expressed as a percentage of the total
circulating water flow rate. Can also be expressed as a mass per unit time related to water or air flow.
Drive Shaft - A device including couplings for transmitting torque from the driver to the speed (gear)
reducer.
Driver - Primary drive for the fan drive assembly. It may be an electric motor, gas engine, steam turbine,
hydraulic motor, or other power source.
Dry-bulb Temperature (DBT) - The temperature of the air as measured by a temperature sensor.

E
Effective Volume - (see Net Effective Volume).
Electrode - Conductor that carries an electrical charge.
Electrolyte - A chemical compound that dissociates or ionizes in water to produce a solution that will
conduct an electric current; an acid, base, or salt.
Electronic Level Control – An electronically controlled valve located in the water supply line that controls the
cold water basin water level. (see also Flow Control Valve)
Element –One of the basic substances that are made of atoms of only one kind and that cannot be separated by
ordinary chemical means into simpler substances.
Eliminator - (see Drift Eliminator).
Eliminator Blade – The active element of a drift eliminator assembly.
Eliminator Board - The smallest component in a wood drift eliminator assembly which is usually
installed in a fixed position at an angle to the direction of air flow. Also known as Eliminator Blade.
End Wall - The wall on the end of the tower structure.
Entering Air – The cooling air that enters the cooling tower.
Entering Wet-Bulb Temperature - Wet-bulb temperature of the entering air. Includes any effects of
recirculation and/or interference. Also see Inlet Wet-Bulb Temperature.
EPA 316b - Section of the Clean Water Act requiring the EPA to issue regulations on the design and
operation of intake structures, in order to minimize adverse environmental impacts to aquatic life.
Equivalent Weight - The mass of a substance in grams that combines with or is chemically equivalent to
eight grams of oxygen or one gram of hydrogen : the atomic or molecular weight divided by the valence.
Evaporation Loss - Water evaporated from the circulating water into the atmosphere by the cooling
process.
Evaporation Rate - The rate at which a liquid turns into gas and leaves a system.
Exhaust Air - The mixture of air and its associated vapor leaving the tower (see Air Flow).
Exhaust Wet-bulb Temperature – Average wet-bulb temperature of the air discharged from the cooling
tower.
Exit water temperature - Temperature of the circulating water leaving the cold water basin. If make-up is
added to the basin, the temperature will be affected accordingly.
Exit diameter - Diameter of the shell at the top in a hyperbolic natural draft tower or at the top of a fan
stack.
External Pier – (see Pilaster).
F
Fan - A device for moving air in a mechanical draft tower. The fan design may be either an axial flow
propeller or centrifugal blower. The fan can be applied as induced draft or forced draft.
Fan Blade Track – The location of the horizontal plane of the fan blade tips with reference to each other.
Fan Coverage – Projecting the fan opening down 45 degrees through the plenum to the drift eliminator
plane. This is the ratio of the projected fan area to the total area.
Fan Deck - The surface enclosing the top of an induced draft cooling tower. In a counterflow cooling
tower, the fan deck covers the entire top surface of the tower. In a crossflow cooling tower, the open fan
deck covers only the tower plenum area outside of the fan stack, leaving the distribution system exposed.
An extended fan deck encloses the distribution system and covers the entire top surface of the cooling
tower.
Fan Deck Support – The structural members (joists) upon which the fan deck is attached.
Fan Drive Assembly - Mechanical components furnishing power to the fan, usually consisting of driver,
drive shaft, speed reducer, and supporting members.
Fan Driver – Any mechanism that powers the fan such as an electric motor.
Fan Driver Input - Power input to the driver. This must take into account motor and gearbox efficiency.
Fan Driver Output - Power output of the driver to the drive shaft (Fan driver input x motor efficiency).
Fan Guard - A protective screen installed either at the inlet of a forced draft fan or at the exit of an
induced draft fan.
Fan Pitch - The angle that a fan blade makes relative to the plane of rotation.
Fan Ring - (see Fan Stack).
Fan Shaft Power – Mechanical power required to drive the air moving equipment. This does not include
the gearbox efficiency.(see Motor Shaft Power)
Fan Stack - Cylindrical or modified cylindrical structure in which the fan operates. Fan stacks are used on
both induced draft and forced draft axial flow propeller fans. Also known as “Cylinder” or “Shroud”.
Fan Stack Height - Distance from top of fan deck to top of fan stack.
Fan Support - (see Mechanical Equipment Support).
Fan Tip Speed – Tangential speed of the fan tip.
Fan Tracking – see Fan Blade Track.
Fatigue, Corrosion - The weakening of a piece of metal or pipe due to corrosion.
Ferrobacillus - A type of iron-reducing bacteria.
Filamentous Bacteria - Bacteria with a long, thread-like shape.
Fill - That part of an evaporative cooling tower that effects heat and mass transfer by slowing water fall and
increasing water surface area between the circulating water and the air flowing through the tower. (Also
known as “packing”.)
Fill Bar – (see Splash Bar).
Fill Batt - (see Splash Bar).
Fill Deck – One of the horizontal layers of splash bars or grids within a cooling tower.
Fill Hangar – A lattice-like support in a tower for fill bars which suspend and hold the bars in position.
Fill Pack – An assembly of sheets bonded together into a block which comprises the fill in a cooling tower.
Fill Supports - The main structural members supporting the fill. The members can be used as either
bottom supports for modular fills or used to hang sheets, splash grids or bars.
Film Fill - Packs comprised of thin, closely-spaced sheets over which water films thus creating a large
surface area. These fills yield increase exposure of the water to the air stream for significant improvement
in evaporation and cooling when compared to splash fill.
Firewall - A double wall or other partition between cells used to isolate separate fire protection systems or
zones and designed according to NFPA 214.
Fire Protection System – A system that suppresses a fire. It can be of the following general types, Open-
head deluge system, Closed-head dry pipe system, Wet-pipe automatic sprinkler system, or Closed-head
pre-action system. (see NFPA 214)
Flexible Shaft - (see Drive Shaft).
Float Valve - A valve that is actuated by a float, generally used to control make-up water supply and thus
cold water basin water level.
Flocculation - The process of agglomerating coagulated particles into settleable flocs, usually of a
gelatinous nature.
Flow Control Valve - A manually controlled or electrically actuated valve generally located in a water
supply line used to increase or decrease the flow of a liquid in a system.
Flume - A trough, which may be totally enclosed or open at the top. Flumes are used in counterflow and
natural draft cooling towers for the manifold pipe laterals to distribute the hot water over the fill. A flume
could also direct cold water from the tower to a remote pumping sump or structure.
Fogging - A fog condition created when the exhaust air or plume from a cooling tower, which is essentially
a saturated air-water vapor mixture warmer than the ambient air, becomes supersaturated so that part of
the water vapor condenses into visible liquid droplets.
Fogging Frequency curve – a graph delineating tower inlet conditions, usually relative humidity vs wet
bulb temperature, that lead to the formation of a visible plume at the tower air discharge location.
Forced Draft Cooling Tower - Type of mechanical draft tower in which one or more fans are located at
the air inlet to force air into the cooling tower.
Fouling – The process in which fills become plugged, restricting airflow and ultimately reducing tower
performance. Typically fouling occurs when a combination of high suspended solids, oils or grease,
process contamination, and/or high bacteria count are introduced into the tower.
Foundation - Support material beneath the tower.
Framework Members - The structural members designed to support all live and dead loads. They consist
of columns, horizontal ties, diagonals and joists and beams. Can also include shear walls if designed
accordingly as in a concrete tower.
FRP – Fiberglass reinforced polymer
Fungi - Simple, plant-like life forms that lack true roots, stems, leaves, and chlorophyll. They are
filamentous in structure (e.g., mushrooms, mildews, molds, and yeasts).

G
Galvanic Attack - Corrosion behavior caused by the current generated when one metal type is in contact
with a different metal type.
Galvanic Corrosion - Corrosion formed from galvanic attack.
Galvanic Couple - The contact of one metal type with another as seen with a steel bolt in an aluminum
sheet or a copper joint on an iron pipe, which allows a differential current to be generated.
Gear Reducer - A reduction gear, commonly used on fan drivers to reduce driver speed to fan speed
requirements. Also known as Speed Reducer.
Girt - (see Horizontal Tie).
Groundwater - Water pumped from underground rivers, wells and lakes.

H
Half Life - In water treatment, the time it takes to lose one half of a slug fed product from the system
through blowdown, drift and splash out when taking into account its continuous concentration by
evaporation and dilution by fresh makeup.
Handrail - A horizontal or sloping rail placed along an access way or at the edge of a platform, stairway,
walkway and/or curb. Usually at 3'-6" above the walkway or floor as defined by OSHA. (See also “Safety
Handrail”. Refer to OSHA for design criteria.)
Hardness, Calcium - The calcium compounds dissolved in water, usually expressed as calcium carbonate.
Hardness, Carbonate - The calcium and magnesium carbonate and bicarbonate dissolved in water,
expressed as calcium carbonate.
Hardness, Magnesium - Magnesium compounds dissolved in water, expressed as calcium carbonate.
Hardness, Noncarbonate - The difference between the total hardness and the total alkalinity of a water.
Hardness, Permanent - The hardness that cannot be removed from water by precipitation reactions.
Essentially, the same thing as the non-carbonate hardness.
Hardness, Temporary - The hardness that can be removed from water by precipitation. Essentially, the
same as the carbonate hardness.
Hardness, Total - The sum of the calcium and the magnesium hardness. Also the sum of the permanent
hardness and temporary hardness.
Header - In a counterflow tower, the main pipe carrying hot water to a series of laterals for distribution
over the fill material. In a crossflow tower, it is the main pipe carrying hot water to the distribution basin of
each cell. (see Manifold.)
Heat Exchanger - A device for transferring heat from one substance to another. Can be the tubes or fin
tubed bundles in a wet/dry tower.
Heat Load - Heat removed from the circulating water within the tower. It is calculated from the range, the
specific heat of the fluid, and the circulating water flow.
Horizontal Tie - A load-bearing horizontal connection member in the tower framework. (Also known as a
Girt.)
Horsepower – US unit of measurement of power. NOTE: As of January 1, 2010 the use of horsepower in
the EU is only permitted as a supplementary unit.
Hot Water Temperature (HWT) - Temperature of circulating water entering the distribution system.
(Also referred to as Entering Water Temperature.)
Hybrid Fill – Fill components that exhibit characteristics common to both film and splash fills.
Hydrogen Ion Concentration (pH) - A logarithmic scale for expressing acidity or alkalinity. A pH
below 7.0 indicates acidity and above 7.0 indicates alkalinity. A pH of 7.0 is neutral.
Hyperbolic Tower - A cooling tower of hyperbolic shape, which commonly depends on natural draft for
air movement through the tower. Can be either a crossflow or counterflow cooling tower. (See Natural
Draft Tower.)

I
Ice Screen – Wire mesh that is placed between the louvers and fill occasionally used on crossflow cooling
towers to facilitate formation of thin (pane) ice to block frigid air flow which may introduce damaging ice
formations within the tower fill and or structure.
Impurities - Any substance that contaminates another.
Induced Draft Cooling Tower - Type of mechanical draft tower in which one or more fans are located in
the air outlet to induce air flow through the tower.
Inlet Air - (see Entering Air).
Inlet Connection – A flanged connection where the cooling tower header (inlet pipes) attaches to the
yard piping.
Inlet Wet-bulb Temperature – The temperature of the entering air as measured at the air inlet.
Interference – The negative effects of exit air from one cooling tower entering a second tower.
Iron Bacteria - Oxidative bacteria that cause taste, staining, and odor problems in water. The precipitation
of iron by the bacteria can build up in piping and heat exchangers to restrict water flow. Although they are
not a direct cause of corrosion, differential aeration cells will form under deposits and localized corrosion
will appear.

J
Joist – Horizontal structural member used for supporting the fan decking, or hot water decking and/or fill
modules.
 K
KAV/L - Dimensionless ratio describing heat transfer ability of a counterflow fill, where:
K = mass transfer coefficient
a = heat transfer surface area per unit of volume
V = fill volume per unit plan area
L = mass water flow per unit plan area
(see Merkel’s Theory)

L
L/G ratio - The dimensionless mass ratio of water to air.
Ladder - Typical rung-and-rail device providing access on the inside or outside of the cooling tower.
Ladder Cage - Protective cage parallel with and connecting to a vertical access ladder.
Landing - A horizontal flooring, designed to provide offset clearances for stairways, ladders, or other
access arrangements.
Langelier's Index - A formula for predicting whether water will tend to dissolve or precipitate calcium
carbonate.
Latent Heat - The quantity of heat absorbed or released by a substance undergoing a change of state, such
as ice changing to liquid water or liquid water to water vapor.
Lateral - A pipe or flume distributing water from the distribution header to nozzles, or from other points of
discharge to the fill area.
Lintel - The circular beam at the base of a natural draft shell above the diagonals or columns. Also known
as a sill beam.
Longitudinal Axis - The axis that runs in the long direction of a rectilinear cooling tower.
Louvers – Components made from horizontal blades of wood, thermoplastics, fiber reinforced plastics,
concrete, or cellular panels installed in a tower’s air inlet to provide openings through which the air enters
the tower while also containing the falling water within the tower.
Low Oil Level Switch – A switch designed to trip the driver if it detects a low oil level in the gear reducer.

M
Make-up - Water added to the circulating water system to replace water lost from the system by
evaporation, drift, blow-down, and leakage.
Manifold - The main header pipe in a tower which serves individual cell valves or risers. (See Header.)
Mastic - A compound usually made up of a paste or resin with suitable solvents and fillers which can be
used to seal joints and cracks against leakage of water.
Mechanical Draft Cooling Tower - A cooling tower through which air movement is effected by one or
more fans. There are two main types: Forced draft employ fans located at the air inlet; Induced draft
employ fans located at the air exhaust.
Mechanical Equipment Support – Structural members which comprise the primary support for the fan
drive assembly. Normally steel or concrete.
Mechanically Assembled Fill - Process by which film fill sheets are attached without the use of adhesives,
solvents or heat welding. Typically the attachment point is similar to that of a rivet or through rod.
Merkel’s Theory – The basic function of a cooling tower is to cool water by intimately mixing it with air.
This cooling is accomplished by a combination of sensible heat transfer between the air and the water and
the evaporation of a small portion of the water. This type of heat transfer is represented by the Merkel
Equation:
t1
KaV/L = ʃ1/(hw-ha)dT
t2
This equation was named appropriately for Professor Friedrick Merkel for his development of the theory
published in 1925, where he introduced the concept of enthalpy difference. The derivation of this equation,
along with its underlying assumptions, can be found in many texts on evaporative cooling, but most
notably, “Process Heat Transfer”, by D.Q. Kern, published by McGraw-Hill Book Company in 1950.

Microorganism - An organism that is too small to be studied without the aid of a microscope.
Mixing baffle – An air directing plate in the plenum of a plume abated cooling tower that is used to mix
the dry and moist air.
Modular Splash Fill - A type of fill media comprised of an open mesh or net structure which generates the
majority of its heat transfer by droplet cooling which is in contrast to trickle fills. This type of fill is
typically installed on a bottom support structure.

Molluscicide - A pesticide that will kill mollusks.

Motor Rated Power - Power rating inscribed on name-plate of the motor driving the fan.
Motor Shaft Power - Mechanical power required to drive the air moving equipment. This includes the
gearbox efficiency.(see Fan Shaft Power)

N
Natural Draft Cooling Tower – A cooling tower in which air movement is dependent upon the difference
in density between the entering air and discharge air. As the heat of the water is transferred to the air
passing through the tower, the warmed air, which is less dense, tends to rise and draw in fresh air at the
base of the tower. In addition, the water vapor added to the air by evaporation of a portion of the
circulating water, further reduces the density of the exhaust air and promotes buoyancy. (See Hyperbolic
Tower.)
Net Effective Cooling Volume – The volume within which the circulating water is in intimate contact with
the air flow through the tower. Includes spray, fill, and rain zones.
Noise Level - Acoustical power or energy generated by the cooling tower system. Can be expressed as
PWL (sound power level) or SPL (sound pressure level) in dB.
Nominal Tower Dimensions - Width and length measured from and to column centerline or walls; height
measured from basin curb to top of fan deck.
Nonoxidizing Biocide - A biocide whose effectiveness depends on some property other than its ability to
oxidize organic material (i.e., systematic poisons and surface activity).
Nozzle - A device for controlled distribution of water in a cooling tower. Nozzles are designed to deliver
water in a known rate in a spray pattern by pressure or by gravity flow.

O
Obstruction Lights or Aviation Warning Lights - Warning lights placed on the top of a structure that
poses a hazard to aviation, the number and type being determined by the structure’s proximity to an airport
and/or its overall height. In the United States, the requirements are dictated by Federal Aviation
Administration regulations.
OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The main US federal agency charged with the
enforcement of safety and health legislation. Many of the requirements for the design and construction of
cooling towers are per OSHA regulations.
Overall Tower Dimensions - (a) Width: overall dimensions perpendicular to the tower longitudinal axis;
(b) Length: overall dimension parallel to the tower longitudinal axis; (c) Total height: distance from basin
curb to top of fan stack.
 P
Packing - (see Fill).
Partition - An interior wall subdividing the tower into cells or into separate fan plenum areas.
Pedestal - Used as a transition from the cross struts to the foundation of a natural draft tower or fan mount
in force draft towers. Also known as “Plinth.”
Performance Monitoring – a systematic evaluation of sensitive parameters to determine composite health
or long term performance characteristics for a system or component.
Performance Test – Typically a rigorous evaluation of a plant system or component to determine
performance relative to a specified parameter. For cooling tower applications, a performance test would
involve the measurement of multiple thermal rating inputs to determine tower capability or predicted cold
water temperature associated with design operating and environmental conditions. (see ATC105)
pH - The logarithm of the reciprocal of the hydrogen ion concentration. Water with a pH of 7 is neutral at
room temperature. A pH greater than 7 indicates alkaline water. A pH less than 7 indicates acidic water.
(see also Hydrogen Ion Concentration.)
Phosphates - Inorganic ions comprised of phosphorous and oxygen.
Photosynthesis - The process by which plants use sunlight to produce energy by consuming CO2 and
releasing O2.
Pier - In a tower an exterior or interior column support used to elevate column footings above the basic
floor or foundation grade. Also known as internal pier.
Pilaster - An exterior column support, usually an integral part of the basin wall. Also known as an external
pier. Used as a central point to establish the elevation of framework members.
Piles - (see Foundation).
Pitot Taps – Threaded ports that are installed in a pipe to allow entry of the pitot tube flow measuring
device. (see ATC105 for location)
Pitot Tube - An instrument that operates on the principal of measuring differential pressures to quantify
flow rate of a fluid, specifically the difference between total and static pressures. The primary use on
cooling towers is the measurement of circulating water flow rate.
Plenum - The enclosed space between the eliminators and the fan stack in induced draft towers or the
enclosed space between the fan and the fill in forced draft towers. The plenum promotes uniform flow in a
region where the air flow is changing directions.
Plume - Visible exhaust from a cooling tower, consisting of pure water droplets which condense from the
exhaust vapor into the cooler ambient conditions. (see Fogging.)
Plume Abated Cooling Tower - A wet (evaporative) cooling tower in combination with a dry (non
evaporative) heat exchanger system, used to reduce cooling tower exhaust humidity to limit fog
occurrence in the cooling tower exhaust.
Power Factor - The ratio of true power (watts) to the apparent power, as indicated by the product of amps
x volts.
Pressure Ratio – The ratio of system pressure drop (from the air inlet to the eliminator exit plane) to the
velocity pressure at the average entrance velocity.
Puck –Or shear puck - Often used colloquial term for a shear plate used in wood construction.
Purge – (see Blowdown).
Psychrometer - A device that includes both a wet bulb indicating instrument and a dry bulb indicating
instrument used to measure the thermodynamic state of the air.
 R
Rain Zone – The cooling region between the underside of the Fill and water level in the Cold Water Basin.
Rain Density – (see Water Loading).
Range - Difference between the hot water temperature and the cold water temperature. Also known as
Cooling Range or delta T.
Rated Power - Nameplate power of fan drivers. (See also Horsepower and Motor Rated Power).
Recirculation - Describes a condition in which a portion of the discharge air enters the tower along with
the fresh air. The amount of recirculation is determined by tower design, tower placement, tower
operation, and atmospheric conditions. The effect is generally evaluated on the basis of the increase in the
entering wet-bulb temperature compared to the ambient.
Re-cooled Water Temperature – (see Cold Water Temperature).
Recycled water – Former waste water that has been treated to remove some degree of solids and
impurities. Also known as reclaimed water.
Redistribution Basin - An elevated basin installed between the hot and cold water basins in a crossflow
tower to maintain correct water distribution throughout the entire height of the fill.
Relative Humidity - The ratio of the mole fraction of water vapor present in the air to the mole fraction of
water vapor present in saturated air at the same temperature and barometric pressure.
Residual Chlorine - (see Chlorine, Free) the amount of available chlorine present in water at any specified
period, subsequent to the addition of chlorine.
Ring Beam - Footing that carries the loads from the shell of a Natural Draft Tower.
Riser – Vertical piping which connects the circulating water supply line from the level of the base of the
tower to the supply header of the tower inlet connection.
Ryznar Index - An empirical method, often used in combination with the Langelier's Index, to predict the
scaling tendencies of water. It is based on a study of operating results with water of various saturation
indices.

S
Safety Handrail - Railing around top of tower, platforms, and stairways; usually composed of top handrail,
knee rail, and toe board connected to vertical columns. (See Handrail.)
Scale - The deposition on surfaces of dissolved minerals that have exceeded their saturation limit, as
opposed to fouling, which is deposition of material normally in suspension.
Sensible Heat - Thermal energy that refers to the heat that is added or removed from the dry air.
Seals – Closures that eliminate water and/or air bypass.
Seismic Load – The load applied to a structure due to the application of earthquake generated ground
movements.
Shear Plate – A round connector (typically fiberglass or other thermoplastic material for use in wood
cooling towers). Shear plates are inserted into a pre-cut counterbore in a wood member (column, brace,
joist, tie), increasing the bearing surface area for distribution of shear loads, increasing the capacity of the
connection.
Shell Diameter – Base diameter of the shell in a natural draft tower as measured at opposing locations of
tangent lines projected from the inside bottom edge of the shell to the plane representing the top of the
basin curb.
Shell Height - Dimension from top of curb to top of the shell in a natural draft tower.
Shroud – (see fan stack) Also a transition of the deck opening to fan opening.
Single-Flow Cooling Tower - A crossflow cooling tower having one air inlet and fill section on one side
of the plenum chamber.
Slime - A deposit build-up directly related to the excessive growth of microorganisms that secrete or form
thick, sticky material. These slimes cause tube plugging, reduce heat transfer, entrap migratory suspended
solids and can result in under-deposit corrosion.
Soffit - The underside of the lintel beam in a natural draft tower forming the bottom part of the hyperbolic
shell. (see Lintel)
Solubility - The ability of one material (the solute) to dissolve in another (the solvent).
Solutions - Liquid mixtures that are uniform throughout.
Speed Reducer - (see Gear Reducer).
Splash Attenuator – Various noise reduction devices for the falling water zone in a cooling tower.
Splash Bar - Horizontal bars designed to interrupt the downward fall of water at regular intervals, forming
splash surfaces which cause water drops to break into smaller droplets which provides the wetted surface
for air-water contact.
Splasher – Obs. Used in a gravity distribution system to receive water from a down spout to effect uniform
spreading of the water over the wetted area of the tower.
Splash Plate – A part of a water distribution nozzle used to break up a stream of water to effect uniform
spreading of the water over the wetted area of the tower.
Spray Nozzle - Device used in a distribution system to break up the flow of the circulating water into
droplets and effect uniform spreading of the water over the wetted area of the tower.
Spray-Filled Cooling Tower - A tower without fill in which water to air contact depends entirely on the
break-up of the water by means of pressure spray nozzles.
Stairway - Typical tread-and-riser device providing access to and from the top of a structure.
Standard Air – Standard air density of 0.075 lbs./ft.3(1.204kg/m3). Standard air temperature of 59F(15C).
Standard atmospheric air pressure at sea level(1 Atmosphere) 29.921 in. hg.(101.325kPa).
Equation of temperature as a function of altitude: T=59 -0.0035662 * Z
Equation of pressure as a function of altitude: P= 14.696(1-6.8754 * 10-6 * Z)^5.2559
Where Z is altitude in feet
P is barometric pressure in psia
T is temperature in F
Note: these equations are suitable for altitudes up to 30,000ft (9,144m) above sea level
Static Pressure - The at-rest pressure of a gas or fluid in a system. Static pressure is equal to total pressure
minus velocity pressure.
Standpipe – A vertical pipe open to the atmosphere used to relieve over-pressuration and allows trapped
air to escape.
Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria - Group of anaerobic bacteria capable of reducing sulfates to sulfides,
especially hydrogen sulfide, a very corrosive gas.
Sump - Lowest portion of the basin to which cold circulating water flows; usually the location of
circulating pump suction. Also known as Basin Sump.
Supply Header - Portion of the water supply system, which contains the valves and distribution boxes in a
crossflow tower or the lateral pipes in a counterflow tower.
Surfactant - In water, any molecule that modifies the interfacial tension of a liquid and the surface it
contacts (surfaces can be air, metal, biomass, etc.).
Surface Tension - The attractive force of a liquid surface that allows it to resist an external force. Surface
active agents (surfactants and/or dispersants) can significantly reduce surface tension and as a result reduce
drift eliminator performance.
Suspended Solids - Insoluble particles suspended in water.
Synergism - The condition existing where the effect of two or more materials added to water is greater
than the sum of their individual effects

T
Thermal Capability – The ratio of the adjusted water flow rate (or L/G) to the predicted water flow rate
(or L/G) at the test conditions expressed as a percentage.
Thermal Capacity – A measure of the performance of a cooling tower, expressed as a percentage of a
cooling tower’s expected thermal performance at given wet-bulb temperature and operating conditions (fan
power, range, and water flow). It can also be expressed as the water flow a cooling tower will cool at a
specified range, inlet-air condition, and approach. Also simply known as Capacity.
Thermophilic - A type of bacteria that thrives in very high temperatures.
Throat Diameter - Diameter of the shell in a natural draft tower at its narrowest point or a fan stack at its
narrowest point.
Tolerance - (as it relates to design/test tolerances) A contractual agreement between stakeholders in which
a permissible deviation from a contractual guarantee is defined.
Torque Tube – (see Mechanical Equipment Support).
Total Chlorine - The total amount of all types of chlorine compounds present. This includes Cl2,
hypochlorous acid, hypochlorite ion, and all the chloramine compounds. Free Chlorine + Combined
Chlorine = Total Chlorine.
Total Dissolved Solids - The sum of the organic and inorganic materials dissolved in water.
Total Pumping Head - The total head of water, measured above the basin curb, required to deliver the
circulating water through the distribution system. (see Tower Pumping Head).
Tower Dimension - See Nominal or Overall Tower Dimensions.
Tower Pumping Head - That part of the Total Pumping Head for which the design of the tower and the
piping furnished with it are responsible. It is expressed as the head of water above the basin curb measured
at the center of the inlet connecting the tower distribution system with the riser, and consists of the total
pressure at the centerline of the inlet plus the vertical distance between the inlet centerline and the basin
curb.
Transverse - As measured at right angles to the longitudinal axis.
Trickle Fill – A type of fill media comprised of an open mesh or net structure. Evaporation occurs
primarily through a water film on the mesh and secondary through water droplets. This type of fill is
typically constructed in blocks and is installed on a bottom supported structure similar to film fills.
Tuberculation - Localized attack typified by the formation of inverted pliable conical structures. In water
systems, tuberculation is more commonly associated with localized corrosion of iron and the conical
structures are predominately made up of several oxidation states of iron (Fe2O3, Fe3O4, etc.). Pitting is
normal result.
Turbidity - The interference to light transmission (cloudiness of a fluid) caused by suspended solids
usually colloidal in nature.

U
Underflow Cooling Tower – A cooling tower with a forced draft fan located in a horizontal plane at
the bottom of the plenum chamber. Air from the plenum travels through fill section(s).
V
Vapor Vent – Obs. Internally enclosed vent discharging coil shed vapor directly to the fan suction in
induced draft cooling towers.
Variable Frequency Drive – Drive system that allows for variable fan speed adjustment. Typically
consists of a standard AC motor, and a controller which converts the AC input to DC, chops it up
into the requested frequency and inverts it to provide an AC supply voltage to drive the motor and
fan at the desired speed. Usually includes programming to lock out operation at vibration sensitive
speeds and perhaps water temperature initiated control of fan operation.
Velocity Recovery Fan Stack - A Venturi shaped fan cylinder. The increase in performance obtained
from this type of cylinder is due to the reduction in velocity pressure above the fan as the exhaust
spreads out and slows at the exit. This results in an increase in air volumetric rate at constant
horsepower or a decrease in horsepower at constant air volumetric rate.
Vibration Cut-Out Switch (VCO) – A safety switch used to de-energize the driver circuit should the
mechanical equipment assembly vibrate excessively. These can range from simple mechanical
devices to sophisticated programmable electronic devices with feedback circuits and recording
capabilities.
Vibration Transmitter – A probe or remote monitor that transmits the vibration signal.

W
Water Cooling Tower - An enclosed, steady-flow device for cooling water by evaporation through
direct contact with air.
Water-Formed Deposit - Any accumulation of insoluble material derived from water or formed by the
reaction of water upon surfaces, including scale, sludge, foulants, sediments, corrosion products or
biological deposits.
Water Loading - Circulating volumetric water flow per effective horizontal wetted area of the cooling
tower.
Wet Bulb Temperature (WBT) – The temperature registered by a thermometer bulb surrounded by a wet
wick, when exposed to air passing over the wick. The thermometer bulb decreases in temperature below
the dry bulb temperature until the rate of heat transfer from warmer air to the wick is just equal to the rate
of heat transfer needed to provide for the evaporation of water from the wick into the air stream.
Wind Load - The load applied to a structure by a wind blowing against its surface.
.
 Part II
Abbreviations and Letter Symbols

A approach
abbr. abbreviation
acfm actual cubic feet per minute
alt altitude
amb ambient
amp ampere
atm atmosphere
az azimuth
bar. barometer
bhp brake horsepower
Btu British thermal unit
C degree Celsius
CWT cold water temperature
cu ft (or ft3) cubic foot
cu in (or in3) cubic inch
cfm cubic feet per minute (see acfm, scfm)
cu m cubic meter
dB decibel
F degree Fahrenheit
dia. diameter
DBT dry bulb temperature
el elevation
fbm feet board measure (board feet)
fpm feet per minute
fps feet per second
ft foot
gpm gallons per minute (U.S. liquid measure)
hp horsepower
HWT hot water temperature
hr hour
in inch
in2 square inch
ID inside diameter
kg kilograms
kg/cu m kilogram per cubic meter
kg/hr kilogram per hour
kW kilowatt
kwhr kilowatt hour
L liters
lbm pound (mass)
lbm per cu ft pounds per cubic foot
lbm per hr pounds per hr
lin ft linear foot
m meters
m2 square meter
mph miles per hour
mps meters per second
obs. obsolete
OD outside diameter
Paa Pascal, absolute
Pag Pascal, gage
PPM parts per million
psia pounds per square inch absolute
psig pounds per square inch gage
PWL sound power level (in dB)
R range (cooling range)
Rc recirculation percent
RH relative humidity
rpm revolutions per minute
sec second
shp shaft horsepower
sp gr specific gravity
SPL sound pressure level (in dB)
sq ft (or ft2) square foot
sq in (or in2) square inch
sqm (or m2) square meter
std standard
scfm standard cubic feet per minute
temp temperature
vel velocity
WBT wet bulb temperature

Letter symbols - for use in equations with appropriate subscripts

A area
a area of transfer surface per unit of tower volume
c specific heat
d prefix indicating differential
D diameter
G mass air flow
g gravitational acceleration
h enthalpy of air-water vapor mixture
In inch
K over-all enthalpy transfer coefficient.
KaH/L crossflow cooling tower characteristic, dimensionless
KaV/L counterflow cooling tower characteristic, dimensionless
L mass water flow
L/G Ratio of mass flow rate of water to that of air, dimensionless.
R Rain Area
t air temperature
T water temperature
To Tonne (metric)
V effective cooling tower volume
v specific volume
W humidity ratio (specific humidity)
COOLING TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
PO Box 681807 Houston, Texas 77268
281.583.4087 - Fax 281.537.1721 – http://www.cti.org