FRP Counterflow Cooling Towers in Thailand
FRP counterflow cooling towers in Thailand: what the type is, when it is the right choice, and how Synergy Services designs, builds and installs it.
An FRP counterflow cooling tower is a tower in which the air rises through the fill while the water falls through it, built on a fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) structure.
What the type is
In counterflow the air rises against the falling water, so it meets the coldest water on its way out at the bottom of the fill and leaves past the hottest water at the top. That arrangement keeps the driving potential between water and air wider over the whole fill, which is why counterflow uses the fill more efficiently than crossflow. Water is distributed through pressurised spray nozzles (see crossflow vs counterflow for the full comparison).
When it is the right choice
- Footprint — a crossflow tower needs a larger footprint for the same duty, so counterflow suits sites with limited space.
- Fill efficiency — less fill is needed for the same heat load, because the average driving potential is larger.
- Lifespan and water quality — pultruded fibreglass is one of the most commonly used framework materials for field-erected towers, with wood and concrete (Cooling Tower Fundamentals, Section II, “C. Tower Framework”). Water quality and plant conditions are checked at the survey stage before we choose the materials.
How it compares with the other types
- FRP crossflow: gravity water distribution and easier access to the fill, at the cost of a larger footprint.
- Concrete: a concrete structure for larger installations.
- Package: assembled at the factory for less work on site.
How we deliver this type
We design and build the tower from components sourced from many suppliers, and install it on your site. The process is the same for every new tower: survey, thermal sizing, design, build, installation, a CTI ATC-105 acceptance test by our team and, if you want it, a maintenance contract. See new cooling towers, from enquiry to handover. Every tower is sized and quoted per project.
Reference project
New FRP counterflow towers: 36 cells at three industrial plants. The project is described by type and scope; client names are not published.
Components and services that apply
- Components: fill, drift eliminators and nozzles, fans, gearboxes and drive shafts, and FRP structure and accessories.
- Services after handover: inspection and performance testing, overhaul and maintenance, parts replacement and upgrade and reconstruction.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is an FRP counterflow tower the right choice?
When efficient use of the fill and a compact footprint for the duty matter most. In counterflow the air rises against the falling water and meets the coldest water on the way out, so the driving potential stays wider across the whole fill, and a crossflow tower needs a larger footprint for the same duty. The trade is that water is distributed through pressurised spray nozzles instead of by gravity, which adds pump head.
Why FRP for the structure?
Pultruded fibreglass is one of the most commonly used framework materials for field-erected towers, together with wood and concrete (Cooling Tower Fundamentals, Section II, Tower Framework). We build the structure from FRP components sourced from our suppliers.
Do you have FRP counterflow reference projects?
Yes: 36 new FRP counterflow cooling tower cells across three industrial plants. Client names are not published on this site; the reference list is available on request.
Ask for a cooling tower quotation
Send us the heat load, water flow, inlet and outlet water temperatures and the design wet-bulb temperature, and we will size and quote the tower for your plant.
Contact our team