Cooling Tower Water Distribution Nozzles

Cooling-tower water-distribution nozzles are devices that spray or distribute hot condenser water evenly over the fill media so the tower can achieve proper heat transfer. Choosing the right nozzle is critical for uniform coverage, thermal efficiency, drift control, and reliability.

Below is a clear, practical guide.

1. What Cooling-Tower Nozzles Do

They ensure:

* Uniform spray pattern across fill

* Correct droplet size (small enough for heat transfer, large enough to avoid drift)

* Consistent flow over the entire plan area

* Non-clogging operation, even with dirty water

2. Main Types of Cooling Tower Nozzles

A. Static (Non-moving) Nozzles

Most common in modern towers.

Nozzle Type	How It Works	Advantages	Typical Use
ABS / PP (Polypropylene) Target Nozzle	Water hits a target plate and spreads into a circular pattern	Cheap, lightweight, resistant to scaling, easy to install	Induced-draft and forced-draft towers with splash or film fill
Slotted, Spiral, or Umbrella Nozzles	Channel water into specific spray angles	Very uniform pattern	Crossflow towers (gravity feed)
Full-cone or Hollow-cone Spray Nozzles	Internal vane creates a cone spray	High precision, good distribution	Counterflow towers with pumped distribution

 B. Rotary Nozzles

Use water pressure to spin a distribution arm.

* Good for low-pressure systems.

* Used on older or smaller towers.

* More maintenance due to moving parts.

3. Materials

Common nozzle materials:

* ABS – economical, corrosion-resistant, widely used.

* Polypropylene (PP) – higher temperature and chemical resistance.

* PVC – durable, common for fill/spray systems.

* Nylon / Glass-filled nylon – strong, long life.

* Stainless steel – used in extremely hot or corrosive water.

4. How to Choose the Right Nozzle

Key Selection Factors

1. Tower Type

* Crossflow = gravity-feed, low-pressure nozzles.

* Counterflow = pressure-spray nozzles.

2. Flow Rate

* Each nozzle has a GPM range (e.g., 3–20 GPM).

3. Spray Pattern

* Full cone, hollow cone, umbrella, diffusion plate.

4. Pressure

* Typical operating pressures: 1–10 psi for most towers.

5. Clog Resistance

* Look for large orifice designs for dirty industrial water.

6. Mounting

* Threaded, snap-on, bayonet, hanging type, pipe-end type.

5. Popular Nozzle Designs (Industry Examples)

* Marley Spiral Target Nozzles

* Bac / Evapco Orifice Nozzles

* Double-ell or slotted crossflow nozzles

* ABS target nozzles used in many OEM and aftermarket towers