Collection and retention of cooling water fluids is an integral feature of reinforced concrete Cooling Tower Basins, regardless of being associated with Natural or Mechanical Draft Cooling Technology. Concrete may be thought of as an impervious manmade building product such as that associated with polymer technology, but it is in fact more closely related to ceramic chemistry. Concrete is classified as being a “subvitreous†construction product as opposed to fired pottery and dishware being “vitreousâ€. Composed of multiple constituents including mineral aggregates of varying size, Portland Cement and water, the resultant hardened “man-made stone†product can be looked upon as a “hard spongeâ€. This hard sponge has inherent porosity that includes a network of drying capillaries contributing to its relative permeability.
Â