What is the cooling medium for a cooling tower?

The cooling medium for a cooling tower is primarily air. Cooling towers are designed to remove heat from industrial processes or HVAC systems by transferring it to the atmosphere. In this process, warm water is pumped to the top of the tower, where it is distributed over fill material, allowing it to spread out and maximize its exposure to the incoming air. As air is drawn through the tower, it aids in evaporating a small portion of the water, which in turn lowers the temperature of the remaining water that trickles down.

Air functions as the vital component in this heat exchange process. By absorbing heat from water and promoting evaporation, air effectively helps in cooling the water before it is recirculated back into the system. The efficiency of the cooling tower relies heavily on the ability of air to facilitate this process, making it the correct answer for the cooling medium involved.