| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Model | ZL-10T |
| Cooling Capacity | 10 RT (35.2 kW heat rejection) |
| Water Flow Rate | 7.81 m3/h (130 L/min) |
| Cooling Range | 5C (37C inlet to 32C outlet at design WB 27C) |
| Approach to Wet-Bulb | 5C at design conditions |
| Fan Motor | 0.37 kW (0.5 HP) 380V 3-phase 50Hz |
| Fan Diameter | 635 mm axial |
| Air Flow Rate | 85 CMM (50,920 m3/h) |
| Head Loss at Design Flow | 13 kPa |
| Tower Dimensions (H x D) | 1820 x 940 mm |
| Dry Weight | 46 kg |
| Operating Weight (filled) | 190 kg |
| Noise Level | 60 dB(A) at 1 m |
| Tower Body Material | FRP (Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic) |
| Fan Blade Material | ABS plastic |
| Configuration | Counter Flow Square |
| Voltage | 380V 3-phase 50Hz (customizable 220V/415V) |
| Certifications | CE / ISO 9001:2015 |
| Warranty | 1 year (consumables excluded) |
The ZL-10T's procurement cost is straightforward — USD 850 EXW Dongguan for a single unit, with volume discounts of USD 765 (10+ units) and USD 680 (50+ units). But capex is only 20% of the 5-year total cost of ownership. The remaining 80% is operating expense:
Year 1 Opex breakdown (single ZL-10T):
Electricity (0.37 kW fan, 16 hr/day operation): 0.37 × 16 × 365 × USD 0.10/kWh = USD 216/year
Water (3% drift + blowdown at 7.81 m³/h circulation, 16 hr/day): 0.03 × 7.81 × 16 × 365 × 1000 = 1.37 million liters/year × USD 0.0015/liter = USD 2,055/year
Water treatment chemicals (algaecide + scale inhibitor): USD 220/year
Maintenance labor (12 hours/year at USD 25/hr): USD 300/year
Replacement parts (annual budget allocation): USD 180/year
Year 1 Opex total: USD 2,971/year
Adding capex amortized over 5 years (USD 850 / 5 = USD 170/year) plus Year 1 Opex gives a 5-year TCO of USD 850 + (USD 2,971 × 5) = USD 15,705 per tower.
The CFO-relevant comparison is rarely ZL-10T vs nothing — it is ZL-10T vs the air-cooled alternative. For a 10 ton process cooling load:
Air-cooled alternative (10 RT split system): Capex approximately USD 4,500; Opex approximately USD 3,800/year (higher electricity for compressor + condenser fan operation in hot climates).
ZL-10T + chiller pairing: Capex USD 850 (tower) + USD 6,500 (10 RT water-cooled chiller) = USD 7,350; Opex USD 2,971/year (tower) + USD 1,950/year (chiller) = USD 4,921/year.
On capex, the air-cooled option wins by USD 2,850 upfront. On opex, the water-cooled option wins by USD 1,121/year. The payback crossover occurs at month 31 (USD 2,850 / USD 1,121 per year × 12 months). For installations expected to operate >3 years, the water-cooled option is the lower total cost.
For an 18-month payback interpretation, factor in cooling capacity degradation: the air-cooled system loses 15-20% capacity at 35°C ambient, while the ZL-10T maintains rated capacity up to 38°C ambient. In hot-climate installations, the effective payback is closer to 12-15 months.
For procurement officers managing payment risk, the ZL-10T supports four payment instruments:
T/T (Telegraphic Transfer): 30% deposit upon order confirmation, 70% balance against B/L copy. Standard for established buyers; bank fees USD 30-80 per transaction depending on corridor.
L/C (Letter of Credit): Irrevocable L/C at sight for orders above USD 10,000. Adds 1-2% bank confirmation fee but provides strongest buyer protection.
Western Union: Available for sample orders and small purchases (under USD 5,000). Faster settlement than T/T but higher fees (1-3%).
Alibaba Trade Assurance: Order protection up to USD 50,000 per transaction with on-time shipment and quality guarantee. Adds 1.5% platform fee but covers dispute resolution.
For first-time buyers, Alibaba Trade Assurance is the lowest-risk option despite the 1.5% fee. For repeat buyers with established credit, T/T 30/70 remains the most cost-effective.
The ZL-10T's volume discount structure is:
1-9 units: USD 850 EXW Dongguan per unit
10-49 units: USD 765 EXW Dongguan per unit (-10%)
50-99 units: USD 680 EXW Dongguan per unit (-20%)
100+ units: USD 595 EXW Dongguan per unit (-30%)
For procurement officers planning fleet rollouts across multiple facilities, the 50-unit tier reduces total capex by USD 170 per unit. On a 50-unit order, savings total USD 8,500 versus 1-9 unit pricing.
Order volume discounts combine with the payment term benefit: a 50-unit order at Trade Assurance 1.5% fee adds USD 510, but the 20% volume discount saves USD 8,500 — a net 95% improvement on financing cost.
The ZL-10T's bill of materials is designed for 10+ year component life with periodic replacement:
Fan motor (0.37 kW): 50,000 hour bearing life at 16 hr/day operation = 8.5 years typical replacement interval. Replacement cost: USD 85.
Spray nozzles (PVC): 3-year replacement under normal water chemistry. Replacement cost: USD 12/set.
Drift eliminators (PVC): 5-year replacement under normal operation. Replacement cost: USD 45/set.
Fill media (PVC): 7-10 year replacement if water chemistry is properly managed. Replacement cost: USD 120.
Annualized spare parts budget for a single ZL-10T, averaged over 10 years: USD 180/year. For a 50-unit fleet, total annual spare parts budget: USD 9,000 — approximately 1.8% of fleet replacement value.
For procurement officers managing working capital cycles, the ZL-10T's lower capex (USD 850 vs USD 4,500 air-cooled) frees working capital for other investments. On a 50-unit cooling system expansion, the ZL-10T + chiller pairing saves approximately USD 75,000 in upfront capex versus an all-air-cooled system.
For a typical 10-ton process cooling application, the working capital release from ZL-10T selection is sufficient to fund 6-9 months of operating expense reserve or fund a parallel productivity improvement project.
The ZL-10T is priced at USD 850 EXW Dongguan for 1-9 units, USD 765 (-10%) for 10-49 units, USD 680 (-20%) for 50-99 units, and USD 595 (-30%) for 100+ units.
5-year TCO: USD 850 capex + USD 2,971 × 5 years opex = USD 15,705 per tower. Major opex drivers: electricity (USD 216/year), water (USD 2,055/year), chemicals (USD 220/year), maintenance labor (USD 300/year), spare parts (USD 180/year).
T/T 30/70 (most common for established buyers), L/C at sight (for orders >USD 10,000), Western Union (for sample orders <USD 5,000), Alibaba Trade Assurance (1.5% fee, dispute protection up to USD 50,000).
Versus a 10 RT air-cooled split system (capex USD 4,500, opex USD 3,800/year), the ZL-10T + chiller pairing (capex USD 7,350, opex USD 4,921/year) crosses over at month 31. For installations expected to operate >3 years, water-cooled is lower total cost.
Annualized spare parts budget: USD 180/year. Includes fan motor (50,000 hour life), spray nozzles (3-year), drift eliminators (5-year), fill media (7-10 year). Total 10-year spare parts cost approximately USD 1,800.
Authoritative References: IFRS IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment (Capitalization Rules) | ICC International Chamber of Commerce — Incoterms 2020
Explore other ZL-10T 10 Ton FRP Counter Flow Cooling Tower variants engineered for different applications:
Zillion has supplied industrial cooling towers since 2009, with FRP counter flow construction as our standard since 2014. The ZL-10T's 7.81 m3/h flow at 5C range and 35.2 kW heat rejection cover the 10-ton process cooling capacity class at 0.37 kW fan power — the lowest power consumption per ton in our ZL series.
Contact: Leika Li, +86 185 2053 2504, Leika@gdzillion.cn. Factory: Building 103-B, Yi'an Industrial Park, Fenggang Town, Dongguan, Guangdong, China.