What is the main purpose of a cooling tower?

The main purpose of a cooling tower is to reduce the temperature of cooling water. Cooling towers function by facilitating the exchange of heat between warm water, which has absorbed heat from a condenser or process, and the air. As the warm water is circulated through the cooling tower, it is exposed to ambient air, allowing some of the water to evaporate. This evaporation process removes heat from the remaining water, which subsequently reduces its temperature. The cooled water is then recirculated back into the system for reuse, thereby enhancing the efficiency of cooling systems in industrial processes, power plants, and HVAC applications.

The other options describe different functions that are not the primary goal of a cooling tower. Filtering water is a separate process that removes particulates and impurities, while increasing humidity levels might occur as a byproduct but is not the main objective. Storing water for future use is also unrelated to the core function of a cooling tower, which is focused on cooling rather than water storage.