Abstract: To control plumes and save water resources, a hot test system for high level water collection mechanical cooling tower was established for comparative analysis of the plume abatement, water saving and thermal performance of the external cooling module (dry-wet hybrid cooling tower) and the internal condensation module (condensation plume cooling tower). The impact of the ambient temperature, inlet circulating water temperature and circulating water flow rate on the performance of cooling towers was studied. Results show that dry-wet hybrid cooling tower and condensation plume cooling tower have plume abatement and water saving capabilities, which are achieved at the cost of cooling performance reduction of the cooling tower. Compared with the original tower, the circulating water temperature drop of dry-wet hybrid cooling tower and condensation plume cooling tower decreases by about 1.5 K. The plume abatement and water saving performance of the dry-wet hybrid cooling tower and the condensation plume cooling tower is greatly affected by the operating parameters, and the water saving amount and water saving rate of the condensation plume cooling tower are higher than those of the dry-wet hybrid cooling tower.