How Long Does Maintenance Take On Cooling Towers?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Keep the Tubes Clean

All units experience build-up, and Hamon can help you decide on the maintenance schedule which works best for your company. Cleaning tubes regularly is the most efficient way to remove debris. Chiller tubes play a vital role in overall cooling tower maintenance.

How long does a cooling tower last?

Cooling Tower Replacement can be a costly proposition and the average life expectancy of a commercial cooling tower, according to most manufacturers, is 15 – 20 years *, before they need to be rebuilt or replaced.

How often should cooling tower fill be replaced?

About cooling tower fill replacement frequency It also advisable to replace your cooling tower fills every 10-14 years to maintain the original output. You may not be aware that your cooling tower fills need immediate replacement.

What causes foaming in cooling towers?

Foam formation requires the presence of a surfactant (surface active agent) to lower air-water interface surface tension . As well, movement such as turbulence is required to mix air into the water. Foam can be white, or take on the color of contaminants present in the cooling water.

How do you disinfect a cooling tower?

  1. Turn off the cooling tower fans! ...
  2. Inspect Cooling Tower For Problem Areas. ...
  3. Protect Yourself With Safety Gear. ...
  4. Spray Cooling Tower For Mold. ...
  5. Vacuum Out Sludge From Basin. ...
  6. Fill Tower Water Level. ...
  7. Clean Cooling Tower Fill Media. ...
  8. Set Up Bi Annual Cooling Tower Cleaning.

How do cooling towers prevent corrosion?

  1. form a protective film of calcium carbonate on the metal surface using the natural calcium and alkalinity in the water.
  2. remove the corrosive oxygen from the water, either by mechanical or chemical deaeration.
  3. add corrosion inhibitors.

How do you maintain a chiller?

  1. Preventive Maintenance for Industrial Chillers. ...
  2. Maintain your Daily Logs. ...
  3. Keep the Chiller Tubing Clean. ...
  4. Reduce the Temperature of the Condenser Water. ...
  5. Inspect the Condenser Water Loops. ...
  6. Monitor for Refrigerant Leaks.

What is a cooling tower on a building?

A cooling tower is designed to remove heat from a building or facility by spraying water down through the tower to exchange heat into the inside of the building . Air comes in from the sides of the tower and passes through the falling water.

Do cooling towers pollute?

It is, of course, clean water vapor that results from the cooling process. It contains no pollutants , and it is not radioactive – the nuclear process takes place inside a secure containment building, not the cooling tower.

Are cooling towers expensive?

How Much Do Cooling Towers Cost? On average, cooling towers cost about $125,000 to replace . In the United States, a cooling tower replacement will typically cost between $50,000 and $200,000 for the year 2019.

Why are cooling towers so tall?

Reason for general shape: hollow structure is required through which hot air from the bottom, to a cooler top, which is at a lower pressure . More air flowing through the tower means better cooling, so a tower allowing more air to pass through is best (wider tower, more gaps at bottom).

What is fill pack for cooling tower?

Cooling tower packing, also referred to as heat transfer pack or fill pack provides a large surface area for evaporative cooling to take place . It is located beneath the water distribution layer and above the sump of the cooling tower.

How will damaged fill affect the operation of a cooling tower?

When the water isn’t being distributed properly because the fill is damaged or clogged it dramatically impacts the performance of the cooling tower . Much more energy will need to be used to get the necessary cooling needed for your industrial application or HVAC system.

What is the pH of cooling tower water?

If you have doubts about the proper pH levels for your tower water, ask your water treatment company for recommendations. A pH between 6.5 and 7.5 is generally considered the ideal range for reducing scale formation, though some non-acid treatments for scale prevention can increase the cooling tower pH range up to 8.5.

Which chemical is used in cooling tower?

Chlorine dioxide – This chemical can be used as a disinfectant to destroy microorganisms and prevent recurring growth.

What is ORP in cooling tower?

Monitoring the ORP ( Oxidation Reduction Potential )/redox is very useful in its ability to correlate millivolt readings to sanitization strength of the water. For Chlorine (Cl 2 ) to function properly in the cooling towers it must be present in the oxidizing forms of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) or hypochorite ion (OCl ).

How is water-cooled in a cooling tower?

During operation, the condenser water or process water flows directly over the heat transfer surface of the cooling tower. As air is introduced into the tower, a fraction of this water is evaporated, cooling the remaining water . Cooling towers reject heat from water-cooled systems to the atmosphere.

What causes high conductivity in cooling tower water?

The most common one is the blowdown valve . If the valve is too small or, if it is clogged, then the cooling system is not bleeding enough water and the conductivity is always high.

Is cooling water corrosive?

Cooling tower water is corrosive to carbon steel equipment and the corrosivity depends on the water treatment, process conditions and outside environment.

What is the max residue after evaporation of cooling water?

pH 7 to 9 Residue after evaporation max. 400 ppm (mg/l)

How often should a chiller be serviced?

Chillers should be tested for leaks, control operation and water quality weekly as well. Items such as load balances and limits can be inspected twice a year . A thorough cleaning, electrical system inspection, and other maintenance tune-ups should be performed annually.

How long does a chiller last?

To Repair or Replace: Where is Your Chiller in its Life Cycle? According to Consulting-Specifying Engineer Magazine, the median life cycle of a water-cooled chiller is 20-30 years , while air-cooled chillers have a life expectancy of 15-20 years.

What is preventive maintenance?

Preventive maintenance (PM) is the regular and routine maintenance of equipment and assets in order to keep them running and prevent any costly unplanned downtime from unexpected equipment failure . A successful maintenance strategy requires planning and scheduling maintenance of equipment before a problem occurs.

David Martineau
Author
David Martineau
David is an interior designer and home improvement expert. With a degree in architecture, David has worked on various renovation projects and has written for several home and garden publications. David's expertise in decorating, renovation, and repair will help you create your dream home.