Commercial Cooling Tower Maintenance
Failure to properly maintain your cooling tower can raise your energy costs as much as 10-12%. However, basic maintenance will extend the life of your equipment and provide optimum efficiency.
The minimum rate of continuous cooling just sufficient to prevent undesired transformations. For steel, the slowest rate at which it can be cooled from above the upper critical temperature to prevent the decomposition of austenite at any temperature
Here are some simple maintenance tips cooling towers:1. Start with an assessment of the overall condition of your unit and be aware of any noises to establish a baseline for your equipment’s condition.
2. You should always disconnect motor switches and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for safety when evaluating or working on your tower.
3. Visually inspect the strainers and remove any debris.
4. Check the water distribution system for dry areas over the fill coil section to avoid scale buildup and increase system capacity. If the surface is not wet you will need to inspect the nozzles for any clogs or cracks that may have developed.
5. Maintain water filtration and keep debris and dirt from collecting by flushing the tower drain or sump strainer. You can also install basin sweeper piping in addition to a filtration system to aid with maintenance.
6. Check the water level to conserve water and reduce air entrainment.
7. Consult your local water quality and evaporation rate regulations to insure you are using the proper bleed rate. This will help prevent accumulation of solids in recirculating water.
8. Inspect the belt to ensure optimal belt-drive system performance.
9. Check the oil level, oil quality, and shaft alignment for a gear-drive system following the manufacturer’s recommendations to assure reliable service.
10. Fan shaft bearings should be lubricated at least every three months. You may want to consider installing automatic bearing greasers. These can eliminate monthly bearing maintenance.