Cooling Tower Problems & Solutions

Cooling Tower Problems & Solutions Phoenix AZ

Are you searching for “Cooling Tower Problems & Solutions” while looking for a way to fix your cooling tower issues? If so, this article should help! We have also included links for parts you might need to repair your cooling towers.

This article is designed to help you figure out what is going on and understand the ways that cooling tower maintenance companies help get you back on track.

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Cooling Tower Problems

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There are four major water treatment issues that facilities have to maintain and monitor the control of, including scale, corrosion, microbial contamination and fouling for optimal system reliability and operational efficiency. The results include experiencing lower operating and equipment costs for the cooling systems, leading to less unscheduled downtime because of problems related to water.

Here is a list of the most common cooling tower problems and throughout the industry and the solutions.

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Cooling Tower Corrosion Problem

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The environment of cooling systems is ideal for corrosion. For instance, a closed loop system does not lose much water, and they frequently get ignored in the maintenance process which makes them more susceptible for corrosion issues. Although, this neglect often leads to leaks and repairs that can be costly from cooling system leading to potential damages to other systems and locations.

Cooling Tower Corrosion Solution: The solution to cooling tower corrosion is making sure your cooling tower coatings are applied correctly and still working properly.

Cooling Tower Scale Problem

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The heat exchange surface helps the cooling system’s main function perform, but can be responsible for scale production. When high temperatures lower solubility of specific species within water, like calcium, which can form deposits on the heat exchange surface, which causes the scale. This acts like an insulator that lowers the tower efficiency and heat dispersal, leading to increased costs and consumption.

Cooling Tower Scale Solution: Regular cooling tower cleaning and maintenance will help keep scale out of your cooling towers which will increase your cooling towers efficiency.

Cooling Tower Fouling Problem

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This is a common issue which is caused from the ‘three-d’s’, dust, dirt, debris. Although, it can be caused from other contaminants within the system too, like microbiological growth or corrosion products. Fouling can have a dramatic effect on reducing system efficiency while increasing operational costs and energy usage.

Cooling Tower Fouling Solution: Fouling usually takes place in metal that is not protected or low quality. Stainless steel is used to prevent corrosion in float switches and other cooling tower components.

Water Level Control Problem 

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Another major problem with cooling towers is having to replace water level controls every 3 years. Replacing your float switches can be costly.

Water Level Control Solution: That’s why Cooling Tower Products works directly with the top selling water level control manufacturers in the industry to provide you with

Cooling Tower Biological Contamination

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The warm water and rich nutrient supply of a cooling system is the ideal environment for bacteria growth and various other forms of biological growth. However, the true main problem is with microbial growth resulting in biofilm, which becomes an issue with the ability of harming the system operations. It has four to five times the insulation property that calcium carbonate scale has, which can lead to the energy costs rapidly going up while promoting corrosion and scale.

Cooling Tower Contamination Solution: Regular cooling tower cleaning and maintenance will help keep scale out of your cooling towers which will increase your cooling towers efficiency.

Cooling Tower Solutions

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Start minimizing system stress while maximizing operation performance by selecting the correct chemical treatment program. With the four major water quality issues, there is not a single issue that stands out as more important because any of them can lead to the next.

To make things more complex, chemistry and water quality can vary based on location, so there’s not a single universal treatment program either. Rather, the first step is to determine a chemical treatment program as the start for an efficient and reliable cooling system for balancing management of each of the four main quality issues.

Cooling Tower Maintenance Matters

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Having great cooling system maintenance is great business, and it all starts with having a good water treatment program. The treatment program and water quality of the cooling system have a direct effect on efficiency, reliability, and operating costs of institutional or industrial cooling systems.

Path to Reliability

No matter the fact of a universal treatment not existing, the path for a reliable cooling system remains the same, using correct and effective water treatments. Using a program that is effective, facilities are able to control problems which and lead to even more unexpected expenses and higher operating costs.

Pay Now or Pay Later

Basically, spending the time for proper prevention will become a better investment compare to replacement or repair. By ensuring common cooling system issues are addressed with frequent maintenance, operators are able to avoid potential crippling effects that can occur with the processes of shutting down system supports. This is why having great cooling system maintenance and water quality is good business.

Cooling Tower Services In Phoenix, Arizona

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If you need some help with your cooling tower service and maintenance in the Phoenix area, Cooling Tower Products has you covered. With the best technicians, quality parts, and the highest standards customer satisfaction we will help you find and solve all of your cooling tower problems. Doing so will decrease the energy needed to operate your cooling tower and save you money on the electricity bill. Our Cooling Tower ServicesCooling Tower Maintenance, Cooling Tower Repair, Cooling Tower Rebuilding, Cooling Tower Refurbishment Services and New Cooling Tower Construction.

We Sell Cooling Tower Parts & Ship Nationwide

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Looking for cooling tower replacement partsDrift Eliminators, Counter Flow Fill Media, Cross Flow Fill Media, Air Intake Louvers, Cooling Tower Coatings, Water Level Controls, Evaporative Cooling Media and Cooling Tower Nozzles.

 

Cooling Tower Vibration Analysis | Vibration Cut-off Switch

cooling tower vibration analysis Vibration Cut-off Switch

Vibration is a common problem in cooling towers and other types of mechanical or industrial equipment.

Cooling tower vibration limits?

Machines that require moving parts are built to withstand a specific limit of vibration without losing their reliability or performance. Issues occur when vibration exceed manufacturer limits, usually caused by abnormal situations.

Cooling towers use fans, drive-shafts, and motors which operate 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Vibration in cooling towers must be addressed quickly to avoid long shut down times, and avoid severely damaging major components in the cooling tower (due to the fact that the fans and cylinders are so close together).

There are many sources of cooling tower vibration:

  • Unbalanced cooling tower fan blade
  • Uneven pitch of fan blade
  • Worn shaft, couplings, or drive-shaft inserts
  • Worn mechanical equipment bearings (fan-shaft bearings, motor, gear reducer)
  • Gear tolerances inadequate in gear boxes
  • Gearbox is damaged
  • Structural deterioration of mechanical equipment
  • Worn belts in belt driven equipment
  • Misalignment of mechanical equipment, pulleys/sheaves or drive-shafts
  • Fasteners loose in mechanical equipment and its supporting structure

Can vibration damage your cooling towers?

Sustained period of vibration in cooling towers can cause severe damage, including damaging mechanical equipment (For example – fan cylinder being hit by fan blade tips, damaging both fan blades and cylinder) and impacting surrounding installations. In less common situations, vibrations in cooling towers can cause discomfort to people in the vicinity and the surrounding structures.

The best way to avoid abnormal vibration and mechanical failure is to install a vibration cut-off switch.

What is a vibration cut-off switch?

The cooling tower part/accessory will shut down the evaporative cooling equipment of cooling tower when vibration levels exceed manufacturer specification limits.

It is wise to test your vibration switches periodically to make sure they are operating properly. Another great practice is to install data loggers for your vibration switch, the data logger will help monitor the vibration and help you implement better preventative actions as needed.