How to Operate and Maintain a Cooling Tower for Efficiency

A cooling tower is used to transfer heat into the atmosphere and keep the temperatures of a facility cool. They can be used on a small scale like in small businesses, all the way up to the large scale like in factories. Part of running a cooling tower and keeping water loss and overall costs to a minimum revolves around operating and maintaining it efficiently. The following five steps should make it possible for most people to achieve this.

Instructions

• 1

  Inspect the water distribution system at least once every other week to make sure there is an even water level. If there is an uneven level, you should look for clogs in the nozzles and clean them out. Since cooling towers are highly individualized, you should consult the manufacturer's instructions for details on cleaning nozzles.

• 2

  Check the strainers on the cooling towers on a consistent basis and look for any debris that has built up. Different towers vary on the accessibility of their strainers, but many can be accessed from the outside without having to turn the tower's power off.

• 3

  Clean out any debris that has accumulated within the strainers. Again, towers will vary, but many come equipped with a spraying system that allows the strainers to be effectively cleaned out without much hassle. This should be done at least once every other week. Doing so will help prevent clogs and should keep the cooling tower functioning at maximum efficiency.

• 4

  Remove accumulated dirt from the cooling tower's basin by flushing it out through the tower drain every two or three weeks. Doing so should improve efficiency and lower operating costs.

• 5

  Check the belt drive system to make sure it is as tight as the manufacturer specifies. You should also make sure that the oil level is where the manufacturer specifies as well. This should be done approximately every three months.