Commercial Cooling Tower Services
Cooling towers are required for many different types of commercial facilities to provide sufficient air conditioning. Functioning as heat exchangers that combine air and water to cool the water and produce cool air, cooling towers sit on the roofs of commercial buildings. When combined with chillers, these installations can also provide cooling for larger spaces.
Here we’ll go over the various types of installations, maintenance, and upgrades that are involved in commercial cooling towers.
Basics of Cooling Tower Installation
Depending on the application, there are several types of cooling towers that facilities can utilize. Industry professionals can help determine which ones are ideal for installation.
Induced Draft Cooling Towers
These towers use fans or other mechanisms to force air through the cooling tower. While it’s an efficient method for cooling water, the costs these towers incur will be higher. There are two types of induced draft towers: crossflow and counterflow. While crossflow entails water flowing down into the tower in basins and air blows horizontally across before circulating into the building’s chiller, counterflow designs blow air vertically in opposition of the water flow, which hits low-pressure spray nozzles that divide the liquid over the infill surface. Counterflow models are typically more compact, energy-efficient, and unlikely to freeze.
Natural Draft Cooling Towers
Unlike induced draft cooling towers, natural draft models don’t use any fans, instead allowing the passage of air through convection. This entails warm and moist air naturally rising as the cool air sinks to generate a constant airflow without the need for electricity.
Regardless of the installation you select, there are certain steps you’ll need to take to maintain them.
Recommended Maintenance for Cooling Towers
There are two main types of maintenance you’ll want to perform to ensure that commercial cooling towers are functioning properly.
Cleaning
All systems will require cleaning from time to time, including water distribution, fn, and packing and drift separation systems.
Inspections
Professional inspections will help determine if there are any aspects of a cooling tower that are causing cooling inefficiencies. Inspectors can look closely at every part of the cooler and analyze it to determine if any parts require cleaning or replacement.
Common Cooling Tower Issues and Repair Solutions
There are multiple issues that cooling towers could experience over time.
Common Cooling Tower Problems
Leaking:
Air or water leaks could occur due to improper sealing or damaged joints and seams, which can result from corrosion and erosion due to the cooling tower’s highly corrosive environment. Leaks could cause inefficiencies and force your cooling systems to work harder, resulting in increased energy expenses.
Biological Contamination:
Microbes could grow in the cooling tower over time, contaminating the water and air and potentially causing corrosion to equipment and illness to people inside the cooled facility. Bacteria, mold, and algae are all common types of microbiological contaminants that can cause issues with a cooling tower. Biological growth typically occurs in open-loop systems in which components are exposed to the elements with plenty of moisture to promote growth.
Scaling:
Scaling occurs when certain types of compounds that might otherwise be soluble in cool waters become insoluble in warmer waters, resulting in the formation of hard deposits on various surfaces. If scaling goes untreated, it could eventually clog the cooling system and cause damage to pipes and other components.
Calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, magnesium silicate, and silica are common types of buildup in cooling towers that contribute to scaling. However, the alkalinity (pH) of water in the system could also cause scaling as pH increases to decrease solubility. The level of scale-causing contaminants in the cooling system is another factor in decreasing solubility.
Corrosion:
Corrosion is another common issue that cooling towers face, which could cause leaks. Corrosion occurs when there are contaminants present in the water, normally gases such as carbon dioxide and oxygen, that cause degradation of the metal. As the metal oxidizes through an electrochemical or electrical reaction, it thins and is more likely to rupture.
Pitting (small areas of concentrated corrosion), galvanic (when two metals come into contact and conduct electricity), and general evenly spread corrosion can occur in cooling towers. All types are serious and can result in equipment failure, downtime, or heat transfer loss.
Fouling:
Fouling is like scaling, in that it accumulates surface deposits, only they’re not as hard as scaling deposits. Contaminants such as silt, sand, biological elements, and suspended and colloidal solids can cause gradual fouling. When left untreated, contaminants can cause enough buildup to plug heat exchangers and piping, resulting in loss of efficiency.
Fans:
Fans in induced draft cooling towers could experience wear over time, resulting in insufficient airflow. Fans that break down completely will cause these towers to fail completely as there’s no way for the air to flow through the unit.
Rebuilding and Upgrading Your Cooling Tower
After years of use, cooling towers may sustain enough wear and damage that cleaning or replacement parts can’t properly maintain these units. You may also have an outdated cooling tower model that could benefit from an upgrade, either through a complete rebuild or individual replacement parts.
Reliable professionals such as those at Bullock, Logan & Associates can provide you with rebuilding and upgrading services that give you the results you want.
Your Local Cooling Tower Experts
When you work with the experts at Bullock, Logan & Associates, you’ll be able to get dependable cooling tower installation, maintenance, and rebuilding and upgrading services. Turn to us for all of your cooling tower needs, and we’ll ensure you have a cooling tower that gives you consistent results. We’re ready to give you a long-lasting solution that maximizes both efficiency and cost-effectiveness today.
We service the following locations: Elk Grove Village, Schaumburg, Arlington Heights, Des Plaines, Evanston, Wheaton. Request your free cooling tower inspection.
