Cooling Towers & Evaporative Condensers

The Challenges

The biggest impact that performance degradation of a cooling tower or evaporative condenser has is on energy consumption, as a reduction in the efficiency of these systems will directly impact the efficiency of the system they are cooling, typically air or refrigeration compressors.

Our Solution

Continuous monitoring of the inlet and outlet temperatures, wet bulb temperature and make-up water consumption will provide early warning of any drop in efficiency. Temperature probes can be fitted to measure the hot water, cold water and wet bulb temperatures. Current monitoring can be fitted to measure energy consumption in the pumps and fans. Any reduction in the efficiency will indicate fouling of the tower pack, requiring cleaning.

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Your Benefits

Degradation in the heat transfer efficiency of the cooling tower will directly impact energy consumption of the heat source. Due to the wide range of potential loads on a cooling tower, you cannot quote a typical saving.

The Challenges

The major operational risk is around controlling the growth of bacteria related to Legionnaires Disease. Conformance to the control procedures specified in the HSE ACoP L8 aim to inhibit the growth of this potentially dangerous bacterium, and are a legal requirement, strictly enforced by the HSE. Control is usually managed through water temperature control and the addition of biocide to the tank. Whilst biocide dosing systems are automatically controlled to ensure a minimum level of biocide, overdosing of chemicals can often be missed, increasing the cost of operating these assets. In addition, increased water consumption can indicate damage to the pack and the drift eliminators.

Our Solution

Extracting data from the chemical dosing system allows you to track chemical usage, indicating where overdosing may be occurring.

Your Benefits

Monitoring chemical use can identify overdosing, reducing the cost of biocides.

The Challenges

The nature of the wet, exposed environment that the fans and pumps in a cooling tower operate in can lead to both mechanical and electrical faults on the motors, whilst the remote location of the assets makes them harder to monitor through traditional timebased preventative methods.

Our Solution

The nature of the wet, exposed environment that the fans and pumps operate in means that techniques such as vibration analysis are not usually suitable for this type of asset. Using current consumption as a leading indicator of failure is a cost-effective method of condition-monitoring a cooling tower.

This can be achieved through either collecting data direct from inverters if fitted, or more typically, CT clamps on the supply. The same current monitoring used to monitor efficiency and energy consumption can also be used to provide early warning of potential electrical or mechanical failure of the rotating assets.

Your Benefits

Due to the wide variation of cooling tower and evaporative condenser types and deployments, indicative estimates of maintenance cost savings are difficult to create. Speak to our consultants for an indication based on your specific installation and operation.