3 Maintenance Tips for Cooling Towers in Water Treatment Plants

Posted on: 14 November 2017

Scheduled inspection, maintenance, and repair of a cooling tower is imperative for optimal performance and reduction of operating costs.When left untreated, scaling, corrosion, fouling, and organic growth can occur in the tower, thereby leading to reduced productivity of the system. The long-term effect will be excessive downtime and increased costs of repairs and replacements. Here are some maintenance tips for a cooling tower in a water treatment plant.

Circulatory Water -- Water is essential in a cooling tower for purposes of cooling the system. Therefore, you need an efficient filtration system to remove any debris which might cause corrosion and fouling of the tower. Notably, running some circulatory water through the filtration system reduces the buildup of particulates and thus maintains a healthy balance. Furthermore, at the circulatory stage, chemicals are used to treat the water to reduce corrosion and scale formation and to enhance dispersion of suspended solids. In essence, as water circulates in the tower, the chances of suspended solids settling are highly diminished in areas that experience low flow. 

Know the Type of Cooling Tower Material -- Cooling towers are made of different materials including fiberglass, stainless steel and galvanized steel. Also, the type of piping material can have a bearing on the service life of the tower. Each material has a different tolerance for environmental elements. Some newer versions of towers are designed from fiber-reinforced polyester material that can withstand chemical corrosion and that is light in weight. Knowing the type of material will help determine the durability of the tower. Most importantly, durable materials can significantly reduce the cost of maintenance and repair. 

Check for Scaling -- Formation of hard deposits (scale) is common when certain chemical compounds become insoluble in a high-temperature environment. The hard deposits stick to surfaces and cause cloggin, and damage to the cooling tower and pipes if maintenance is neglected. Alkalinity can also cause scaling. As alkalinity rises in a cooling tower, scaling occurs because of decreased solubility in this environment. As explained earlier, circulating water in the system can minimize this scaling problem. Additionally, the introduction of pH control agents and scaling inhibitors can reduce this issue. A cooling tower specialist is better placed to troubleshoot scaling problem and offer a solution based on the uniqueness of each cooling system. However, treating the water before scaling occurs in the tower is always a proactive and cost-effective measure to consider.

Contact companies like Marley Flow Control Pty Ltd for more information.

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