FAQ

Maintenance and upkeep of cooling towers during operation

Author： Views: Time:2025-09-26

　　Maintenance and upkeep of cooling towers during operation

　　As an important cooling equipment, the cooling tower should be maintained and managed by a dedicated person, with maintenance and observation of its operation. It is important to regularly pay attention to changes in current and water temperature, and to check for any abnormal sounds. If there are any abnormal phenomena, the machine should be stopped immediately for inspection.

　　1. The motor makes abnormal sounds.

　　2. The fan experiences severe vibration.

　　3. The fan blades rub against the inner wall of the cooling tower.

　　4. The tower body shakes.

　　5. Tower leakage.

　　6. The temperature of the water pump is too high, or the cooling water does not meet the cooling requirements.

　　5. Check whether various fasteners are loose and ensure that they are locked tightly.

　　6. Keep the water tower clean and regularly treat the water quality. The turbidity of circulating water generally does not exceed 50mg/L, and it is allowed to not exceed 100mg/L in the short term. The circulating cooling water system should have water treatment measures, and if algae and moss grow during use, they should be removed according to the situation. Can be equipped with a dosing device to add biocides such as "liquid chlorine" or "Xinjieer Mie".

　　7. Check if there are any impurities in the water system, if the water level is normal, and if the circulating water quality meets the water quality standards.

　　If the air volume is found to be too high or too low, the fan blade angle can be adjusted, but the motor load should be checked at any time. If the fan blade angle is overloaded, it should be reduced.

　　During the inspection and maintenance process, the water collector or PVC filler should not be stepped on directly. If necessary, the laying operation should be carried out.

　　Daily maintenance:

　　The daily maintenance of cooling towers is extremely important, as it has a direct impact on equipment economy, safety, and extended service life. Therefore, it is necessary to conscientiously carry out daily maintenance and repair work.

　　The maintenance work of the cooling tower includes:

　　1. Regularly remove moss, dirt, and debris from the water distribution tank, at least once a year in spring and autumn.

　　2. Regularly inspect the water distribution system device, keep the water filling clean, and in case of dirt or blockage, work with relevant units to identify the cause and analyze its impact, and then take necessary measures to restore good water quality.

　　3. Valves and other transmission devices should be regularly oiled and maintained to keep their switches flexible. Except in winter, it is recommended to rotate each valve of the cooling system in two directions 2-3 times a month to prevent rusting and jamming.

　　4. Regularly check whether each component is connected reliably, and carefully inspect the transmission system.

　　5. Cooling towers are used in the north, and careful anti freezing preparations are made for the coils in autumn; In winter, take relevant anti freezing measures seriously. Be sure to drain the water when stopping the machine.

　　Main component maintenance:

　　1. Spray trough

　　The cold water tray should be thoroughly cleaned every quarter and inspected monthly or as necessary to remove dirt or sediment that may accumulate in the tray. Sediments can corrode the water pan, causing damage to the water pan material.

　　After the first start-up of the equipment or the discharge of water from the equipment, the unit must inject water to the overflow port. This is higher than the normal working water level in order to have sufficient water volume in the external pipelines of the water distribution system and equipment.

　　The water level should be kept above the filter screen and the suction inlet of the water pump. Turn on the water pump, turn off the ventilation fan, and observe the water level through the air intake grille or maintenance door.

　　2. Spray water distribution system

　　The water distribution system should be inspected monthly to ensure its normal operation. The sprinkler system can usually be checked with the water pump turned on and the fan turned off (locked and marked). Our company uses a three-layer showerhead spray nozzle, which does not actually clog and requires almost no cleaning or maintenance.

　　If the spray nozzle is not working properly, it is a signal that the filter in the water tray is not working and dirt or debris has accumulated in the water distribution pipeline. You can insert a small pointed probe into the spray nozzle and then move it back and forth to remove the dirt stuck in the spray nozzle.

　　When the accumulation of dirt or debris is particularly severe, the end caps of each branch pipe can be removed to flush out the dirt from the main pipe. Only remove and clean the spray branch or connecting pipe when absolutely necessary.

　　3. Water quality requirements

　　Cooling coil water quality:

　　I recommend using a water quality pH value requirement of 6 5～8. Between 5.

　　If the pH value of the water changes or scaling occurs after long-term operation, chemical water treatment must be carried out in the coil. The chemical agent must be suitable for the structural materials of the unit and other materials used in the system. The chemical agent must be accurately measured and the concentration must be accurately controlled. The chemical agent should be thoroughly mixed and slowly added before reaching the evaporative cooling equipment. Chemical agents cannot be added in bulk directly into the coils of evaporative cooling equipment.

　　Spray water quality:

　　The recommended pH value for water quality is 6 5～8. Between 5.

　　Long term use of the spray tank has caused water pollution, pH changes, and bacterial growth, requiring regular cleaning.

　　If chemical treatment of water quality is required, please refer to Article 2 of the first item "Cooling Coil Water Quality"

　　4. Water replenishment valve

　　The mechanical float valve is a standard component on evaporative cooling equipment, which can be easily accessed through the external maintenance door of the unit or by removing the air intake grille. The mechanical float valve controls the water flow rate of the water replenishment port based on the water level. The lower the water level, the greater the flow rate of the replenishment port. The mechanical float valve closes the replenishment port when the water level in the tank gradually meets the replenishment level

　　Please note the following points here:

　　1. Please check the flexibility of the mechanical float valve every month

　　2. Please check the water pressure of the water replenishment pipe every week to ensure it is normal

　　5. Discharge valve

　　Whether installed in the factory or on-site, the drain valve must be inspected weekly to ensure its proper functioning and proper setting. Keep the drain valve open unless it is certain that partial opening will not cause water concentration and corrosion in the water pan.

　　6. Main water pump (if provided)

　　The water pump and water pump motor should be lubricated and maintained according to the instructions provided by the water pump manufacturer. Circulating water pumps should not be used as a means of capacity control and should not be frequently started or stopped. Excessive start stop can lead to scaling, which in turn can result in a decrease in wet dry performance.

　　If the water pump unit has been idle for too long, the blades and impellers of the water pump motor should be manually rotated (please refer to our company's relevant motor idle maintenance and water pump common problem solutions for specific information).

　　7. Drainage or sewage discharge

　　Closed cooling equipment achieves cooling through the evaporation of a portion of circulating spray water, and saturated hot and humid air is discharged into the atmosphere. As this pure water evaporates, minerals and impurities contained in the water, as well as pollutants brought in by the air, remain behind. These impurities and pollutants will continue to circulate in the system and must be controlled to avoid scaling, corrosion, accumulation of pollutants, and biological contamination caused by excessive concentration. Closed cooling equipment should be equipped with drainage pipes or drain pipes on the drainage side of the sprinkler water pump to discharge the concentrated water in the system.

　　8. Biological pollution control

　　Regular microbiological control testing should be conducted on evaporative cooling equipment, including monitoring of microbial communities using cultivation techniques and visual inspection of signs of biological contamination.

　　Poor biological pollution control can reduce heat transfer efficiency, increase the possibility of corrosion, and increase the harmfulness of pathogens (which may lead to Legionella disease).

　　The specially designed water treatment program should include daily operation, restart after periodic shutdown, and system idle (if any). If excessive microbial pollutants are detected, stronger mechanical flushing or water treatment procedures should be adopted.

　　It is very important to keep all surfaces inside the equipment clean, free of dirt and residue. In addition, the dehydrator should be kept in good working condition.

　　9. Grey water and recycled water

　　The use of external recycled water may increase corrosion, biological pollution, or scaling. The use of grey water and recycled water should be avoided unless all hazards have been understood,

　　10. Air pollution

　　Evaporative cooling equipment draws in air during operation and retains particles in the air inside the unit during exhaust. Do not install the unit near chimneys, exhaust ducts, ventilation holes, exhaust outlets, etc., to prevent the unit from inhaling smoke and causing corrosion. In addition, the unit should be kept away from the fresh air intake of the building to prevent the exhaust of the unit from entering the building's air conditioning system. If the unit is installed in a polluted industrial area, such as chemical fumes, industrial smoke, salt alkali or severe dust pollution, the unit will scale, corrode or accelerate biological growth due to the flushing of pollutants in the air by circulating water. The amount of impurities in the air will determine the frequency of equipment maintenance work, and pollution discharge can improve the above situation. If there are any signs of corrosion, scaling, or biological growth, experienced water treatment experts should be contacted promptly.

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