In many industrial zones, the cooling tower is located out-of-sight, which means that it is very easy to overlook them when carrying out routine maintenance tasks. However, regular maintenance of your industrial cooling tower is required to keep the system running safely and efficiently. Below is a guide to 5 essential maintenance work you should carry out on a regular basis. Only trained personnel should perform these jobs.

Check the airflow

In a cooling tower, the water is cooled by the air which flows around the tower. Poor airflow can create areas of uneven cooling within the tower. The airflow in your cooling tower can be disrupted by several different factors, such as:

• Debris within the inlets and outlets
• Broken fan blades
• Misaligned fan motors
• Improper gearbox maintenance

A qualified technician should periodically check each of the above areas and carry out any necessary repair work.

Descale inner surfaces

The water which circulates in the cooling tower contains minerals. Over time, these minerals can begin to accumulate on surfaces, causing a scale to form. This scale provides the perfect breeding ground for bacteria such as the potentially deadly Legionella. The scale will also reduce the efficiency of the heat transfer between the water and the surrounding atmosphere. A contractor should periodically descale the inner surfaces of the cooling tower.

Treat the water

Once the cooling tower is fully descaled, the contractor should also chlorinate the water to kill any harmful bacteria and remove any biofilms which are forming on the surface. These biofilms can accelerate the rate of corrosion which can damage the metal components of the tower. Bleeding the water from the tower and replacing is not a substitute for proper water treatment, as it will not remove any biological hazards living within the tower.

Maintain the pump and water channels

The majority of industrial cooling towers use pumps to move the water and facilitate the evaporation process. However, if the water is not flowing around the tower correctly, the level of heat transfer will be compromised. A contractor should check that the channels and filter which the water passes through are not blocked and that the pump is in good working order.

Clean the nozzles

Over time, algae and scale can build up on the nozzles which spray water in the cooling tower, reducing their efficiency. The blockage causes the water to be spread in a non-uniform distribution pattern, leading to uneven cooling in the tower. The nozzles should be inspected during descaling operations and cleared of any scale or organic matter.

If you would like further advice, you should contact a cooling tower maintenance company.