Water Cooling Towers

The Coolmation range of induced draft cooling towers utilise a counter-flow design to provide for inherently better performance and easier maintenance.

Principle of operation:

Cooling water returns in a warm state from the process and enters at the top of the cooling tower under pressure to be distributed through the fill pack. Simultaneously, air is drawn in at the base of the tower by the fan and travels upward to mix with the water where some evaporation takes place, removing heat from the remainder. The warm moist air is discharged to atmosphere.

Other important features of this extensive range include:

• Cooling capacities from 50kW to 12,000kW.
• Body and basin constructed from Z725 galvanised steel.
• High performance, long life axial fan.
• Vertical air discharge at a sufficient distance from the horizontal air intake to prevent air re-circulation.
• Highly efficient drift eliminator limiting water losses to less than 0.001% of the water re-circulation rate.
• Patented fill pack inducing a highly turbulant mixing of air and water for superior heat transfer.
• Superior two pass air intake louvre and screen design to minimise water splash out and block sunlight to reduce algae formation. The low pressure drop design results in lower fan energy consumption and operating costs.
• Pressurised water distribution system with sediment preventing sludge rings incorporated within the spray nozzles. Easily removed for maintenance.
• A.C.O.P L8-2000 compliant.

The Coolmation range of forced draft cooling towers have the same high performance features but are fitted with centrifugal fans instead of axial.

This makes them ideally suited for low noise applications or for situations where the tower has to be installed indoors. In these latter cases air can be ducted from the outside to the air intake and from the air discharge to the outside.

They are available in capacities from 100kW to 6,000kW.

Optional features include:

• Sound attenuation for even quieter operation.
• High temperature fill pack for handling water temperatures exceeding 54ºC.
• Body and basin fabricated in 304 stainless steel.

Of induced or forced draft design, closed circuit coolers are primarily installed where higher levels of cooling water quality needs to be maintained. They can be sited inside or outside and noise attenuated if necessary.

Principle of operation:

The process cooling water is circulated through a closed tube nest, which replaces the open fill pack. Heat from the water is dissipated through the tube walls to water cascading over the tube nest.

Simultaneously, air is forced upward and over the nest causing some of the water to evaporate and cooling to take place. The resulting warm moist air is rejected to atmosphere.

Features include:

• Cooling capacities from 100kW to 5,000kW.
• Body and basin constructed from Z725 galvanised steel.
• Low sound design.
• Vertical air discharge at a sufficient distance from the horizontal air intake to prevent air re-circulation.
• Highly efficient drift eliminator limiting water losses to less than 0.001% of the water re-circulation rate.
• Patented hot dip galvanised coil nest designed to minimise air pressure drop while maximising tube surface area and heat transfer capability. The low air pressure drop means that smaller fan motors can be installed leading to lower operating costs.
• Superior two pass air intake louvre and screen design which minimises water splash out and blocks sunlight to reduce algae formation (induced draught only).
• Pressurised water distribution system with sediment preventing sludge rings incorporated within the spray nozzles. Easily removed for maintenance.
• A.C.O.P. L8-2000 compliant.

I’ve heard about cooling towers and Legionnaire’s disease - what’s the problem?

Legionnaire’s disease is caused by a bacteria which can thrive in inadequately maintained cooling towers then spread within aerosol droplets. Infection is caused by breathing these in.

Should I be buying a cooling tower?

Yes. Cooling towers are by far the cheapest way of cooling whether it is a capital or running cost being considered. They are the only practical way of cooling water to below ambient temperatures in most industries BUT you will need to take one more step - water treatment

I’ve got my cooling tower, what do I need to do?

1. Register it with your Local Authority. Ring the Environmental Health Department at your Local Council and they will send you details. Most Councils only require the simplest of information on a one-page form.

2. Contact a reputable water treatment Company to set up a treatment programme.

Why do I need to treat my tower?

Cooling towers were being treated long before Legionnaire’s disease was discovered in the late 1970’s. Without a treatment programme your system will corrode, scale up and gradually fill with airborne dirt, reducing its efficiency and working life.

Today, there are two Statutory Regulations which cover the treatment of cooling towers.

• Health & Safety at Work Act.
• COSHH Regulations.

To assist the users, there is a specific Approved Code of Practice (ACOP L8 2000) which highlights how to conform to both these Regulations.

What does a water treatment programme entail?

• A short training session to ensure all relevant staff are aware of the risks, know the correct operating procedures and what to do if things appear to be wrong.
• A written Risk Assessment to be reviewed annually.
• An initial clean and chlorination of the system at commissioning, which must be repeated twice per year.
• The automatic dosing of on-going treatment containing scale and corrosion inhibitors, biodispersant and biocides plus a regulated bleed to control the level of dissolved solids
• Weekly and monthly water tests.
• A Log Book containing operating procedures, test results etc.

How much time is this going to take me?

Very little. The water treatment Company will do all the work, but a responsible member of staff should be nominated as a contact and to generally oversee the programme. To keep treatment costs down it is normal practice for site staff to carry out the weekly tests which take about five minutes. Monthly tests should always be carried by the water treatment Company.

How much will water treatment cost?

A lot less than doing nothing from both maintenance and safety angles. As well as providing cooling, a tower is designed to save water and a good treatment programme will maximise these savings. The cost depends on local water quality, but a rough guide for a two metre square tower is about £2,000.00 per annum for a complete programme.

Who do I contact?

Water treatment Companies are normally listed in the yellow pages. However, we can provide you with the name of a reputable Company.