MAINTENANCE OF COOLING TOWERS

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 MAINTENANCE OF COOLING TOWERS

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• Mechanical maintenance is reduced first of all by keeping the equipment clean and adjusted after frequent inspections. Grease the motor bearings, and add oil to the gearbox and speed reducers as recommended by the equipment manufacturers. 

• Keep all the clamps and bolts tightened. Inspect fans, motors, and housing to avoid undue vibration they should be painted yearly, although the necessity for painting is most frequently determined by experience. 

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• Redwood does not require painting for protection but for appearance only. Other wood that has been pretreated may require periodic treatment applications. Again, manufacturers' recommendations should be followed and should be part of the plant's O&M manual. Remove all debris, scale, etc., from the decking and distribution system. 

• Drain and wash down the storage basin and overhead deck from time to time. Keep all parts of the tower in alignment. Inspect nozzles for clogging (weekly). Constant vigilance is important observe anything unusual in the form of high water temperatures that may indicate faulty operation, scale in the system, etc. 

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• Check gearboxes weekly locate any unusual noise or vibration immediately and correct it. Check the oil level weekly and change the oil as recommended by the manufacturer or as the operating experience of the plant dictates. 

• At least once a year give the entire installation a thorough inspection dismantle the motors, gearboxes, etc., and check for structural weakness while tightening the bolts. 

• Do not permit the tower to remain out of service (drained) for any length of time if avoidable. To avoid fires in the tower, keep it wet. If the tower is kept out of service "dry" for any length of time, fire extinguishers should be made available for emergency use and should be located for easy accessibility. In large plants, a fire-protection system should be operational. 

• The best guarantee of trouble-free performance is the adoption of a preventive maintenance schedule with a continuous record of performance. The life of a cooling tower depends on the care and attention it is given. Good operating and maintenance procedures should incorporate the recommendations of the manufacturer. 

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