Cooling Tower Efficiency Tips
Efficiency of a cooling tower is dependent in part on the quality of the water that it contains. Poor water quality from scale, biofouling and corrosion leads to less efficient cooling towers.
- Minimize rate of bleed-off from high total dissolved solids (TDS) in circulating water.
- Automate bleed-off events based on time instead of TDS concentration to allow for lesser conductivity fluctuations. Likewise, allow for automated shut-off of cooling towers when the system is not in use.
- Install a conductivity meter to measure TDS and prevent build-up of scale that decreases the water efficiency of the system. A pH meter will also perform this duty.
- Install meters that reveal the amount of water flowing through the cooling tower system, ensuring water is being used at maximum efficiency.
- Implement a water reuse program for bleed-off water in operations where water quality is not a concern. Using water that has already been purposely employed for additional beneficial uses reduces the amount of freshwater that must be withdrawn.
- Eliminate “once-through” cooling systems. These systems only use water once and then dispose of it, eliminating the full use potential of water.
- When using water multiple times, it is imperative to make sure water quality does not impair machinery functions. Routinely check machinery.
- Investigate alternative cooling options to water, such as air, to eliminate the need for water all together.
Boiler Efficiency Tips
Any function that requires steam generally requires a boiler.
- Water can be lost as steam, which is why it is important to make sure your boiler is equipped with a condensate return system so that the steam can be captured and reused in the heating system. (Return systems can potentially cut operation costs by 70%.[2])
- Ensure there are no leaks occurring in the boiler machinery (hoses, outlets, pans, etc.) which allows for unintentional water escape.
- Install automatic shut-off censors when the boilers are not in use or not needed.
