Heater to prevent sump water from freezing HELP!!!
Heater to prevent sump water from freezing HELP!!!
(OP)
I have (3) 21' x 7' x 6' Sump
We are being told to prevent this sump water from freezing. I don't know how to spec a heater that would be enough to keep this sump water around 40F when ambient temperatures fall below 40F. I think it will have a thermostat to control the heating operation. This sump water comes from the cooling tower.
The middle sump will not require heating since it will share temperature its 2 neighbor sumps.
Do anyone have any experience as far as sizing the heater and any recommendation action? Someone told me about 15KW will do the job. Thank you.
We are being told to prevent this sump water from freezing. I don't know how to spec a heater that would be enough to keep this sump water around 40F when ambient temperatures fall below 40F. I think it will have a thermostat to control the heating operation. This sump water comes from the cooling tower.
The middle sump will not require heating since it will share temperature its 2 neighbor sumps.
Do anyone have any experience as far as sizing the heater and any recommendation action? Someone told me about 15KW will do the job. Thank you.





RE: Heater to prevent sump water from freezing HELP!!!
You might want to track down a copy to take a look at it. I'd use 35F to 40F as my maintenance temperature and then whatever minimum air temperature you have.
RE: Heater to prevent sump water from freezing HELP!!!
RE: Heater to prevent sump water from freezing HELP!!!
RE: Heater to prevent sump water from freezing HELP!!!
1. Does any of the sumps contain stagnant water; are operations of an intermittent character ?
2. Are the sumps located beneath the CT ?
3. How do you control your cooling tower's (CT) operation in cold weather (louvres, fans, etc.) ?
4. What is the returning circulating cooling water (ccw) "warm" temperature ?
5. Is there a possibility of by-passing the CT putting some of the returning warm ccw straight into the sump(s) under temperature control ?
6. What is the ccw flow rate ?
7. What is the "exposed" surface of the sumps ?
8. What is the lowest air temperature ?
RE: Heater to prevent sump water from freezing HELP!!!
1. Does any of the sumps contain stagnant water; are operations of an intermittent character ? Stagnant
2. Are the sumps located beneath the CT ? Beneath
3. How do you control your cooling tower's (CT) operation in cold weather (louvres, fans, etc.) ? Fans
4. What is the returning circulating cooling water (ccw) "warm" temperature ? 40F
5. Is there a possibility of by-passing the CT putting some of the returning warm ccw straight into the sump(s) under temperature control ? No
6. What is the ccw flow rate?
7. What is the "exposed" surface of the sumps ? Air
8. What is the lowest air temperature ? 19F
RE: Heater to prevent sump water from freezing HELP!!!
RE: Heater to prevent sump water from freezing HELP!!!
Various solutions can be found doing a web search. In the meantime, I found these two sites:
http://www.jlhermon.com/freezing_weather.htm
http://www.ogontz.com/freeze.htm
that may be of help.
RE: Heater to prevent sump water from freezing HELP!!!
Once formed ice (having a lower vapour presure) may become an efficient physical barrier for cold dry air.
Coming back to your original question, a 15 kW (12900 kcal/h) heater would take care of melting some 350 lb/h of potential ice. For the cooling effect of the cold (dry) air follow TD2K's advice, and multiply the heat in W/ft2 by the exposed area, to obtain the wattage needed. Good luck.
RE: Heater to prevent sump water from freezing HELP!!!
RE: Heater to prevent sump water from freezing HELP!!!
TD2K - Thank you very much for your valuable advice.
This type of helps meaning you are so dedicated in your career and man, "god bless you". I got me out of the problem. I am sure it will come some more as I live. Thank you.