We blew the TOP off the TOWER

[kbparham]

HELP! Cooling Tower Distribution Deck/Hotwell lids bent? It looks like some kind of pressure build up forced water out of top of lids - strong enough force to bend them. Now water won't flow evenly down fill.

I have NO idea what caused this. Are we looking at a pump problem, a controls problem? Condenser pumps has no soft start or variable speed. Flow is approx 3600gpm, total volume of water isn't known, we've got a tower on the roof of a 10-story bldg with with condenser on ground level.

There is no obvious obstruction at the distribution deck. I am wondering if... the Distribution system was "clogged" with loosened scale from a cleaning a few weeks back, could this cause such a catastrophic event? As I said, at this time there is no obvious obstruction, but towers were cleaned a few weeks ago.

This has occured twice in the last 6 months - but we can't draw any parallels between the events. Could this be a pump problem?

kbparham

 

[cub3bead]

Are you making sure the circulating water piping is completely full before starting the pump?

Are you venting the condenser water boxes?

Are you starting the pump against a closed discharge and slowly opening the valve?

 

[BigInch]

Let me know if you want to look at transient flows and pressures. 3600 gpm can do some kind of damage if the system is not started or stopped in a well controlled manner.

Going the Big Inch!

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.msn.com

 

[coolingtowersrus]

Sounds alot like a build up of sediment/scale clogging the intake holes feeding the spray nozzles in distribution box.

A build up of this kind will usually simply cause towers to overflow but if the panels were secured tightly to box at that flow rate the plastic deformation of the panels is entirely possible. I wouldn't call this event catstrophic.

Clean all of the debris out of the distribution box throroughly after every tower cleaning. If you are not currently getting good even flow over the tower fill then the holes and nozzles need to be cleaned. You need to have someone get up in there and inspect holes and the flow closely. If there are restrictions they are fairly easy to locate. Usually they can be cleaned out by working your finger around in the holes. Its a nice job on a hot day...

Good Luck

 

[kbparham]

After the event - we inspected the distribution deck for obstructions - scale etc... and found nothing. We'd already cleaned the distribution deck after the tower cleaning, and checked it again several days later.

 

[panelman]

Could the pipe be emptying it’s self occasionally, (faulty non return valve?)

I’m thinking you could have a high speed slug of water bending the lid