BAC 3240C - Cold Weather Operation; Fan Section Icing Protection

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SERIES 3000 COOLING TOWER
Cold Weather Operation
Inspection & Maintenance
BACproductscanbeoperatedatsubfreezingambienttemperaturesprovidedproper
operatingmethodsareestablishedanddiligentlyfollowed.
• Carryoutfrequentvisualinspectionsandroutinemaintenanceservicesduring
operationinsubfreezingweather.
• Ensureallcontrolsforcapacityandfreezeprotectionaresetproperlyandfunctioning
normally.
• Preventexcessivelyhighwaterlevelsandpossibleoverowofthecoldwaterbasindue
tooverpumping,cloggedstrainers,ormake-upvalvemalfunction.
• Someuniticingcanbeexpectedinverycoldweather.Usuallythiswillnoteffect
theoperationoftheunit.Resolveanyicingconditionsthatmaydamagetheunit
orthesupports,impairthesystemperformance,orcreateasafetyhazard.
Fan Section Icing Protection
Therearetwobasicoperationalmethodswhichcanbeusedtoprovidethesystem’s
requiredcooling:temperaturesettingandfancontrol.Themethodofcontrolemployedon
agivenapplicationdependsupontheclimaticextremeswhichareexpected,thevariations
inheatloadthatwillbeencountered,andthecompatibilityofthecontrolsystemwith
otherportionsoftheinstallation.
Insubfreezingambienttemperatures,effectiveicingcontrolmayrequireacombinationof
thesetwomethods.Operateeachunitwiththehighestthermalloaditcanhandle,rather
thanevenlydividingthetotalheatloadacrossallcells.Duringprolongedcoldweather
periods,bypasstheidleunitsanddrainthebasins.
Temperature Setting
Lowleavinguidtemperaturespromoteiceformation.Duringoperationinsubfreezing
ambienttemperatures,maintaintheleavingwatertemperatureashighaspossible.Ensure
theunitoperateswiththemaximumpossibleheatload.Therecommendedminimum
processuidtemperatureis43°F(6.1°C).
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