Maintenance Guide for Cooling Tower Nozzles

Cooling tower nozzles are key components of the cooling system, and their maintenance directly affects the heat dissipation efficiency, energy consumption and equipment lifespan. The following 700-word maintenance guide is for your reference.

I.COOLING TOWER: Daily Inspection

Observe the water distribution every week: The nozzle should form a complete conical water mist, with adjacent spray surfaces overlapping by 10% to 20%. If forks, dead corners or a sharp reduction in water volume are found, stop using it immediately and mark it.

Listening to the sound to identify blockage: If the sound of water flow suddenly becomes sharp or intermittent, it indicates that there is a local blockage at the nozzle. First, increase the pump pressure to the upper limit of the rated value of 55kPa. If there is still no improvement, disassemble and clean it.

Check water quality: The turbidity of circulating water should be no more than 10mg/L, pH6.5-8.5, and conductivity less than 2000μS/cm. When the standards are exceeded, drain the water and add corrosion and scale inhibitors.

II.COOLING TOWER: Cleaning Methods

Manual method: Shut down the machine and cut off the power supply. Remove the nozzle, use a soft brush or fine needle to clear it in the reverse direction, and then rinse it with a high-pressure water gun (0.3MPa). Do not use metal sharp tools on plastic parts to prevent scratches.

Chemical method: Soak stubborn scale in 20% - 30% sulfuric acid or 5% citric acid for 60 minutes, then rinse with clean water until pH=7, and finally dry with compressed air.

Online backflushing: If the system cannot be shut down, close the target branch valve, quickly disassemble the nozzle tail pipe, and use the residual pressure of the system to drain water in reverse for 3 to 5 seconds. This can remove impurities, but it requires the cooperation of two people to prevent water splashing.

III. COOLING TOWER:Regular maintenance

Clean the filter screen monthly: Disassemble and clean the Y-shaped filter screen at the pump suction inlet and the water distribution branch pipe. Replace it immediately if any damage is found to prevent impurities from re-entering the nozzle.

Quarterly tightening: Check if the nozzle and branch pipe threads and clamps are loose. Rewind them with PTFE raw tape, with a tightening torque of no more than 5N·m to prevent thread slippage.

Replace vulnerable parts annually: Record the operating time and water quality. Stainless steel nozzles must be subject to mandatory assessment every 2 years, and plastic or ABS nozzles every 1 year. Replace the entire batch if the nozzle wear is greater than 1mm, the flow rate drops by 30%, or the O-ring cracks.

IV. COOLING TOWER:Management during the Shutdown Season

Winter anti-freezing: After the machine stops, open the minimum drain valve to empty the pipeline. Remove the nozzle and immerse it in ethylene glycol anti-rust solution. Before reinstallation the following year, rinse it with clean water again.

Anti-corrosion painting: For the areas of galvanized branch pipes where white rust appears, after removing the rust with sandpaper, apply two coats of epoxy zinc-rich primer to prevent the rust from falling off and blocking the nozzle.

V. COOLING TOWER:Safety and Records

Power-off sign: When entering the tower, first stop the fan and water pump, lock the power supply and hang a warning sign. The lighting inside the tower uses a safe voltage of 24V.

Establish a ledger: Record the date, quantity, water quality data and photos of each cleaning and replacement, analyze the clogging cycle, and optimize the dosing and drainage strategies.

By adhering to the above steps, the nozzles can be kept unobstructed, water distribution can be uniform, the service life of the packing and the fan can be prolonged, and the energy consumption of the cooling tower can be reduced by 5% to 10%.