Maintenance Guide for Cooling Tower Water Collectors

I. Cooling Tower Water Collectors Maintenance Goals

The water collector (water separator) is responsible for intercepting water droplets larger than 0.1mm and keeping the drift rate within 0.001%. Maintaining its integrity, cleanliness and no deformation is the first line of defense for water conservation, carbon reduction and preventing the spread of Legionella with water mist.

II.Cooling Tower Water Collectors Safety first

Cut off the power supply of the fan and lock it with a tag.

Wear goggles, anti-slip shoes and an N95 mask to prevent inhalation of bacterial aerosols.

Prepare a low-pressure flushing gun (<0.3 MPa), a soft-bristled brush, neutral cleaning agent and chlorine-containing disinfectant (5 mg/L free chlorine).

III. Cooling Tower Water Collectors Daily Inspection (Weekly)

Visual inspection: Check through the inspection window whether the water collector plate is deformed, collapsed or missing.

Listening to the sound: Abnormal "hissing" sounds often indicate a short circuit in the airflow.

Flashlight illumination: Check for white scale, green biofilm or black silt on the surface.

Record pressure drop: If the pressure drop increases by more than 20% at the same air volume, it indicates blockage.

IV. Cooling Tower Water Collectors Cleaning Operations (Monthly or when pressure drop is abnormal)

First, empty the water tray on the upper tower to reduce secondary splashing.

Low-pressure water is flushed from top to bottom, with the water flow direction consistent with the air flow direction to avoid reverse impact causing deformation of the sheet material.

Soak stubborn scale in 5% citric acid or neutral cleaner for 10 minutes and gently brush with a soft-bristled brush.

In the biofilm contaminated area, spray with chlorine-containing disinfectant water in a circulating manner for 6 hours, and then rinse with clean water until the residual chlorine is less than 0.5 mg/L.

It is strictly prohibited to use high-pressure water guns (> 0.5MPa) or metal tools to scrape to prevent the hook teeth from breaking.

V. Cooling Tower Water Collectors Semi-annual deep maintenance

Remove some of the modules and place them flat for inspection: replace them when the spacing between the pieces is 25±2 mm and the fracture rate of the hook teeth is greater than 5%.

Measure tensile strength: The retention strength of PVC/ABS sheets ≥80% is qualified. If it is lower than this value, the entire batch should be replaced.

Ultraviolet aging: When the surface shows signs of powdering and cracking, it indicates the end of its lifespan and a sheet with a higher UV resistance grade should be replaced.

Reset installation: The snap must make two "clicks" to ensure there are no lateral gaps and prevent the airflow from bypassing.

VI. Cooling Tower Water Collectors Common Faults and Their Handling

Sudden increase in water drift → Check whether the water collector has collapsed or the installation gap is too large, and immediately reset or patch it.

An increase in pressure drop accompanied by a decrease in air volume → biofilm blockage. Carry out the above cleaning and disinfection process.

In winter, ice damage causes deformation: Activate electric heating or adjust the reverse rotation time of the fan, and replace the cracked modules in time.

VII. Cooling Tower Water Collectors Synergy between Water Quality and Chemicals

Maintain the turbidity of the circulating water below 20 NTU and the total hardness below 400 mg/L. Before adding non-oxidizing biocides, rinse the surface of the water collector first to prevent stress cracking of the sheet material caused by organic chlorine.

VIII. Cooling Tower Water Collectors Record and Traceability

After each maintenance, fill out the "Record Form for Pressure Drop and Drift Rate of the Water Collector", take photos for archiving, and establish a "one tower, one file" system to provide data support for the next membrane replacement or technical renovation.

By following the above eight steps, it can be ensured that the water collector is always in a state of high efficiency, low resistance and long service life, providing a guarantee for the water-saving, energy-saving and safe operation of the cooling tower.