Overview Of Water Pump for Cooling Tower

A water pump for a cooling tower (often called the circulating pump or condenser water pump) moves warm water from the heat source to the cooling tower and returns cooled water back to the system.

Below is a clear, practical overview tailored to Water Pump for Cooling Tower (Marley, EVAPCO, BAC, etc.).

1. Function of Water Pump for Cooling Tower

The Water Pump for Cooling Tower:

* Circulates hot condenser/process water to the cooling tower

* Provides sufficient flow and pressure to the spray nozzles

* Overcomes static head + friction losses

* Maintains stable heat rejection for chillers, power plants, or petrochemical units

2. Common Types of Water Pump for Cooling Tower Used

A. End Suction Centrifugal Water Pump for Cooling Tower (Most Common)

* Horizontal or vertical

* Simple design, easy maintenance

* Used in HVAC and industrial cooling towers

✅ Typical brands: Grundfos, KSB, Flowserve, Goulds

B. Vertical Inline Water Pump for Cooling Tower

* Compact footprint

* Installed directly in piping

* Common in building HVAC systems

C. Vertical Turbine Water Pump for Cooling Tower

* Used when the cooling tower basin is below pump level

* Handles high flow and low NPSH

* Common in power plants and large industrial towers

D. Split-Case Centrifugal Water Pump for Cooling Tower

* High efficiency

* Large flow applications

* Easy maintenance for continuous operation

3. Key Water Pump for Cooling Tower Selection Parameters

When selecting a cooling tower pump, you must define:

1️⃣ Flow Rate (Q)

Q = Heat Load (kW)/(4.186 *Δ_T)

Typical rule:

* 3–5 gpm per refrigeration ton (RT)

 2️⃣ Total Dynamic Head (TDH)

Includes:

* Static lift

* Pipe friction losses

* Spray nozzle pressure

* Heat exchanger pressure drop

Typical range:

* 15–40 m (50–130 ft) for most cooling towers

 3️⃣ Pump Material

Component	Common Material
Casing	Cast iron / Ductile iron
Impeller	Bronze / SS304 / SS316
Shaft	Stainless steel
Seal	Mechanical seal (carbon/ceramic)

⚠️ For corrosive or seawater systems → SS316 or FRP

4. Pump Location & Installation

* Installed at cooling tower cold water basin

* Flooded suction preferred

* Use:

 * Suction strainer

 * Flexible connector

 * Vibration isolators

 * Non-return valve (NRV)

 * Isolation valves

5. Typical Cooling Tower Pump Problems

Issue	Cause
Cavitation	Low NPSH, clogged strainer
Low flow	Worn impeller, air ingress
High vibration	Misalignment, bearing failure
Seal leakage	Poor water quality
Motor overload	Excess head or fouling

 6. Example Application

500 RT chiller cooling tower

* Flow ≈ 1,500–2,500 gpm

* Pump type: Horizontal end suction

* Motor: 30–60 HP

* Head: 20–30 m