Easy. Safe. Simple.Access for Maintenance

to Cooling Towers

Paul DaviesRepresenting

Clint LewisRepresenting

• Types of Cooling Towers typically offered in the HVAC Industry

• Overview of Cooling Tower components requiring access for maintenance.

• Design obligations and standards surrounding hygiene, access and maintenance of Cooling Towers.

• Access options that meet requirements.

• Questions

Introduction

Types of Mechanical Draft Cooling Towers (airflow)

• Forced Draft Equipment

› One or more fans are located

at the air inlet to force air into

the tower

• Induced Draft Equipment

› One or more fans are located

in the air outlet to induce air

flow through the air inlets

Types of Fluid Paths in Cooling Towers

• Crossflow - Air flows horizontally through the cooling tower and interfaces perpendicularly with the falling hot water

• Counterflow - Air enters at the base of the cooling tower, flows upward and interfaces counter-currently with the falling hot water

Water

Air

Water

Air

Induced Draft COUNTERFLOW Equipment Principle of OPERATION

Induced Draft CROSSFLOW Equipment Principle of OPERATION

Dual Air InletSeries 3000

Single Air InletSeries 1500

Common Components requiring regular access for maintenance

DRIVE SYSTEM Crossflow and Counter

Flow

COLD WATER BASIN Crossflow and Counter

Flow

BELT DRIVE SYSTEM

Common Components requiring regular access for maintenance

BASIN SWEEPERS

Common Components requiring regular access for maintenance

PVC FILL Crossflow and Counter

Flow

PVC ELIMINATORSCounterflow

Common Components requiring regular access for maintenance

SPRAY SYSTEM Crossflow and Counter

Flow

AIR INLET LOUVRES Crossflow and Counter

Flow

Design Obligations

Australian Standard 3666(Air-Handling & Water Systems of Buildings– Microbial Control)

Clause 4.1.1 - Access for maintenance:

“Easy and safe access for cleaning, inspection and maintenance shall be available to and about all plant, equipment and components covered in this Section”.

Clause 4.1.5 - Cooling towers:

“Cooling towers shall be fabricated from corrosion resistant materials, and shall be designed for ease of maintenance, particularly for cleaning of fill, water distribution system, basin and sumps.”

Design Obligations

Australian Standard - AS1657Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders –

Design, construction and installation

• AS1657 is the Australian Standard that all designers, builders and suppliers of Access Solutions MUST design, select, construct and install to.

• The standard outlines all of the design clearances, tolerances and material types for compliant access solutions.

Design Obligations

SAA HB 32 - 1992

Clause 6.2 - Access for maintenance:

In Summary –• All cooling tower installations should allow for access to items

such as , Water Distribution, Pipework Headers, Heat Exchange Fill Media etc.

• Cooling Tower installations should be provided with appropriate FIXED access ladders, internal/external walkways, handrails, toeguards and platforms all in accordance with AS1657.

Design Obligations

Queensland Government Workplace Health and Safety Supplement No.2 to the

PLANT ADVISORY STANDARDClause 3 -Design and installation of cooling water systems

• “Easy and safe access should be available to cooling water systems. The design of the system should facilitate regular maintenance and cleaning.”

Clause 5.3 -Who else has workplace health and safety obligations in relation to microbial control in cooling systems of buildings?

• Designers – to ensure the plant is designed properly.• Installers – to ensure the plant is installed safe and without risk• Employers – To ensure health and safety is not affected by the way the

person conducts the person’s undertaking.

Access Considerations

PIER HEIGHTS• Piers allow for all pipework to be under the towers to allow

“freedom” to move around the plant• Piers also allow for a flooded suction to Condenser pumps

Access Considerations

EXTENTS OF EXTERNAL WALKWAYS REQUIRED• Low Level – Basin Access• Mid Level – Fill and CIS Access• High Level – Water Distribution Access (Spray System)

Access Considerations

EXTENTS OF INTERNAL WALKWAYS REQUIRED

• Low Level – Basin Access• High Level – Drive access

Site Examples(180 Anne St)

Site Examples(Sunshine Coast Uni Hospital)

Site Examples(Canelands)

Site Examples(K1)

Site Examples(Orion Shopping Centre)

Presented by: Clint LewisApplications Engineer, Baltimore Aircoil AustraliaTel: +(61) 02-4340-9004 Mob: +61 417-066-149Email: clewis@baltimoreaircoil.com | Web: www.baltimoreaircoil.com.au