A publication of

6 Easy Steps…To complete your cooling tower winter

operating procedures

Step 1-watch the weather

If the water temperature falls below

55 degrees, your fans should be

shut down one at a time

Your cooling tower cold water

temperature should be maintained at

a minimum of…

With all fans off, remember that

splash-out may occur

Step 2-Be aware of splash-out

from your cooling tower

Your cooling tower should now be

equipped with closure tarpaulins

(if available)

Step 3-protect your tower

from the wind

These should be installed at the

air inlet opening on the

windward side of your tower.

The same tower inspection method

should be followed as your

pre-starting procedures.

Step 4-double check

In addition, a visual inspection of the

air inlet area should be done during

the coldest hours of the day to note

any additional ice buildup or damage.

Any Ice buildup on the perimeter

columns or the bottom of the fill of your

cooling tower should be noted and

frequently monitored.

Step 5-watch for ice

If ice buildup becomes excessive, reverse

operating procedures may be needed.

**DO NOT in any case try to physically remove the ice

buildup. Melting leaves components in good condition.

Physical removal of ice will result in more damage.

**Before moving a head with this step, see you

documentation provided by the motor starter and controls

vendor to check if your tower is capable of reverse operation.

Step 6a-Rotate in reverse

If your cooling tower has reverse

operation, meaning the fan can

rotate in reverse, this will help push

air down through the tower

components from the fan stack

through the air inlet. This pushes

warm air to the air inlet opening for

melting ice buildup.

**Reverse operation should only be performed as a last

resort and on the cells with SEVERE ice build-up.

Step 6b-Rotate in reverse

Monitor the reverse mode operation

CONTINUOUSLY.

The reverse mode is to be activated

for NO MORE than 30 minutes.

**Because air flow is reversed, splash-out will occur through

the air-inlet area. Louvers with heavy ice will split and

break, this too will cause splash-out.

Step 6c - Rotate in reverse

Visually check fans to ensure no ice build up has

occurred, then you may start your fans in reverse.

Flow water for 15 minutes with the fans shut off

to prevent ice buildup in the plenum area.

After you have run your fan in reverse operation for

no more than 30 min, allow an extra 2 min before

operating your fan in forward operation. Repeat

switching off between reverse and forward operations.

**It is acceptable to begin the reverse direction when the fan is wind-

milling in the forward direction. The nearly zero-speed torque applied to

the mechanical equipment is not excessive.

Reverse

Forward

Water Flow

If the cold water temperature is less than 55 degrees, you need to shut

your fans one at a time.

Lets Review

With the cold water temperature below 55 degrees, and all of your fans

shut down, tarpaulins should be placed at the air inlet opening on the

windward side of the cooling tower. Blocking the wind reduces ice buildup.

Double check: the same inspection method should be followed as

under the pre-starting procedures.

If ice buildup is excessive, check your documentation supplied by the

motor starter and controls vendor for the reverse operating function.

If your tower can perform reverse operating procedures, do so only as

a last resort. Remember reverse mode is to only be activated for NO

MORE than 30 min. Remember splash-out will occur. Remember to

allow 2 min. between forward and reverse operations.

Receive more Information…

Download Cooling Tower Depot’s full

article about Winter Operating

Procedures

Become a Cooling Tower Depot (CTD)

member today for exclusive deals and

updates on your cooling towers.

JOIN FOR FREE

DOWNLOAD

Still have questions?Want to know more about your Cooling

Tower Winter Operating Procedures?

Get in touch with us at:

(720) 746-1234

www.coolingtowerdepot.com