How Cooling Tower Fill Can Contribute to Toxic Drift
When water is expelled from the top of a cooling tower, it becomes a major problem. In the industry, this is known as "drift," and signifies that water is being emitted alongside exhaust air, containing a variety of problematic materials. If your cooling tower is experiencing this phenomenon, what could be causing it and what do you need to do?
The Dangers of Drift
Drift droplets are likely to contain bacterial and chemical matter originating from within the circulating water. These droplets can spread everywhere, causing health issues for those who encounter them. In fact, it's possible that inhalation of these droplets could lead to an outbreak of Legionnaire's disease.
Drift particles are also corrosive, and they can cause damage to equipment or vehicles that are parked nearby. They can also cause damage to the components within the tower, leading to a hefty repair bill. While it is possible to install drift eliminators to address this issue, there may be other factors in play.
Fill Breakdown
Upon closer inspection, it is likely that some of the fill sheets are worse for wear. They may look as if they are wilting, as they fall away from a central support member. It's possible that they have failed due to excess vibration or may have reached the end of their serviceability.
A buildup of scale or the weight of water may cause the fill sheet to sag and eventually break. As this happens, a domino effect unfolds, with the adjoining sheets exhibiting stress as well.
Some believe that these traditional "hanging" fill sheets are too susceptible to this syndrome and recommend that they be replaced with fill blocks, supported at the bottom so that they are more rigid.
Installation Difficulty
As hanging sheets start to deteriorate over the years, it becomes increasingly difficult to replace them in situ, as access can be tough without causing additional damage to the sheets. However, when not installed correctly these sheets can become loose, will be more susceptible to vibration and could start to fail once again.
Better Option
It may be better to replace fill with rigid blocks, which are supported from the bottom. They are much thicker than the alternative and can resist fluttering or stretching. Importantly, they may help you to avoid the dreaded drift.
Being Selective
Chat with your suppliers about cooling tower fill replacement to see if it alleviates all your problems.
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