12
Tower Start-Up
Among other sources, outbreaks of Legionnaires’ Disease have
reportedly been traced to cooling towers. Maintenance and water
treatmentproceduresthatpreventamplicationanddissemination
of Legionella and other airborne bacteria should be formulated and
implemented BEFORE systems are operated and continued regularly
thereaftertoavoidtheriskofsicknessordeath.
Water System:
1. New installations should be cleaned and treated with biocides by a
water treatment expert before startup.
2. Remove any and all accumulated debris from tower. Pay particular
attention to inside areas of cold water basin, hot water basins, louvers
and drift eliminators. Make sure that cold water suction screens are
clear and properly installed.
3. Fill the water system to an approximate depth of 7
1
⁄2" (192 mm) in
the depressed area of the cold water basin at the air inlet side of the
tower. This is the recommended operating water level. Adjust the oat
valve so that it is 75% open at that level. Continue lling the system
until the water reaches a level approximately
1
⁄8" (3 mm) below the lip
of the overow.
Iftowerisequippedwithastandardsuctionconnection,ventac-
cumulated air from the top of the suction hood by removing one or
both tap screws provided at that location. Replace these tap screws
when venting is complete.
4. Completely open hot water ow control valve(s). Start your pump(s)
and observe system operation. Since the water system external to the
tower will have been lled only to the level achieved in the cold water
basin, a certain amount of “pump-down” of the basin water level will
occur before water completes the circuit and begins to fall from the
ll. The amount of initial pump-down may be insufcient to cause the
oat valve to open. However, you can check its operation by pressing
down on the operating lever to which the stem of the oat valve is
attached.
Some trial-and-error adjustment of the oat valve may be required to
Note
Operation
Warning
