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Open cooling towers

Open cooling towers are key components in HVAC and industrial cooling systems, responsible for rejecting heat through the evaporation of water. Due to constant exposure to air, water, and environmental contaminants, these systems will accumulate scale, biological growth, and other deposit types over time. This fouling will significantly reduce heat transfer efficiency and overall system performance. Regular cleaning and maintenance are essential to ensure optimal operation, conserve energy, and extend the lifespan of the equipment.

Fouling issues of open cooling towers

Open cooling towers are essential for maintaining stable temperatures and are often among the highest energy consumers in a building. Due to their environmental exposure, they are vulnerable to external contaminants such as leaves, insects, pollen, and other airborne pollutants. This fouling reduces efficiency, increases energy costs, and creates conditions favorable for harmful biological growth, including Legionella. Regular cleaning is therefore critical to ensure performance, safety, and cost-effectiveness. In short:

  • Environmental exposure: Open cooling towers are vulnerable to external contaminants such as leaves, insects, pollen, and other airborne pollutants.
  • Poor water treatment: Some open cooling towers are equipped with water treatment systems, but these systems don’t always function properly. Inadequate water treatment can lead to the buildup of scale and the growth of harmful bacteria, compromising both efficiency and hygiene.
  • Loss of efficiency: Scale acts as an insulating layer, drastically reducing the transfer of heat and thus the efficiency of the cooling tower system.

Effects of fouling in open cooling towers

When open cooling towers become fouled, it can lead to a wide variety of problems and challenges. Below, you can find some of the effects of fouling in an open cooling tower system.

  • Reduced heat transfer efficiency, leading to higher system temperatures.
  • Increased energy consumption as equipment works harder to compensate.
  • Higher operational costs due to inefficiencies and more frequent maintenance
  • Promotes biological growth, including harmful bacteria like Legionella.
  • Risk of system blockages from debris and biological buildup.
  • Accelerated wear and corrosion of components due to scaling and microbial activity.
  • More frequent maintenance and downtime, reducing system availability.
  • Poor water quality, affecting overall system performance and hygiene standards.
  • Potential non-compliance with health and safety regulations.

Improve cooling tower efficiency

Keeping cooling towers clean is essential for maintaining peak efficiency. Depending on the scope – whether individual components or the entire system need to be cleaned – Goodway Benelux offers a range of tailored cleaning solutions.

  • Descaling the entire system (including fill)
    When scaling, rust and biological deposits affect the entire open cooling tower loop, an online cleaning-in-place (CIP) procedure using Goodway® ScaleBreak descaling products can be performed. This method circulates the descaler through the system – via the existing pump circuit – including connected heat exchangers (e.g., chillers), without requiring system shutdown.

  • Waterbasin & collection tank cleaning
    Water basins or central tanks are prone to contamination from biofilm, sludge, and microorganisms such as Legionella, even with water treatment in place. These contaminants can spread through the system, reducing efficiency. The Goodway® CTV-1501 cooling tower vacuum allows for effective cleaning without draining the basin, saving both water and time while minimizing downtime.

  • Air intake louvers & drift separators
    Air intake louvers block debris and limit sunlight exposure to reduce microbial growth, but they are also quick to accumulate scale and biofilm. Fouling restricts airflow and promotes bacterial growth, compromising system performance and hygiene. Goodway Benelux offers specialized low-pressure cleaning systems with cleaning agents for effective maintenance. Drift separators minimize water loss and prevent aerosolized bacteria, including Legionella, from being released into the environment. Regular cleaning is essential to maintain hygiene and prevent health risks.

Interested in what Goodway Benelux offers for:

Open cooling towers

From pre-sales inquiries to technical support, Goodway Benelux is available to assist customers at every stage. The company also provides on-site support, training, and product demonstrations. Their dedicated sales representatives and project engineers are ready to answer questions and provide guidance throughout the entire process.

Wesley is here to help.

Technical project engineer

info@goodwaybenelux.com+31 (0)183 216 170