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Assignment 2_Virtudazo

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18 views2 pages

Assignment 2_Virtudazo

Uploaded by

John Valenzona
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Karl Patrick C.

Virtudazo BSME IV –
A
ASSIGNMENT 2
1. Cite and discuss at least four cooling tower energy efficiency opportunities.
Cooling towers play a critical role in industrial and HVAC systems by rejecting heat from
processes or buildings to the atmosphere. Enhancing their energy efficiency can lead to
significant operational savings and environmental benefits. Here are four key energy
efficiency opportunities.
1. Optimize Fan Operation
Opportunity: Use variable frequency drives (VFDs) to adjust fan speed based on cooling
demand rather than running at full capacity.
Benefit: Reducing fan speed by even 20% can save up to 50% in energy due to the
cubic relationship between speed and power.
Implementation: Install VFDs and integrate them with control systems that monitor
temperature or load conditions. Regularly maintain fans to ensure they operate at
optimal efficiency.
2. Enhance Heat Exchange Efficiency
Opportunity: Clean and maintain heat exchange surfaces (fill media) to ensure
maximum contact between water and air.
Benefit: Dirty or clogged fill media reduces heat transfer efficiency, requiring fans and
pumps to work harder.
Implementation: Schedule routine cleaning to remove scale, biological growth, and
debris. Consider upgrading to high-efficiency or low-fouling fill media.
3. Improve Water Management
Opportunity: Optimize water flow rates and ensure proper balancing across the cooling
tower.
Benefit: Efficient water management minimizes pump energy use and ensures even
cooling distribution.
Implementation: Use flow meters and sensors to monitor water distribution. Employ
technologies like drift eliminators and ensure proper water treatment to reduce
evaporation and scaling losses.
4. Utilize Advanced Controls and Monitoring
Opportunity: Implement advanced control systems to automate operations based on
real-time data such as ambient temperature, load conditions, and water quality.
Benefit: Reduces unnecessary energy consumption by adjusting operations
dynamically.
Implementation: Integrate the cooling tower with a building or process management
system. Use IoT-enabled sensors for continuous performance monitoring and predictive
maintenance.
Conclusion
These opportunities involve both technological upgrades and regular maintenance.
While some, like installing VFDs or advanced controls, require upfront investment,
others, such as cleaning and proper balancing, are low-cost measures. By addressing
these areas, organizations can achieve substantial energy savings, extend equipment
life, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

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