Parallel Pumping in Condenser Applications: Part 2 of 5

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Parallel Pumping in Condenser Applications: Part 2 of 5

In Part 1 of this series we offered an example of a condenser water pumping system with 800 GPM per condenser for a total of 1600 GPM with the third condenser serving as standby. The tower elevation or lift is 10 feet, the condenser (with the 2-way valve and balance valve) has 20 feet of pressure drop, and the common piping with any safety factor has 30 feet of pressure drop. But there was a problem....

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Parallel Pumping in Condenser Applications: Part 1 of 5

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Parallel Pumping in Condenser Applications: Part 1 of 5

Applying a single constant speed pump for each condenser in a chilled water application is a normal design for the HVAC engineer. Some chiller manufacturers suggest piping the pumps with a common header and activating each pump as the condensers are staged on. However, there is a hidden issue with this approach, which, if not addressed may cause major problems....

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Cooling Tower and Condenser Water Design Part 11: Avoiding Common Pitfalls

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We thought it would be a good idea to review some of the most common pitfalls in cooling tower/condenser water design and how to avoid them. We see these so often and the consequences can be so profound that each bears a final warning. Take care to avoid these scenarios and we promise that everyone (from your equipment suppliers to your chemical treatment specialist) will be much happier.
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Cooling Tower and Condenser Water Design Part 10: How Counterflow and Crossflow Towers Differ

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Most commercial HVAC professionals are probably already aware that there are two different types of cooling towers – crossflow and counterflow. While both operate on the principle of evaporative cooling by blowing air across water, the physical configuration of these two types of cooling towers differs quite a bit. Read more....
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Cooling Tower and Condenser Water Design Part 9: Controlling Cycles of Concentration

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Successful cooling tower operation and performance involves a delicate balance between (1) keeping the dissolved solids (such as calcium, magnesium, chloride, and silica) in the water from causing too much scale and/or corrosion and (2) conserving make-up water. It’s expensive, inefficient, and environmentally irresponsible to continuously dilute cooling tower water with an abundance of make-up water just to keep the ratio of minerals down. But how do you decide how much make-up water is needed to keep minerals within a tolerable range?
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