Hydronic Balancing Part 2: Making the Most of System Diversity

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Practically any commercial or institutional building has a certain amount of diversity within its cooling load, meaning that peak loads will never occur simultaneously in all sections or zones of a facility. By mapping out the individual load patterns of these sections, engineers can adjust the mechanical design to reduce the overall amount of installed cooling capacity. This means incorporating variable flow, which necessitates precise hydronic balancing.
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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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Cooling Tower and Condenser Water Design Part 8: Pump Suction and Discharge Piping

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Correctly piping the suction and discharge of your cooling tower/condenser water pump is critical. Some fairly catastrophic events can occur if either is improperly installed. Here are some best practices for piping cooling tower/condenser water systems....
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