Prepared by Jim Baillon and Ken Cosgrove

Report and RecommendationsCooling Towers- Condos

Selection of Cooling Tower ConsultantSolicited proposals from three companies-

Phoenix, El Paso and Mazatlan.IngeneriaTermicaAvanzada selected-

reasons: qualifications, location and cost.Investigation started May 2009-report

delivered August 2009

Findings The tubes and the sinks of the three cooling towers

are in a very bad shape due to the high levels of scale and corrosion of the water in the external circuit.

• There hasn’t been water treatment to the system since more than six months ago

There is a flow switch in each cooling tower primary circuit to prevent the indoor units from operating without water flow. However they are in bad conditions and probably out of service.

 Cooling towers #1 and #2 have two fans each, and cooling tower #3 has three fans. However there is only one fan operating for each cooling tower. The rest of them were uninstalled

Findings-Photos-Controls

Findings-Photos-Tube Scale

Consultant Recommendations Due to visible damage on the tubes of the external

circuit, it is highly recommended to replace the Cooling Towers

Establish chemical treatment program of water-for biological and corrosion control-Legionellapneumophila

Establish maintenance programEstablish blow down capability to control scale and

corrosionInstall Variable Frequency Drives (VFD’s) for the

internal circuit pumps to improve efficiency of the system and reduce operating costs when it operates at partial load situations below 80%.

Consultant RecommendationsInstall 2-way shut-off valves at each WSHP unit in

the condominiums to improve the efficiency of the systems

Install flow balancing valves (circuit-setters) at each WSHP unit to balance the correct amount of water flowing to each circuit and avoid that they may be overfed or underfed. This action will improve the system efficiency

The existing flow switches should be replaced immediately since there is no evidence they are operating properly. This may result in serious damages to the WSHP units in case of a failure in the internal circuit pumps.

Committee RecommendationComplete Phase 1 –energy efficient motors and

controls-cost $24,500Install shut-off valves and flow balancing valves in

each condo during first qtr 2010 –cost $310/WSHPPerform chemical treatment, cleaning ,and

installation of water conditioner during first qtr 2010.Cost-$20,000.

Contract for installation of new tower 1 in 4th qtr 2011-$85,000

Contract for installation of tower 2 in 2012-$105,000

Contract for installation of tower 3 in 2013-$90,000Per tower-10 weeks to mfg and ship and 6 weeks

to install