Lesson 10: Condenser and Cooling Tower Circ Water System Flashcards
- What is the function of the cooling tower?
The Cooling Tower removes the heat from the Circulating and Aux. Circ. Water.
- What is your responsibility as an operator concerning the cooling tower in normal weather? In Cold weather?
Check Louvers Check Panels Manhole Covers Deck Lighting Deck condition Fan Shrouds Fan Motors, oil levels/leaks, heat and vibration In cold weather, check for ice build up and any damage caused by ice.
- What should be checked on a cooling tower circulating water pump before starting? After starting? What is their function?
Pre-Start: Breaker Racked in Safe/Run in Run CT Level (80+) Discharge Valve in Auto and Closed (Unless it’s the first pump to start) *best practice to put all 3 pumps in manual if you are starting your first pump* Suction Valve Open Vibration reset pump and panel Oil levels, pump and motor Oil leaks Air Intakes clear Expansion Joint Condition, leaks Vent the Pump Seal leak off pumps in Auto and lag switch selected
Post-Start: If it’s the first pump started, Discharge Valve must be in Manual. Slowly open the Discharge Valve using the control panel switch until water returns to the tower. Open the Discharge Valve 100% Place switch in Auto Check Discharge Valve indicator is open Check Oil levels, motor and pump Slinger Rings Oil leaks Seal leak off Expansion Joint/Leaks Note the discharge pressure After 1 hour set the VARS to 0. Check amp draw and voltage
The Circulation Pump provides water to the Condenser to cool the low-pressure steam spent by the turbine. Heat is removed and sent back to the Cooling Tower.
- What is very important to observe when a Cooling Tower Circ. Pump has been shut down and why?
Verify the Discharge Valve is closed fully. Water could back feed and reduce the flow of other online circ. water pumps.
- How many CT Circ. Pumps are normally in service?
2
- What voltage are the cooling tower circulating water pumps?
4160 Volts
- What is meant when referring to “Vars”?
Volts, Amps, Reactance
- How are the Vars set after a pump has been started
Using the switch, they should be set back to 0 after 1 hour.
- What are the normal running Vars of the Circ. Pumps?
0
- What is the Vars trip point on the CT Circ. Pumps? Where would you find the reset button to reset a Var trip?
100 out is the trip point. The reset is in the back of the control panel.
- Where are the Cooling Tower Hot water basin distribution valves located?
At the top of the Cooling Tower, beneath the deck.
- Where would you reset a vibration trip on a Cooling tower Circ. Pump?
There is a reset in the control panel and on the pump
- What buses are associated with the cooling tower?
F, G, M
- What should be checked when walking down the cooling tower?
Fan Motor heat, vibration, oil level, oil leaks Fan Shrouds Grounding Rods Deck Lighting Manhole Covers Louvers Ice build up during winter Structure of the cooling tower
- How many fans are on Unit #1, #2 and #3 towers?
Unit #1 – 16 fans
Unit #2 – 18 fans
Unit #3 – 14 fans
- What is the normal operating level in the cooling tower basin?
72 inches
- Explain how to isolate a cell on a cooling tower.
Turn off fan
Close Distribution valves on both East and West sides.
Verify Divider Board is working.
- Why do we use acid in the cooling tower?
To control the pH of the water.
- Explain how we maintain a normal level in the cooling tower basin.
We use makeup water that comes from the lagoons.
- What do you look for when you check the cooling tower screens?
Flow across the screens, a drop of no more than 6 inches and clear of debris.
- Why do we have an amertap system on the circulating water system?
Circ water is dirty, and the tubes of the Condenser and Heat Exchangers must be cleaned.
- When you check the amertap system, what should you look for?
Check for leaks
Check that the balls are circulating
Check oil level
Heat/Vibration
- How many and what size balls should be added to the Condenser Amertap System?
700 – 27mm balls
- How can you tell if the Main condenser or the Heat exchanger is getting dirty?
The DP will be high.
- How is the level in the cooling tower measured?
There’s a transmitter in the Suction Pit.
- What is HTH and why do we put HTH in the cooling tower?
It’s Chlorine, used to control biological growth in the CT.
- How often do we put HTH in the cooling tower?
Every Friday
- Explain how to put the condenser amertap system in service.
Add correct number of balls, (700, 27 mm) put silicone on the sealing surface, place lid back on and tighten it down.
Take system out of backwash, reset flaps to normal, back fill the basket with the drain closed and vent open.
Once water comes out of the top, close the vent to remove air from the basket housing. With the pump valves blocked in, start the pump,
slowly open the pump’s discharge valve,
Check for leaks, if there are no leaks then you can slowly release balls into the system.
Watch sight glass for ball return and allow balls to circulate.
Check heat/vibration and oil level on the pump.
- Where do you check the acid tank level? What would you check at the acid house?
The acid tanks and levels are located on the East side of each cooling tower. Check acid level Check for leaks Verify valves are open with the correct solenoid selected. Check for acid flow Verify eyewash and shower operate Verify emergency water works verify acid hookup port is locked
- Where do we get the water that we use in the cooling tower?
Nichols, CRMWA, LAD supply water into the lagoons.
- Why do we blow down the cooling tower?
To control conductivity and keep it within certain parameters.
- Where does the cooling tower blow down water go?
CT Blowdown goes to the diverter valves, then Ponds 3 & 17
- Where is Unit #1 cooling tower blow down valve located? Unit #2, Unit #3?
Unit #1 – NW corner of the basement
Unit #2 – Above the back door of the Lab
Unit #3 – Above the circ water lines of Unit #3
- Where do we get the water to keep the lagoons full?
Nichols, LAD, CRMWA, Pond #5, Settling Ponds, Recovery and Reject.
- How many gallons of water does the west lagoon hold? East lagoon?
West Lagoon – 12 million
East Lagoon – 8 million
- List the pumps that are located at each lagoon.
West Lagoon – Electric Fire pump, 3 CT makeup pumps, (2 for H1, 1 for H2) 2 Seal trough pumps, Savage Aux dust suppression pump
East Lagoon – Diesel Fire pump, Jockey pump, 2 CT makeup pumps, (both for H3) 2 Seal trough pumps.
- What is the purpose of the lagoons?
They store water for CT makeup pumps and fire pumps.
- Where can the level of the lagoons be checked?
There are depth gauges near the pumps.
- Who controls how much water comes into the lagoons?
Nichols
- Draw a one line diagram of the Cooling Tower Circ. Water flow.
Cooling Towers – Circ Water pumps – Condenser – Aux Circ pumps – YUBA – Cooling Towers
