Replacement cycle of cooling tower fillers

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The normal service life of a cooling tower is 5–8 years, after which the packing needs to be replaced once. Without proper maintenance, the packing needs to be replaced every 2 years. If the packing in the tower exhibits any of the following abnormalities, it should be replaced promptly to ensure that the thermal efficiency of the entire tower meets the desired objectives. 1. Scaling. Scale forms on the packing inside the tower; it is usually calcium carbonate scale that adheres to the packing, appearing stone-like and being quite hard in texture. 2. Sink. The tower packing becomes clogged with heavy mud and silt, and sometimes a large amount of algae grows on it, causing the packing to sink and become unusable. 3. Aging. After long-term use, the filler gradually deteriorates due to the erosion by water and air, becoming brittle and prone to damage. The aging of fillers in high-temperature towers occurs more rapidly than in ordinary towers, and they generally need to be replaced every 4 to 6 years. 4. Incorrect selection or improper operation can cause severe damage to the cooling tower fill. All types of cooling towers have specified design parameters; selecting the wrong type can lead to severe damage or even the disposal of the cooling tower. Moreover, with regard to important operational parameters such as inlet water temperature and installed capacity, if improper operation results in these parameters exceeding the design values, it can also cause severe damage to the packing.