Deck 21: Cooling Towers

Question 1

What allows air intake in a cooling tower?

A) Fan
B) Louvers
C) Suction screens
D) Fill

Answer 1

B
Explanation: A) Incorrect. The fan moves air through the tower.
B) Correct. Louvers allow air intake.
C) Incorrect. Suction screens filter out debris.
D) Incorrect. The fill redirects flow of air and water.

Question 2

What improper operation can lead to algae growth or sludge buildup that can foul process equipment?

A) Excess blowdown
B) Circulating cooling water through a heat exchanger with ruptured tubes
C) Formation of ice-fog when operating in cold climates
D) Improper /incorrect treatment of cooling water chemically

Answer 2

D
Explanation: A) Incorrect. Improper valve operation can lead to pump damage because of "deadheading" or improper feed-water supply.
B) Incorrect. Circulating cooling water through a heat exchanger with ruptured tubes can lead to tower contamination.
C) Incorrect. Improper /incorrect treatment of cooling water chemically can lead to algae growth or sludge buildup that can foul process equipment.
D) Correct. Improper /incorrect treatment of cooling water chemically can lead to algae growth or sludge buildup that can foul process equipment.

Question 3

Why are chemicals added to cooling water?

A) To avoid algae growth
B) To make it safe to drink
C) To improve the smell
D) To make it safe to touch

Answer 3

A
Explanation: A) Correct. Chemicals must be added to the cooling water in order to prevent algae growth, sludge, scale buildup, which cause fouling of the exchangers and cooling equipment.
B) Incorrect. Chemicals must be added to the cooling water in order to prevent algae growth, sludge, scale buildup, which cause fouling of the exchangers and cooling equipment.
C) Incorrect. Chemicals must be added to the cooling water in order to prevent algae growth, sludge, scale buildup, which cause fouling of the exchangers and cooling equipment.
D) Incorrect. Chemicals must be added to the cooling water in order to prevent algae growth, sludge, scale buildup, which cause fouling of the exchangers and cooling equipment.

Question 4

What is cooling tower operation is based on?

A) Radiation
B) Convection
C) Conduction
D) Evaporation

Question 5

What is the material that breaks water into smaller droplets as it falls inside the cooling tower, creating greater surface exposure area?

A) Fill
B) Fan
C) Drift eliminator
D) Makeup water

Question 6

What is the most commonly used cooling tower in industrial process applications?

A) Air conditioner
B) Open circuit cooling tower
C) Closed circuit cooling tower
D) Daddy circuit cooling tower

Question 7

Which of the following can cause off-spec products to be produced?

A) Improper valve operation
B) Improper operation of the chlorine system
C) Improper /incorrect treatment of cooling water chemically
D) All of the above

Question 8

Which of the following is the symbol for an induced draft cross flow tower?

A)
B)
C)
D)

Question 9

Which of the following is the symbol for a natural draft counter-flow cooling tower?

A)
B)
C)
D)

Question 10

What cooling towers use a heat exchange coil through which the working fluid passes and over which water is sprayed?

A) Induced draft tower
B) Forced draft tower
C) Closed circuit cooling tower
D) Natural draft tower

Question 11

What factor has an impact on cooling tower performance?

A) Ambient air temperature
B) Relative humidity of ambient air
C) Cooling tower design
D) All of the above

Question 12

Where is makeup water taken from?

A) Lakes
B) Rivers
C) Waterways
D) All of the above

Question 13

What should process technicians do when monitoring and maintaining cooling towers?

A) Look for leaks
B) Observe filter screens for plugging
C) Check for proper water distribution on top of the tower
D) All of the above

Question 14

What cooling towers use temperature differences inside and outside the stack to facilitate air movement?

A) Induced draft tower
B) Forced draft tower
C) Closed circuit cooling tower
D) Natural draft tower

Question 15

What improper operation can lead to exposure to harmful microorganisms?

A) Cooling tower fan shut-off during cold months
B) Excessive fan speed
C) Formation of ice-fog when operating in cold climates
D) Improper /incorrect treatment of cooling water chemically