In a large centrifugal refrigeration system, if the cooling tower water level is very low, what is a common initial corrective step?

• A. Gradually lower the chiller water set point on the refrigerant system
• B. Increase the makeup water supply
• C. Increase the pump speed
• D. Shut down the system

Answer: (A)

When the cooling tower water level is very low, the first move is to ease the condenser load from the refrigeration system. Gradually lowering the chiller water set point reduces the amount of heat the condenser has to reject, which slows the rate at which tower water is used and helps stabilize the level. This is a safe, controllable, and reversible action that buys time to restore makeup water, check for leaks, or address the underlying cause without immediately shutting down or overloading other parts of the system. Increasing makeup water would directly add water but doesn’t address the immediate reduced cooling capacity, while increasing pump speed or shutting the system down either worsens the problem or is too drastic as an initial step.