You notice condenser water coming back from the 9-cell cooling tower at 90F; to bring to 85F, which immediate action would you take?

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Multiple Choice

You notice condenser water coming back from the 9-cell cooling tower at 90F; to bring to 85F, which immediate action would you take?

Explanation:
Raising the speed of the cooling tower fans is the immediate action because the condenser water temperature is controlled by how effectively the tower rejects heat to the air. Pushing the fans faster increases air flow through the tower fill, which improves the heat transfer from the hot water to the air and boosts evaporation. That enhanced heat rejection cools the water as it leaves the tower, helping bring the return temperature from 90F down toward 85F. Adding more refrigerant charge doesn’t directly affect the tower’s ability to reject heat; it alters the refrigerant side of the system and can cause other issues without solving the tower cooling problem. Reducing condenser water flow would reduce the mass of water being cooled and typically raise the leaving temperature, not lower it. Decreasing fan speed would lessen heat transfer and also raise the leaving water temperature.

Raising the speed of the cooling tower fans is the immediate action because the condenser water temperature is controlled by how effectively the tower rejects heat to the air. Pushing the fans faster increases air flow through the tower fill, which improves the heat transfer from the hot water to the air and boosts evaporation. That enhanced heat rejection cools the water as it leaves the tower, helping bring the return temperature from 90F down toward 85F.

Adding more refrigerant charge doesn’t directly affect the tower’s ability to reject heat; it alters the refrigerant side of the system and can cause other issues without solving the tower cooling problem. Reducing condenser water flow would reduce the mass of water being cooled and typically raise the leaving temperature, not lower it. Decreasing fan speed would lessen heat transfer and also raise the leaving water temperature.

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