Louvers are an important part of cooling tower architecture that people don’t always think about. Knowing how louvers function helps operators keep things running smoothly and save money.
What Are Cooling Tower Louvers?
Cooling tower louvers are slats that are inclined and put on the air intake sides of a cooling tower. Depending on the use and the environment, they are usually composed of PVC, fiberglass (FRP), or stainless steel.
Their main job is to control how the air that comes in and the water that falls inside the tower interact.
Managing Air Movement
Cooling towers need a steady flow of air to get rid of heat from the water that is moving through them.
Louvers assist make sure that air flows properly by:
- Ensuring a constant flow of air
- Effective evaporation
- Steady thermal performance
Without louvers, the airflow might be uneven, which makes cooling less effective and uses more energy for the fan.
Stopping Water from Splashing Out
One of the most important jobs of louvers is to keep water from splashing.
Airflow and gravity can push warm process water that is flowing down through the fill outwards. Louvers keep water from getting out of the tower while yet letting air in.
This cuts down on:
- Loss of water
- Preventing slip potential around the tower
- Damage and rust to equipment close
Reducing Drift and Recirculation
Drift eliminators catch little water droplets that come out of the top of the tower. Louvers help keep huge droplets from getting into the air intake.
Also, they stop hot, humid exhaust air from being pulled back into the tower, which is called air recirculation.
Stopping Algae Growth and Blocking Sunlight
Louvers keep direct sunlight from getting into the cooling tower basin and fill area. This is crucial because sunshine makes algae and other living things grow, which can block fill media, slow down heat transfer, and raise the cost of chemical treatment.
Louvers assist keep the system cleaner and easier to take care of by blocking sunlight from getting in.
That’s why louvers need to be the right size, angle, and manufactured of strong materials that can handle the tower’s working conditions.
Good Louvers Make a Difference
CoolingTowerProducts.com sells high-quality cooling tower louvers that are designed to improve system efficiency, reduce water loss, and improve airflow. If you’re replacing old parts or improving an existing tower, you need to make sure that the louvers are constructed correctly so that the cooling tower works reliably.
Universal Tower Parts In Phoenix, AZ
Universal Tower Parts provides stainless steel and galvanized options, welded and gasketed, direct, gear reducer and belt drive units, with efficient Jedair fans, and Jedair low noise fans. Strainers, fan guards and louvers are well constructed, and designed to operate efficiently as they perform their function. Cool Core drift eliminators and fill are made by Universal Tower Parts expressly for our towers.
