11/5/21, 1:00 PM How to energy-optimise a cooling tower | Grundfos

How to energy-optimise a cooling tower

Discover how to easily energy-optimise your cooling tower and what this means for your entire
system operation.

When it comes to the day-to-day operation of a cooling tower, it is of course important that
it is running optimally to save the most energy. In this module, we’re going to show you
how to easily energy-optimise your cooling tower and show you what it means for your
entire system operation. 

In traditional cooling towers, the pump is installed during the setup of the cooling tower.
And in many cases, the pump runs at fixed speed, meaning that you have no control of its
operation. 

The pump is simply operating at 100 % all of the time. And that isn’t always necessary.

Fortunately, with a Grundfos iSOLUTION, the pump can control the cooling tower – a
functionality that allows you to energy-optimise your entire operation. Let’s take a look at
how it works.

First of all, it’s important to mention that Grundfos pump solutions can be retrofit. With all
necessary functions built into the pump already, it works equally well in existing systems as
in new ones. 

In a cooling tower, the typical choice of Grundfos pump is a single-stage NB/NK pump with
high flow and low pressure.

As cooling towers are mainly used in connection with temperature control, your installation
will typically need to maintain the optimal process temperature, otherwise there is a risk of
overheating, which could damage your installation.

In terms of energy optimisation, let’s go through a couple of important parameters that can
contribute to ensuring optimal operation of both the pump and the cooling tower. These
are: speed regulation, and the start/stop function.

Speed controlling the pump and the fan in the tower allows you to run at full speed in peak
periods, only to lower the speed in more quiet periods. Compared to traditional fixed speed
pumps, this is the best possible way to save energy.

The start/stop function is enabled in the pump’s MGE motor, which has an integrated
frequency converter. It allows you start and stop the fan when you like, bringing not only
energy savings but also water savings. 

Operation modes can also optimise energy. A Grundfos pump connected to a cooling tower
typically operates in constant pressure mode, as it is the safe bet when it comes to

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11/5/21, 1:00 PM How to energy-optimise a cooling tower | Grundfos

functionality. In some systems, you can also use the differential temperature mode, which
allows you to save even more energy. However, not all systems allow this option. 

So, that sums up how to energy-optimise a cooling tower. Check out the next module for a
greater insight into how to connect your pump to your cooling tower by means of Grundfos’
smartphone app Grundfos GO.
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