1. What is Cooling Tower Make Up Water Calculation?

Definition: This calculator determines the total make-up water required for cooling towers accounting for water losses from evaporation, drift, and blowdown.

Purpose: It helps facility managers and engineers maintain proper water balance in cooling tower systems.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( M \) — Total make-up water (gallons)
• \( E \) — Evaporation losses (gallons)
• \( D \) — Drift losses (gallons)
• \( B \) — Blowdown losses (gallons)

Explanation: The total water needed to compensate for all three types of water loss in a cooling tower system.

3. Importance of Make Up Water Calculation

Details: Accurate calculation ensures efficient cooling tower operation, prevents scaling and corrosion, and optimizes water usage.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the evaporation, drift, and blowdown values in gallons. All values must be ≥ 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is evaporation loss in cooling towers?
A: Water lost as vapor due to the cooling process, typically the largest component of water loss.

Q2: What is drift loss?
A: Small water droplets carried out of the tower with the exhaust air, usually minimized with drift eliminators.

Q3: Why is blowdown necessary?
A: Controlled water discharge to prevent buildup of dissolved solids that could cause scaling.

Q4: How do I measure these values?
A: Evaporation can be calculated from heat load, drift is typically 0.002% of circulation rate, and blowdown is set based on cycles of concentration.

Q5: What's a typical ratio between these components?
A: For well-maintained towers: Evaporation ~80-90%, Drift ~0.2%, Blowdown ~10-20% of total make-up water.