Home > Industrial > Mini Case Studies >
The Challenge
The subject power plant had a 3-cell counter-flow cooling tower located in the Chicago area. We first inspected the tower in February of 2018 and witnessed excessive icing which was causing damage to the wood structural members as well as degrading performance. The customer attempted to install tarps to keep the heat in the tower and melt the ice. This was a temporary fix, not custom fitted and had to be removed and reinstalled on a yearly basis. In December of 2018, Galebreaker supplied a permanent solution with their retractable winterization screens which could be deployed in the winter and retracted back up in the summer.
The Solution
The primary problem faced on this installation and any installation relating to a cooling tower is the obstructions in the air inlet. On this application, Galebreaker covered the West Side 100%, the north side approximately 90%, the east was a combination of five screens missing any obstructions and the south side had too many obstructions to install the screens. This coverage was sufficient to eliminate the icing in sub-zero temperatures with the fans shut down.
The Benefits
The cost to install and remove temporary tarps was eliminated. With temperatures in the high 20’s F, the ice was eliminated on the structures at the air inlet and the following benefits realized:
- Improved performance
- No damage to mechanical equipment
- Complete seasonal protection
- Fully retractable operation – quick and easy
“These screens are performing great. Shortly after the west side and north end were completed, we saw an almost immediate melting process start. The ice has been eliminated on the inside and on the structure.“
Debris Filter Screens in Alberta, Canada
ME Global
Installing a combination of Galebreaker screens around the perimeter of the air cooler stopping any airborne contamination but still providing plenty of airflow with no impact on cooling...
Debris filter screens on an air cooled chiller in the UK
Anonymous site
Debris Filter Protection in the UK Debris filter screens on an air cooled...
Debris Filters in Switzerland
Recycling Plant, Switzerland
Galebreaker wind screens with a specifically selected porosity to stop airborne debris but not completely block...
Full Weather Protection in Ontario
North Bay Power Plant
Performance Improvement in a Challenging...
Improving ACC Airflow in Massachusetts
The Dighton Power Plant
Installing a cruciform configuration underneath the ACC with our patented M75...
Improving Fan Performance near Las Vegas
Apex
Both cruciform and perimeter screens improve performance at the Apex Generating Station...
Improving Mechanical Performance near Boston
Blackstone Energy Project
Reducing fan and gear reducer stress at the ANP Blackstone Energy...
Installing Debris filter screens on Data Centres
Anonymous site
Data centres are at the very heart of modern society and are central to the global...
Mega Watt Output Improvement in Mexico
Rio Bravo Energy
Improving vacuum on hot windy days at the Rio Bravo Energy...