Drift eliminator

Drift eliminator for cooling towers

The high efficiency drift eliminator, is formed by sheets of PVC or PP. It is above the distribution system and fillers, and minimizes water loss by drag. It plays a role in legionella bacteria prevention in cooling towers and evaporative condensers.

From 2 January 2023 on, the legal reference for legionella control is RD 487/2022 of 21 June, which establishes the health requirements for the prevention and monitoring of the bacteria. The previous framework is then abolished: RD 865/2003 and the UNE 100030:2017 IN Standard.

It is important to note that the new decree establishes the obligation to certify a drag loss of less than 0.002 % of the total circulating flow for droplet separators in cooling towers and evaporative condensers. However, it establishes a transitional period of 2 years to adapt evaporative cooling installations to the new regulatory requirements.

The droplet separator is designed to capture water droplets and minimize water loss by trawling in a cooling tower. The operation of this device is based on two simultaneous effects on the rising hot and humid air stream:

On the one hand, it causes an additional loss of load that reduces the speed of the air to the passage through the separator making the drops remain retained in it. In addition, its shape favors the droplets in suspension collide with the surface of the separator being adhered to its walls.
On the other hand, it generates a “coalescence” effect. This effect consists of the union of small drops that are difficult to detach, in a larger drop that can be more easily detachable from the air stream. A good example is the mercury droplets that are assembled as soon as they touch each other.

These two principles are on which a droplet separator device is based in a cooling tower or other equipment such as evaporative capacitors. Thanks to the decrease in the speed of the air flow and the coalescing property of water this aerodynamic system captures droplets that melt and join with others forming a larger drop.

What for?

So that the larger drop is large enough so that it cannot be dragged to the outside of the cooling tower in the air stream, as happens with the smaller drops, and is retained inside rushing inside the tower.

For what purpose?

Minimize the risk of transmission of legionella bacteria that could potentially carry that drop of water.

In this sense, the dropper is a system of defense of the cooling tower, against the possibility of spreading legionellosis.

Know the different references of cooling towers drift eliminator:

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