05-07: Fan Air Flow Testing on Cooling Towers and ACHEs

Over the past several years, the frequency of fan air flow testing to verify new or existing fan performances in cooling towers and air-cooled heat exchangers has increased. Whether for new or replacement fans, customers want to verify that they are getting all the performances they were promised by the fan manufacturer - (i.e. does the fan air flow test meet or exceed what the fan manufacturer predicted). Proper fan air flow testing, while not an exact science, can usually spell the difference between a satisfied or unsatisfied customer. Two fan testing methods - one for wet cooling towers and one for air cooled heat exchangers - will be discussed in detail as well as examples given of actual performance versus predicted performance.