TP09-08: Cooling Tower Basin Evaluation and Repair

Mechanical Draft Cooling Towers are critical fixed Assets that need to be maintained and remain in service in order to cool various plant operations and systems. Essentially, the Cooling Tower Basin in mechanical draft technology serves a two-fold purpose, one as containment for cooling water and two as the foundation for supporting overlying “fill” structures. Almost all of these Basin Structures are constructed of conventionally reinforced concrete, either partially or totally placed below grade. Their service environment subjects them to various aggressive deterioration mechanisms including embedded metal corrosion, original construction defects, environmental degradation (i.e., freeze-thaw, algal growth, etc.) as well as chemical attack resulting in erosion and structural section loss. Since these structures contain process water and function as support foundations, the existing condition of these structures should be evaluated regularly and repairs performed, should conditions warrant, on a timely basis.