TP25-11 Parameter Study of Mechnically Loaded Bottom-Supported Cooling Tower Fills Packs

When designing a cooling tower, it is critical to understand the compounding weight factors that affect not only the fill but the structure itself. Factors include, but are not limited to, the fill itself, water hold-up inside the fill, biological growth, support width, and support span. Since pack failure, in most cases, will occur at the pack/support interface, it is important to develop a standard to understand the maximum loading that occurs at this interface. Compression testing of fills on supports is an accurate method for determining the quality and strength of the fill media as it relates to actual cooling tower service.
Compression testing reduces the errors that are prevalent in individual sheet (glue or mechanical joint) testing because a large volume of the pack is tested in a manner similar to the loading in tower operation. Therefore, any effect of connection variability will be reflected in the result of a compression test, which provides an accurate representation of the capability of the fill packs.