A compressor is cooled by a closed loop water cooling system through dry cooling towers.
Each of the two towers has three fans.
To ensure protection of the compressor, the cooling system control interlocked the operation of the cooling fans and circulation pump, such that the compressor may not be started without the cooling system in operation.
Additionally a failure in the cooling system would trigger an alarm, and ultimately a shutdown of the compressor.
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For the circulation pump to be started the reservoir must be above normal level and at least one of the fans in each tower is required to be running.
Once the circulation pump is running the compressor may be started.
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If during operation the reservoir falls below normal level a warning is indicated visually and audibly, if this is not acted upon and the level falls below low level, the system shuts down to protect the compressor and circulation pump from overheating and damage.
In the event of the cooling water overheating, after warnings, the compressor will be shutdown. However the cooling system will continue circulation.
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The cooling system may have been further augmented by adding a fan supervision system which would have monitored the operation of the fans. Using only as many as is required, reducing the overall running hours of the fans and also cycling the fan operation to ensure more even running hours between all fans.
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