Overview
Cooling water systems — whether open-loop cooling towers, closed-loop chilled water circuits, or once-through condenser water — rely on continuous flow to prevent equipment damage. A PEECO paddle-type flow switch provides a simple, reliable, and cost-effective means of detecting loss-of-flow conditions and triggering alarms or equipment shutdowns before damage occurs.
Typical Applications
- Chiller protection: Detect loss of condenser or evaporator water flow to prevent compressor damage.
- Cooling tower bypass: Confirm flow through bypass lines during low-load conditions.
- Heat exchanger monitoring: Verify shell-side and tube-side flow before enabling process heating or cooling.
- Pump proof-of-flow: Interlock with pump starters to confirm flow before enabling downstream equipment.
Recommended PEECO Series
| Condition | Recommended Series | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Non-hazardous mechanical room | N Series | NEMA 4X, up to 600 PSI |
| Hazardous area (ammonia refrigerant) | E Series | Explosion proof, Class I Group D |
| High-pressure chilled water (>600 PSI) | H Series | Up to 10,000 PSI |
| Turbulent flow near pump discharge | N or E + Dash Pot | Prevents false trips from pulsation |
Installation Tips
- Install at least 10 pipe diameters downstream of elbows, valves, or reducers to ensure stable flow profile.
- Horizontal pipe runs are preferred; vertical installations require the flow to be upward to ensure paddle actuation.
- For glycol-based cooling fluids, specify the fluid's specific gravity when ordering — actuation flow rates are affected.
- Add a Dash Pot option on pump discharge lines to prevent nuisance trips from start-up surges.
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