Cooling towers, fill materials, and cooling tower management methods

Abstract

To provide a cooling tower which properly manages cleaning frequency and replacement timing of a filler etc. in management of the cooling tower to inhibit occurrence of clogging between the fillers and increase of management cost.SOLUTION: A cooling tower for cooling a liquid includes: a drive part which drives a cooling fan; a detection part which detects an operation condition of the drive part; and a prediction part which predicts a state of a filler based on a detection result of the detection part. In order to achieve the above object, the cooling tower is provided.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling tower for cooling a liquid and a method for managing the cooling tower, and more particularly to a cooling tower for circulating used cooling water by bringing the water into contact with outside air to lower the temperature, and a method for managing the fill material used in the cooling tower. [Background technology]

[0002] A cooling tower cools a liquid sprayed onto packing materials for gas-liquid contact by introducing outside air into the tower. Cooling towers are designed so that packing materials are installed at predetermined intervals and outside air is introduced between each packing material. Generally, the liquid to be cooled is supplied from above the packing materials, and as it flows down its surface, it is cooled by outside air introduced from the side. In a cooling tower, if the amount of liquid flowing over the packing materials decreases, components in the liquid may precipitate in the areas where the fluid no longer flows. For example, when water is used as the liquid, precipitation of calcium or silica can cause clogging between the packing materials, resulting in problems such as reduced cooling tower performance.

[0003] To address this problem, for example, Patent Document 1 describes an invention in which, when supplying liquid to a filler, the fluid is supplied preferentially to the portion closer to the outside of the cooling tower, which is more likely to dry out than the portion located inside the cooling tower. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-80880 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the management of cooling towers, when clogging occurs between fillers, maintenance such as cleaning or replacing the fillers is performed. However, the cleaning frequency and replacement interval vary depending on the shape of the filler. Meanwhile, because the cooling efficiency of fillers varies depending on their shape, various shapes are available, and fillers with shapes different from those provided by cooling tower manufacturers may be used. In such cases, the cleaning frequency and replacement interval of the filler may become inappropriate in the management of cooling towers, resulting in issues such as clogging between fillers or setting the replacement interval too short, which increases the management costs of the cooling tower.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a cooling tower that can suppress clogging between fillers and increases in management costs by appropriately managing the frequency of cleaning and the timing of filler replacement in management of the cooling tower. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] As a result of intensive research into the above-mentioned problems, the inventors discovered that the condition of the filler, such as the degree of clogging, can be predicted by detecting the operating status of the cooling fan drive unit, and thus completed the present invention. That is, the present invention provides the following cooling tower and cooling tower management method.

[0008] The cooling tower of the present invention, which solves the above problem, is a cooling tower for cooling a liquid, and is characterized by comprising a drive unit that drives a cooling fan, a detection unit that detects the operating status of the drive unit, and a prediction unit that predicts the state of the filler material based on the detection results of the detection unit. This cooling tower makes it possible to monitor the load on the cooling fan drive unit while also predicting the state of the filler, thereby achieving the effect of being able to manage the state of the cooling fan and filler with a simple configuration.

[0009] Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the cooling tower of the present invention, the cooling tower is provided with a filler, and the filler has an identification portion for identifying the installation state of the filler or the type of filler. According to this feature, when a filler having an identification part is attached to a cooling tower, the installation status and type of the filler are recognized by the identification part, making it possible to apply a management method appropriate to the installation status and type of the filler.

[0010] Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the cooling tower of the present invention, the function of the prediction unit is adjusted based on the information from the identification unit. According to this feature, since the recognition unit can recognize the installation state and type of filler, if the filler is not installed correctly or if non-genuine filler is installed, the function of the prediction unit is stopped or limited, thereby preventing the occurrence of operational problems in the cooling tower. In other words, if the filler is installed correctly or if genuine filler is installed, the prediction unit can accurately predict the filler state, so that a cooling tower can be provided that can appropriately manage the cleaning frequency, filler replacement timing, etc., in managing the cooling tower and suppress increases in management costs.

[0011] Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the cooling tower of the present invention, the state of the filler predicted by the prediction unit is notified to the user. This feature allows the state of the filler to be quickly known.

[0012] The cooling tower of the present invention, which solves the above problem, is a cooling tower for cooling a liquid, and comprises a filler material and a prediction unit that predicts the state of the filler material, wherein the filler material has an identification unit that identifies the installation state of the filler material or the type of filler material, and the function of the prediction unit is adjusted based on information from the identification unit. According to this cooling tower, when a filler having an identification unit is installed in the cooling tower, the identification unit recognizes the installation status and type of the filler, making it possible to apply a management method appropriate for the installation status and type of the filler. Furthermore, because the recognition unit can recognize the installation status and type of the filler, if the filler is installed incorrectly or if non-genuine filler is installed, the function of the prediction unit is stopped or limited, preventing operational problems in the cooling tower. In other words, if the filler is installed correctly or if genuine filler is installed, the prediction unit can accurately predict the filler condition, thereby providing a cooling tower that allows for appropriate management of cleaning frequency, filler replacement timing, and other aspects of the cooling tower, thereby reducing management costs.

[0013] In order to solve the above problem, the cooling tower of the present invention is a cooling tower for cooling a liquid, which is equipped with a filler material, and the filler material has an identification unit for identifying the type of filler material, and the state of the filler material is managed based on information from the identification unit. With this cooling tower, when a filler having an identification part is attached to the cooling tower, the type of filler is recognized by the identification part, making it possible to apply a management method appropriate for the type of filler, thereby preventing clogging between fillers and increasing management costs.

[0014] The filler of the present invention, which solves the above problem, is a filler to be installed in a cooling tower for cooling a liquid, and is characterized by having an identification part for identifying the installation state of the filler or the type of filler. This filler has an identification part, so when the filler is attached to a cooling tower, the identification part recognizes the installation status and type of the filler, making it possible to apply a management method that is appropriate for the start-up of the filler and the type of filler, thereby preventing clogging between fillers and increasing management costs.

[0015] The cooling tower management method of the present invention for solving the above problems is a method for managing a cooling tower for cooling a liquid, and is characterized by comprising a detection step of detecting the operating status of a drive unit that drives a cooling fan, and a prediction step of predicting the state of the filler material based on the detection results of the detection step. This cooling tower management method makes it possible to monitor the load on the cooling fan drive unit while also predicting the state of the filler, thereby achieving the effect of being able to manage the state of the cooling fan and filler with a simple configuration.

[0016] The cooling tower management method of the present invention for solving the above problems is a method for managing a cooling tower for cooling a liquid, and is characterized by comprising an identification step of identifying the installation state of the filler or the type of the filler, a prediction step of predicting the state of the filler, and a function adjustment step of adjusting the function of the prediction step based on information obtained in the identification step. According to this cooling tower management method, when a filler having an identification unit is attached to a cooling tower, the identification unit recognizes the installation status and type of the filler, making it possible to apply a management method appropriate for the installation status and type of filler. Also, because the recognition unit can recognize the installation status and type of filler, if the filler is not installed correctly or if an unauthorized filler is installed, the function of the prediction unit is stopped or limited, thereby preventing operational problems with the cooling tower. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the present invention, a cooling tower can be provided that can suppress clogging between fillers and increases in management costs by appropriately managing the frequency of cleaning and the timing of filler replacement in the management of the cooling tower. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the structure of a cooling tower according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]2A is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the structure of a packing material used in a cooling tower according to a first embodiment of the present invention; (A) is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the surface structure of the packing material; (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 2A; [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a side view of the air inlet side of the filler material attached to the cooling tower of the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the structure of a cooling tower according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the structure of a cooling tower according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the structure of a cooling tower according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Hereinafter, embodiments of the cooling tower and the filler according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The cooling tower and the filler described in the embodiments are merely examples for explaining the cooling tower and the filler according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these. Furthermore, the description of the cooling tower management method of the present invention is to be replaced with a description of the configuration of the cooling tower device. For example, the description of the "detection unit" can be replaced with a description of a "detection step that detects the operating status of the drive unit that drives the cooling fan," the description of the "prediction unit" can be replaced with a "prediction step that predicts the state of the filler based on the detection results of the detection step," and the description of the "function adjustment unit" can be replaced with a "function adjustment step that adjusts the function of the prediction step based on information obtained in the identification step." The same applies to the other descriptions of each component.

[0020] [First embodiment] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of a cooling tower 1A according to a first embodiment of the present invention. A cooling tower is a device for bringing treated water into contact with air, causing a portion of the treated water to evaporate, and then cooling the treated water itself using the heat of vaporization. The cooling tower 1A according to the first embodiment is a cross-flow cooling tower in which outside air flowing in from the side of the cooling tower flows across the filler material while the treated water flows down over the filler material. However, the flow directions of the treated water and air are not particularly limited. For example, heat exchange may be performed by flowing air from bottom to top while the treated water flows down from top to bottom.

[0021] The main uses of cooling towers are not particularly limited as long as they are devices for cooling liquids, but examples include cooling cooling water for air conditioning, cooling lubricating oil for production processes, and cooling water for furnace bodies.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, a cooling tower 1A has two fillers 2A and 2B housed along each of two opposing side surfaces of a rectangular tower body (casing). A water supply tank 13 for spraying treated water onto the fillers 2A, 2B is provided above the fillers 2A, 2B, and a number of through holes 15 are formed in the bottom of the water supply tank 13. The water supply tank 13 also has a water supply pipe 14 for supplying treated water to the water supply tank 13. The treated water supplied from the water supply pipe 14 to the water supply tank 13 is sprayed onto the top of the fillers 2A, 2B through the through holes 15 and flows down the surfaces of the fillers 2A, 2B.

[0023] Cooling tower 1A has air inlets 10 for introducing outside air on two opposing side surfaces of the rectangular tower body (casing), and an exhaust outlet 8 at the top center, with cooling fan 2 installed at exhaust outlet 8. By using cooling fan 2 to exhaust the air inside cooling tower 1A through exhaust outlet 8, outside air is introduced into cooling tower 1A from air inlet 10. The introduced outside air passes through fillers 2A and 2B and exchanges heat with the treated water flowing over the surfaces of fillers 2A and 2B, cooling the treated water.

[0024] Note that louvers 11 are installed in the air intake 10. The louvers 11 adjust the flow direction of the introduced outside air, allowing the outside air to pass evenly over the surfaces of the fillers 2A and 2B. The louvers 11 also prevent foreign matter from entering from the outside.

[0025] Furthermore, an eliminator capable of removing water droplets contained in the air may be installed between the fillers 2A, 2B and the exhaust port 8. By installing the eliminator, treated water contained in the air that has passed through the fillers 1A, 1B can be collected and the treated water can be prevented from flowing out from the exhaust port 8.

[0026] The bottom of cooling tower 1A is provided with water tank 16 for collecting treated water, and drain pipe 17 for discharging treated water from water tank 16. Treated water that has been cooled by outside air while flowing down through fillers 2A and 2B, and treated water that has been captured in an eliminator, is collected in water tank 16 and discharged outside cooling tower 1A through drain pipe 17. The discharged treated water is reused as cooling water for the building's air conditioning and heating / cooling equipment.

[0027] (filling material) The fillers 2A and 2B are made up of multiple plate-shaped fillers. As shown in Figures 2(A) and 2(B), the plate-shaped filler 2A has an uneven surface, and treated water flow passages 18 are formed. The uneven surface of the plate-shaped filler increases the contact area between the treated water and air, thereby improving cooling efficiency.

[0028] The fillers 2A and 2B are usually plate-shaped to improve the efficiency of contact between the treated water and the outside air, but they may also be prism-shaped. The material of the plate-shaped fillers 2A and 2B is generally made from synthetic resins, such as rigid polyvinyl chloride, or metal, and is molded into various shapes.

[0029] 3, a plurality of plate-shaped fillers 2A are arranged upright, and air passages 19 are formed in the gaps between the fillers 2A. Treated water flowing down the surface of the fillers 2A comes into contact with air passing through the air passages 19, and is cooled by being partially evaporated. While the filler 2A has been described in FIGS. 2 and 3, the filler 2B is also configured symmetrically to the filler 2A.

[0030] Fillers 2A and 2B of the present invention each have an identification unit 3, and cooling tower 1A is provided with a recognition unit 4 that recognizes that identification unit 3 has been installed. This makes it possible to recognize whether the fillers have been correctly installed in the cooling tower. Identification unit 3 and recognition unit 4 may be any unit that has the function of identifying the installation state of the fillers, and may, for example, have an identification function based on physical shape, such as a key and keyhole, or may identify the installation state of the fillers using a camera such as an optical sensor.

[0031] Additionally, information regarding the types of fillers 2A and 2B may be recorded in identification unit 3, and recognition unit 4 reads the information regarding the type of filler from identification unit 3 and recognizes the type of filler. This enables cooling tower 1A of the present invention to recognize the type of filler, and allows management of the operation of the cooling tower according to the type of filler. The information about the type of filler identified by the identification unit 3 is, for example, information about the manufacturer, model number, production lot, production date, etc. The identification unit 3 can distinguish between fillers manufactured by the cooling tower provider (genuine fillers) and fillers manufactured by parties other than the cooling tower provider (non-genuine fillers), and can also distinguish the model numbers of genuine fillers. The information on the type of filler in the identification unit 3 may be, for example, an IC tag, a barcode, etc. Alternatively, the type of filler may be identified by its physical shape, such as a key and keyhole. The position of the recognition unit 3 may be located at the top right or top left of the filler as shown in Figures 1 and 2A, or it may be located in the center. The recognition unit 3 is not limited to one location per filler, and may be located in multiple locations. Needless to say, providing recognition units in multiple locations improves the recognition accuracy of the recognition unit. There may be one identification part 3 per packing material, or one representative identification part 3 may be provided for each of the stacked packing plates 2A and 2B, or one representative identification part 3 may be provided for each cooling tower.

[0032] (cooling fan) Cooling fan 2 is a component for creating an air flow inside cooling tower 1A. As shown by the black arrows in Figure 1, when cooling fan 2 is driven, air inside cooling tower 1A is exhausted through exhaust port 9, which causes outside air to flow in through air intake port 10. The outside air that has flowed in passes through fillers 2A and 2B and flows to exhaust port 9.

[0033] The drive unit 6 for driving the cooling fan 2 may be, for example, a motor. There are no particular limitations on the drive unit 6 as long as it drives the cooling fan 2, but it is preferable to use, for example, an inverter or the like to control output to keep the exhaust volume constant. By quantitatively controlling the exhaust volume, the treated water can be cooled stably.

[0034] The driving section 6 of the cooling fan 2 is equipped with a detection section 7 that detects the operating state, and a prediction section 8 that predicts the state of the fillers 2A and 2B based on the detection results of the detection section 7. The prediction section 8 also has a function adjustment section 12 that adjusts the function of the prediction section 8 based on information from the identification section 3 of the filler.

[0035] (Detection unit) The detection unit 7 is configured to acquire information relating to clogging of the filler in the drive unit 6. The information relating to clogging of the filler in the drive unit 6 is an index indicating the load on the quantitatively controlled cooling fan 2, such as the motor current value of the drive unit 6 or the temperature of the drive unit 6. From the viewpoint of quickly detecting the load on the cooling fan 2, it is preferable to detect the motor current value.

[0036] The detection unit 7 of the first embodiment acquires, for example, as a detection result, the motor current value of the drive unit 6 of the quantitatively controlled cooling fan 2. When the fillers 2A and 2B become clogged, the exhaust volume of the cooling fan 2 decreases, which increases the load on the drive unit 6 and the motor current value. Therefore, the prediction unit 8 can predict the state of filler clogging using the detection result obtained by the detection unit 7. The motor current value of the drive unit 6 can also be used to monitor abnormalities in the operation of the cooling fan 2, so by providing a prediction unit 8, it is possible to simultaneously detect abnormalities in the cooling fan 2 and clogged filler using the motor current value of the drive unit 6.

[0037] (Prediction Department) The prediction unit 8 predicts the clogging state of the filler using the detection results obtained by the detection unit 7. The means for predicting the state of the filler is not particularly limited, but examples include a means for checking the state of the filler in relation to the motor current value in advance and predicting that the filler requires maintenance when a predetermined motor current value is reached, or a means for predicting that the filler requires maintenance when a predetermined motor current value increases from the motor current value immediately after replacement or cleaning. By providing the prediction unit 8, information regarding the clogging state of the filler can be easily obtained.

[0038] The prediction unit 8 can notify the filler prediction results to the customer, the maintenance company, etc., by display screen or message. For example, information on the filler clogging status obtained by the prediction unit 8 may be notified to a user such as a manager by wired communication means or wireless communication means, or may be displayed on an operation terminal for on-site work.

[0039] (Function adjustment department) The function adjustment unit 12 adjusts the function of the prediction unit 8 based on information from the identification unit 3 of the filler. For example, when fillers 2A and 2B are installed in the cooling tower 1A, the filler identification unit 3 and the recognition unit 4 of the cooling tower 1A recognize that the fillers have been installed correctly, and adjusts the prediction unit 8 to function based on this information. As a result, if the fillers are not installed correctly, the function of the prediction unit 8 is stopped or limited, preventing operational problems with the cooling tower. Furthermore, the information regarding the type of filler material from the identification unit 3 may be read by the recognition unit 4, and the prediction unit 8 may be adjusted to function based on this information. As a result, if an unauthorized filler material is installed, the function of the prediction unit 8 is stopped or limited, thereby preventing operational problems with the cooling tower. In other words, if the filler material is installed correctly or if an authorized filler material is installed, the prediction unit can accurately predict the filler condition, thereby providing a cooling tower that can appropriately manage cleaning frequency, filler replacement timing, and the like, and suppress increases in management costs.

[0040] Second Embodiment 4 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the structure of a cooling tower 1B according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Cooling tower 1B according to the second embodiment differs from cooling tower 1A according to the first embodiment in that it does not include detection unit 7, prediction unit 8, and function adjustment unit 12, and instead includes identification unit 3 for identifying the type of filler, recognition unit 4 for reading information about the type of filler from identification unit 3, and management unit 5 for managing the state of the filler based on the information obtained by recognition unit 4. The rest of the configuration is similar to that of cooling tower 1A according to the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0041] (Management Department) Information regarding the type of filler material read by the recognition unit 4 is sent to the management unit 5. The management unit 5 is configured to manage the status of the filler material according to the type of filler material. Management of the filler material status may include, for example, management of filler maintenance, such as filler replacement timing and cleaning frequency, as well as operational control to prevent precipitation, such as adjusting the amount of treated water supplied and the amount of outside air supplied. Furthermore, if a non-genuine filler material is used, the non-genuine filler material may be excluded from management, and management of the replacement period may be stopped, or the replacement period may be managed based on the period for the non-genuine filler material. By stopping management of the replacement period, operational problems with the cooling tower caused by the mistaken use of a non-genuine filler material can be prevented. Furthermore, by managing the replacement period based on the period for the non-genuine filler material, replacement can be promoted at a shorter period than the replacement period for genuine filler material, ensuring stable operation.

[0042] In managing the state of the filler in the management unit 5, information on clogging of the filler, information on precipitation in the treated water, and the like may be used. Information regarding clogging of the filler is information that indicates the clogging status of the filler, and includes, for example, the detection results of the detection unit 7 that detects the operating status of the drive unit 6 of the cooling fan 2, and the pressure difference between the front and rear stages of the filler in the air flow direction. Information relating to precipitation in the treated water is information that affects the occurrence of precipitation in the treated water, such as the temperature of the treated water, the ion concentration of the treated water, the temperature and humidity of the outside air, and the like. By utilizing information on clogging of the filler and information on precipitation in treated water, it becomes possible to manage the condition of the filler more precisely.

[0043] The cooling tower and the filler of the present invention can recognize the type of filler attached to the cooling tower and manage it according to the type, because fillers come in various shapes and the parts that dry out easily differ depending on the shape of the surface.

[0044] Information on filler maintenance, such as the replacement timing and cleaning frequency of the filler, and information on operation control to prevent precipitation, obtained by the management unit 5, may be notified to a user such as a manager via wired or wireless communication means, or may be displayed on an operation terminal for on-site work. Furthermore, automatic operation control of the cooling tower may be performed based on this management information.

[0045] [Third embodiment] 5 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the structure of a cooling tower 1C according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The cooling tower 1C according to the third embodiment differs from the cooling tower 1A according to the first embodiment in that it excludes the recognition unit 4, the identification unit 3, and the function adjustment unit 12, and includes a management unit 5 for managing the state of the filler using information about the clogging status of the filler obtained by the prediction unit 8. The other configurations are the same as those of the cooling tower 1A according to the first embodiment, and therefore will not be described further.

[0046] According to the cooling tower 1C of the third embodiment, information regarding the clogging status of the filler is sent to the management unit 5 and can be used for management of filler maintenance, such as the timing of filler replacement and frequency of cleaning, and management of operational control to prevent precipitation. For example, the management unit 5 uses the motor current value of the drive unit 6 to grasp the clogging status of the filler and determine when filler maintenance, such as cleaning or replacement, is necessary. This allows for appropriate filler management.

[0047] After determining when filler maintenance, such as cleaning or replacement, is required, the management unit 5 can notify the customer, the maintenance company, or the like via a display screen or a message. For example, information regarding filler maintenance, such as the filler replacement time and cleaning frequency, obtained by the management unit 5, and information regarding operation control to prevent precipitation, can be notified to a user, such as a manager, via wired or wireless communication means, or displayed on an operation terminal for on-site work. Furthermore, automatic operation control of the cooling tower can be performed based on this management information.

[0048] [Fourth embodiment] 6 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the structure of a cooling tower 1D according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The cooling tower 1D according to the fourth embodiment is the cooling tower 1B according to the second embodiment, with a detection unit 7 and a prediction unit 8. The other configurations are the same as those of the cooling tower 1B according to the second embodiment, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0049] According to the cooling tower 1D of the fourth embodiment, information regarding the clogging status of the filler obtained by the prediction unit 8 is sent to the management unit 5, and can be used, along with information regarding the type of filler and information regarding precipitation in the treated water, to manage filler maintenance such as the timing of filler replacement and frequency of cleaning. For example, in managing the cooling tower according to the type of filler, the management unit 5 can further appropriately manage the timing when filler maintenance such as cleaning or replacement is required based on the clogging status of the filler predicted from the motor current value of the drive unit 6. [Industrial Applicability]

[0050] The cooling tower of the present invention can be used for processes for cooling liquids, specifically for cooling cooling water for air conditioning and heating / cooling equipment in buildings. Furthermore, the cooling tower and filler of the present invention can be used to perform appropriate management according to the type of filler. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1A, 1B... Cooling tower, 2... Cooling fan, 3... Identification unit, 4... Recognition unit, 5... Management unit, 6... Drive unit, 7... Detection unit, 8... Prediction unit, 9... Exhaust outlet, 10... Air intake port, 11... Louver, 12... Function adjustment unit, 13... Water supply tank, 14... Water supply pipe, 15... Passage hole, 16... Water storage tank, 17... Drainage pipe, Treated water flow passage 18, Ventilation passage 19

Claims

1. 1. A cooling tower for cooling a liquid, comprising: a drive unit that drives the cooling fan; a detection unit that detects the operating status of the drive unit; a prediction unit that predicts the state of the filler based on the detection result of the detection unit; A filling material is provided, the filler includes an identification portion for identifying the installation state of the filler or the type of the filler; A cooling tower characterized in that the function of the prediction unit is stopped or limited based on the information obtained by the identification unit.

2. 2. The cooling tower according to claim 1, wherein the state of the filler predicted by the prediction unit is notified to a user.

3. 1. A cooling tower for cooling a liquid, comprising: A filler material; a prediction unit that predicts the state of the filler, the filler has an identification portion for identifying the installation state of the filler or the type of the filler, A cooling tower characterized in that the function of the prediction unit is stopped or limited based on information from the identification unit.

4. A filler provided in the cooling tower according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A filler to be installed in a cooling tower for cooling a liquid, characterized in that the filler has an identification part for identifying the installation state of the filler or the type of the filler.

5. 1. A method of managing a cooling tower for cooling a liquid, comprising: an identifying step of identifying the installation state or type of the filler by an identifying portion provided on the filler; a prediction step of predicting the state of the filler; a function adjustment step of stopping or limiting the function of the prediction step based on information obtained in the identification step.

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