If a condenser pump is not running and the pressure gauge shows 55 psi, what is the approximate floor level of the cooling tower?

To determine the approximate floor level of the cooling tower based on the pressure gauge reading, it's important to understand the relationship between pressure and elevation in a water system. Generally, every 1 psi of pressure correlates to about 2.31 feet of vertical elevation in a water column.

Given a pressure of 55 psi, you can convert that to feet by multiplying the psi value by 2.31. This calculation yields:

55 psi x 2.31 ft/psi = 127.05 feet.

Next, to find the equivalent floor level, it helps to consider that a standard floor in a building is typically around 10 feet high. Dividing the total height by the average floor height gives:

127.05 feet / 10 feet/floor = approximately 12.7 floors.

Since you're looking for the nearest whole number, this would suggest a height equivalent to around 12 floors.

Selecting the 8th floor does not align with this calculation, as the pressure reading indicates a greater height than that. Understanding this relationship reinforces the point that the condenser pump not running may lead to pressure readings reflecting the static water column height and helps identify the widely accepted standard for such interpretations in cooling tower operations.