Decsa Service carried out intensive extraordinary maintenance on two of the cooling towers installed at the Palermo Airport.
Decsa Service carried out an intensive extraordinary maintenance intervention on two cooling towers installed at Palermo Airport. Effective and regular ordinary maintenance, combined with timely and targeted extraordinary maintenance activities for cooling towers, plays a fundamental role in ensuring long-term reliability, efficiency, and optimal performance of cooling equipment.
This is clearly demonstrated by the Cofinair by Decsa cooling towers installed at the “Falcone Borsellino” Airport in Palermo, where three units of the TVA 34-510 cooling tower model are currently operating. While the most recent unit was purchased and installed in 2023, the other two cooling towers date back to 2014. Despite more than ten years of continuous operation, these units continue to perform their cooling function efficiently, thanks also to the constant preventive maintenance activities carried out over the years.
The Customer Problem
During the latest ordinary maintenance inspection carried out in 2023, Cofinair by Decsa Service technicians identified some issues affecting the two cooling towers installed in 2014 at Palermo Airport, Italy. The inspection revealed the need for extraordinary maintenance work, including the replacement of some deteriorated components and the restoration of metal parts affected by corrosion.
The intervention was commissioned in August 2023 and, according to the customer’s operational requirements, was scheduled and completed in spring 2024. The extraordinary maintenance activity on the cooling towers was performed by a Cofinair Service technician with the support of the customer’s on-site maintenance team.
The solution: extraordinary maintenance on cooling towers
The extraordinary maintenance intervention on the two 2014 cooling towers included the following activities:
- Replacement of the fill pack;
- Replacement of damaged nozzles that could not be recovered;
- Application of DecsaProt treatment on deteriorated metal components*.
*DecsaProt is a Cofiniar by Decsa’s specialised revamping treatment developed to restore and protect corroded components. The process involves cleaning and repainting galvanised steel parts with the specific DecsaProt coating, designed to remove existing rust and prevent its future formation.
For the TVA 34-510 cooling towers installed at Palermo Airport, which are mainly made of fibreglass with only a limited number of metal components, DecsaProt treatment was applied to the frame and the main manifold, which are the only galvanised steel elements present in the equipment.
During the extraordinary maintenance of the cooling towers, the Decsa Service technician also carried out a complete inspection of the latest cooling unit installed in 2023, confirming its correct installation and proper operation.
This case study demonstrates how a proactive maintenance strategy can significantly contribute to preserving the performance of industrial cooling equipment, ensuring reliability even after many years of service in demanding operating environments such as airport facilities.
Project timelines
The project was commissioned in August 2023, and the extraordinary maintenance work on the cooling towers was carried out in February 2024, in agreement with the client’s requirements.
- 2023: During routine maintenance activities, Decsa Service technicians identified the need for extraordinary maintenance on the two cooling towers installed in 2014.
- August 2023: The customer commissioned the extraordinary maintenance intervention for the next year.
- February 2024: The maintenance work was carried out on-site by Decsa Service with the support of the customer’s technical staff.
The project confirms the effectiveness of Cofinair’s long-term service approach, combining preventive maintenance, technical know-how, and specialised restoration solutions to maximise cooling tower reliability over time.
| Company or Application | Palermo Airport |
|---|---|
| Year of Installation | 2014 and 2023 |
| Year of Intervention | 2024 |
| Place of Installation | Palermo, Italy |
| Type of interlocutor | End Client |
| Application | HVAC |
| Fluid | Water |
| Input temperature | 35°C |
| Output temperature | 30°C |
| Wet bulb | 26,7°C |
| Power required | 3500 kW |
| equipment provided | TVA 34-510 fiberglass cooling tower |
| Services Provided | The service activity includes: – Provision of new cooling tower – Extraordinary maintenance on pre-existing units (DecsaProt, pack and nozzle replacement) – Service and advice on new cooling unit |