If the air louver below the fans in an induced draft cooling tower becomes clogged, what is the result?

When the air louver below the fans in an induced draft cooling tower becomes clogged, the airflow into the system is compromised. This obstruction prevents the required quantity of air from moving through the cooling tower effectively. As a result, the cooling process is less efficient because the warm water from the system is unable to lose heat effectively to the ambient air.

When the airflow is reduced due to the clogged louver, the heat transfer process is hampered, leading to higher temperatures of the return water. The system cannot dissipate heat as effectively, which causes the return water temperatures to rise. Therefore, acknowledging the relationship between airflow and cooling efficiency clarifies why the presence of a clog would lead to higher return water temperatures, confirming the correctness of the chosen answer.

In contrast, lower return water temperatures would indicate effective cooling, which is not possible with a clogged air louver. Increased airflow would suggest better cooling performance, and reduced noise levels do not directly relate to the impact of a clogged louver on the cooling process.