Is the maintenance cost of wet curtain wall high? What should be paid attention to when using it?

1. Maintenance cost analysis of wet curtain wall

Material cost--
Replacement cycle of wet curtain paper: The life of good wet curtain paper is usually 3-5 years. Inferior products may need to be replaced frequently (such as 1-2 years) due to decreased water absorption or mildew. Although the honeycomb structure of wet curtain paper is corrosion-resistant, it will still age if exposed to high humidity environment for a long time. Its water absorption and product structural integrity need to be checked regularly.

Frame maintenance: The aluminum alloy or stainless steel frame of wet curtain wall has a long life (6-8 years), but it is necessary to clean the drainage trough regularly and check the sealing to prevent water corrosion.

Cleaning and consumables cost--
Water quality requirements: Hard water can easily cause scale to block the honeycomb holes of wet curtain wall. During use, it needs to be cleaned regularly with soft water or add descaling agent, otherwise the cooling efficiency will drop from 80% to below 50%.
Filtration system: The matching filters need to be cleaned or replaced every quarter to prevent dust and impurities from clogging the pores of the wet curtain paper.

Energy consumption and operation and maintenance -
Power consumption of water pumps and fans: The stable operation of the system depends on continuous water supply and negative pressure fans, and electricity costs account for 30%-40% of the long-term costs.

Comprehensive comparison: Although the initial investment is lower than that of air conditioning, the long-term maintenance cost (annual average of about 5%-8% of the initial cost) needs to be included in the budget for consideration, especially in high temperature and high humidity areas.

2. Precautions for long-term use
Maintenance of wet curtain paper --
Anti-mold treatment: Regularly spray mildew inhibitors (such as quaternary ammonium salts) to prevent microbial growth and damage to the fiber structure.
Avoid dry-wet cycles: Thoroughly dry when out of use, frequent alternation of dry and wet will accelerate the embrittlement of the material.

System operation optimization --
Balance of humidity and wind speed: In high humidity environments (such as relative humidity > 70%), the fan speed needs to be increased to offset the negative impact of wet curtain humidification on the cooling effect.
Phased activation: It is recommended to partially open the wet curtain in greenhouses for small-day-old animals or plants to avoid stress caused by excessive temperature differences.

Environmental adaptability --
Climate adaptability: The good effect is achieved in dry areas (such as deserts); forced ventilation is required in high-humidity areas, otherwise the feeling of stuffiness may be aggravated.

Pollution protection: Chemical workshops need to choose acid-resistant wet curtain paper, ordinary paper is easily corroded.

Safety and inspection --
Structural stability: Check the frame connectors every month to prevent vibration and looseness from causing water leakage.
Fire prevention measures: Although wet curtain paper is flame retardant, flammable materials are prohibited from being piled up around it, especially for high-temperature workshops.

3. Problem solution
Decreased cooling efficiency: mostly scale or blockage, low-pressure water gun can be used for reverse flushing, and wet curtain paper needs to be replaced in severe cases.
Odor generation: Indicates bacterial growth, and sodium hypochlorite solution needs to be used for disinfection and ventilation improvement.