Overview
Cooling towers release heat from recirculating water used to cool chillers, air conditioners, and other process equipment into the atmosphere. Evaporation removes heat from cooling towers and discharges it into the environment. As a result, cooling towers consume a substantial amount of water by design.
Environmental restrictions and pollution prevention are the goals of best management practices of a Cooling Tower. This best management practice includes a set of propound operating procedures and instructions.This aids in the reduction of pollutants released into the JEA Publicly Owned Treatment Works. The goal of developing this BMP is to safeguard the POTW and the environment while not unreasonably burdening cooling tower-using establishments. We use a cooling tower mainly in a variety of businesses, hospitals, institutions, and office buildings. We also use them in open recirculating cooling water systems to reject heat through evaporation. Evaporation from cooling towers dissipates heat from HVAC systems and other operations into the atmosphere.
The goal is to discover how a cooling tower consumes water and also to develop a set of best practice suggestions to help the tower operator or water treatment service provider reduce total tower water consumption.
Practices
In open recirculating cooling water systems, mineral salt concentrations rise as evaporation occurs. Fouling and scale formation on heat exchange surfaces can happen when the concentration of mineral salts exceeds their solubility. Cooling systems regulate the amount of dissolved solids in the system by removing a portion of the recirculating water and replacing it with new makeup water. Water in cooling towers can be cycled several times before becoming saturated and needing to be discharged. Blowdown refers to the removal of water from recirculated cooling water in order to reduce pollutant buildup in the tower water. To avoid fouling and make optimal use of the makeup water supply, we need to maintain cooling tower blowdown. We frequently use the sanitary sewage system to dump this water.
Most recirculating cooling water system maintenance programs also include controlled applications of conditioning chemicals, in addition to blow down. Microbiological control, corrosion prevention, and increasing the solubility of mineral salts are all reasons for chemical additives. However, the scale and bacterial development can reduce the efficiency of heat exchange systems such as cooling towers, condensers, and heat exchangers. Molybdenum is a common ingredient in cooling tower chemicals. We mainly utilize them in cooling tower treatment chemicals as a corrosion inhibitor or as a tracer to determine the treatment chemical concentration. Because of its propensity to passivate cathodic surfaces, molybdenum has been utilized to prevent corrosion in cooling water systems for a long time.
Required Maintenance Practices
- By automating blowdown and repairing leaks, you can control the concentration of dissolved minerals and compounds in the cooling water. Leaks in the recirculating cooling water pipe and basin should be kept to a minimum. Leaks wastewater and chemicals, reducing the number of possible cycles. Maintaining the proper chemical composition is critical for two reasons: equipment protection and system efficiency.
- Allow a cooling water treatment firm to examine the makeup water’s chemical composition and suggest a particular water treatment program for your makeup water and usage. Routine analysis of the recirculating cooling water should be part of the procedure, with blowdown and chemical addition rates adjusted accordingly.
- Schedule and proper routine monitoring and maintenance activities to ensure that cooling water meets the client’s specifications.
- Include specific guidelines in any service contracts or agreements that address chemical substitution options.
- To keep concentration cycles under control, test cooling tower water on a daily basis.
- Install totalizing flow meters for the influent and effluent to monitor the cooling tower’s operation.
- Keep tower decks clean to avoid water loss due to overflow.
- To maximize the evaporation rate, keep the tower fan in good working order.
- Clean the sensor on a regular basis with procedures that use automatic bleed equipment.
- Check the meter’s calibration with a probe.
- In compliance with applicable rules, check the discharge water quality on a regular basis.
- Maintain the fill level of the cooling tower to prevent water from dripping or splashing out onto the ground. The basin should collect all of the water that passes through the fill.
Guidance
- We must reduce the blowdown by working closely with your water treatment vendor or contracted service provider. Consider performance-based contracts because decreasing blow down minimizes the amount of chemicals needed.
- Vendors should be required to meet a minimal water efficiency standard.
- Make it clear to your vendor that water conservation is a top issue, and inquire about alternative solutions for reducing blowdown.
- Request that your provider gives a written report for each service call, as well as an explanation of the test results.
Wrap up
Many air-conditioning and refrigeration systems include cooling towers, which work by evaporating water to remove heat. Wet/evaporative cooling towers are commonly used to offer thermal comfort for significant commercial buildings as well as process cooling for businesses like oil refining, chemical processing, power plants, and a variety of manufacturing processes. However, the quality of the cooling tower’s recirculating water has a direct impact on the cooling tower’s thermal efficiency, good functioning, and lifespan. Therefore, maintaining water balance, maximizing concentration cycles, and optimizing blow down offers the best chance for water efficiency. Moreover, they offer the least amount of environmental effect.
At Jateen Trading Co., you will receive the best cooling tower advice, as well as high-quality cooling tower additives. Do you find this article interesting? Then please check out the rest of the blogs too. If you have any queries regarding operational challenges at the modern wastewater treatment plant, then please do contact us. We are happy to hear from you!
