Sustainable Management Resources Inc Join SMRI as we work on: “Creating a Sustainable New Economy” SMRI, San Diego CA, ~ 858.229.0149 ~ Steve Kaplan ~

Sustainable Management Resources Inc

Join SMRI as we work on:

“Creating a Sustainable

New Economy”

SMRI, San Diego CA, ~ 858.229.0149 ~ Steve Kaplan ~ [email protected]

Basics of Cooling Tower Basics of Cooling Tower Water TreatmentWater Treatment

• Cooling towers reduce water temperature through evaporation, a high-energy phase change

• Only water leaves the system as a vapor, mineral content remains

• Minerals dissolve until the saturation point is reached, then scale begins to form

• When the mineral content is twice the level of the makeup water supply- 2 cycles of concentration have been reached

SMRI, San Diego CA, ~ 858.229.0149 ~ Steve Kaplan ~ [email protected]

Basics of Cooling Tower Basics of Cooling Tower Water TreatmentWater Treatment

• Conductivity is the measure of dissolved solids

• pH is the measure of the relative acidity or basicity of the water

• These 2 parameters are convenient methods to monitor and control scale formation and corrosion

SMRI, San Diego CA, ~ 858.229.0149 ~ Steve Kaplan ~ [email protected]

Causes of lost efficiencyCauses of lost efficiency

• Calcium carbonate is the most common type of scale

• Calcium Carbonate Scale- 1/10” causes loss of efficiency of up to 40%  

• Corrosion- Causes loss of heat transfer and leaks 

• Biological growth- causes loss of heat transfer and can cause disease

SMRI, San Diego CA, ~ 858.229.0149 ~ Steve Kaplan ~ [email protected]

Control through Water Control through Water TreatmentTreatment

• Scale inhibitors- increase solubility

• Acid reacts with carbonates and releases CO2, increases saturation point 

• Softeners remove Ca and Mg (scaling cations)

• Corrosion inhibitors- coat or react specifically with certain metals 

• Biocides- slug dosed or continuously fed for bacterial control

SMRI, San Diego CA, ~ 858.229.0149 ~ Steve Kaplan ~ [email protected]

Monitoring and ControlMonitoring and Control

• Conductivity, pH, ORP and corrosion

• Chemicals levels and feed verification 

• Temperatures- inlet and outlet of tower, inlet and outlet of chiller , chilled water, etc 

• Flows- through tower, chiller, etc 

• Pressures- chillers

• Makeup and bleed-off water meters-ROI

SMRI, San Diego CA, ~ 858.229.0149 ~ Steve Kaplan ~ [email protected]

Water Evaporation CreditsWater Evaporation Credits

• Evaporation = (Tonnage) x (0.03) x (% load) 

• Example- 1000 tons x .03 x .70 = 21 gpm 

• Based on a 12 hour day- evaporation = 15,120 gallons

• On a yearly basis (260 days) that is 3,931,200 gallons of evaporated water

• 3,931,000 gallons x $2.75 per 1000 gals of water* = $10,810.00 per year savings

 *Low estimate for most areas and increasing yearly

SMRI, San Diego CA, ~ 858.229.0149 ~ Steve Kaplan ~ [email protected]

Bleed-off ReductionBleed-off Reduction • Bleedoff = Evaporation

Cycles of concentration-1 3,931,000 gallons = 2,620,666 gallons bleedoff annually2.5 (cycles of conc)-1 

• Using acid or side stream softening: • 3,931,000 gallons = 1,123,142 gallons bleedoff

4.5(cycles of conc)-1 • 1,497,524 gallons of water saved from the sewer= $4,118• At a cost of $4.00 per 1000 gallons of treatment= $5,990• Total saved from acid use or softening= $10,108 annually

SMRI, San Diego CA, ~ 858.229.0149 ~ Steve Kaplan ~ [email protected]

Typical Cooling Tower InstallationTypical Cooling Tower Installation

DI In

DI

In

Corrosion 4-20mA In

Cooling Tower schematic

SMRI, San Diego CA, ~ 858.229.0149 ~ Steve Kaplan ~ [email protected]

www.SustainableMRI.comwww.SustainableMRI.com

Thank Thank youyou

SMRI, San Diego CA, ~ 858.229.0149 ~ Steve Kaplan ~ [email protected]