COOLING TOWERS
A cooling tower is simply a device that lowers the temperature of a liquid (typically water) through evaporation. Most large buildings have central air conditioning plants that utilize outdoor cooling towers to dispose of the heat carried away from the refrigeration unit. The water circulated in the cooling tower becomes very corrosive and can contain many microorganisms that find the water a favorable environment for growth. Airborne impurities that are picked up in the cooling tower water can precipitate and cause scaling, which lowers the thermal efficiency (similar to insulation). Scale build-up also clogs the piping, requiring the circulating pumps to work harder and consume more power.
Traditionally, various chemicals have been used to control scaling, corrosion, bacterial and algae growth. These chemicals are subject to strict regulation by the federal EPA and local agencies. Many of the more effective chemicals have been banned.
Cooling towers waste a tremendous amount of water. As the water evaporates the concentration of minerals and organic waste increases and the water quality deteriorates. In order to dilute this water a substantial amount must be periodically discharged and replaced by fresh city water. This process is known as "blowdown". Included as a constituent of the blowdown are the chemicals used to treat the water. Chemically treated cooling towers discharge 25-50% of their total water required into local sewage systems and, ultimately, into the environment. One typical cooling tower can dump over 4 million gallons of chemically-laden water into the sewer system every year. Over 700 billion gallons are wasted per year nationwide, at an annual cost of over $1.8 billion in make-up water and sewage charges. In 1993 alone, cooling towers accounted for 536 billion pounds of chemical discharge.
Ozonation has been proven to dramatically reduce blowdown. Additional benefits are:
Control of scale, corrosion and biological growth
Eliminates the use of chemicals except for pH balancing.
Environmental compliance
Improved efficiency
Public and employee safety
Decreased costs
Studies by Southern California Edison (SCE), NASA, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and IBM have confirmed that ozonation is a viable alternative to multi-chemical treatment. Electricity savings of 20% or more were cited by SCE.
Since ozone is an unstable oxygen molecule that cannot be stored or shipped, it must be generated on-site at the point of use. Problems associated with the ordering, shipping, handling, storing, record logging, and disposal of hazardous water treatment chemicals are eliminated. The discharge water from an ozonated cooling tower is guaranteed to comply with all current U.S. EPA regulations.
Ozonex cooling tower water treatment systems are superior in several aspects:
State-of-the-art ozone generators
Sophisticated monitoring and control equipment
Negative pressure technique eliminates air compressors on most systems
Efficient, water conserving filtration system
Easy maintenance and servicing
Guaranteed results
COOLING TOWER WATER TREATMENT
A complete line of condenser water treatment systems for cooling towers is available ranging from small, manually operated, to large, fully automatic systems with remote control and data logging.
Since ozone is an unstable oxygen molecule that cannot be stored or shipped, it must be generated on-site at the point of use. Problems associated with the ordering, shipping, handling, storing, record logging, and effluent disposal of standard water treatment chemicals are thus eliminated. The discharge water from an ozonated cooling tower is guaranteed to comply with all current U.S. EPA regulations.
Bacteria present in cooling tower water intensifies scaling by forming a bio-slime layer that acts as a bonding agent for scale deposits. Because ozone is a very strong biocide it destroys the bacteria, leaving the scale deposits free to be removed by the velocity of the water through the pipeline.
Years ago, the chromate/zinc inhibitor was one of the best inhibitors on the market to protect metal surfaces from corrosion in a cooling tower. Today, ozone is attaining the same recognition by providing the same or better corrosion protection than the old chromate/zinc inhibitor. Ozone provides a protective oxide coating on the metal surfaces within the condenser loop.
Ozone reduces operating costs by:
Reducing makeup water to the cooling tower by permitting more cycles between blowdown.
Eliminating the cost and problems in ordering, shipping, handling, storage, and disposal of regular chemicals.
Reducing power consumption by keeping the chiller heat transfer efficiency high through cleaner condenser tubes.
Ozone systems must be sized individually, based on answers to the attached .
Manual and fully automatic systems are available. The reason for selecting either one can be purely economical - usually, the breaking point is 1,000 BTU tons.
The manual systems require almost the same level of attention as the systems with chemical feed. In manual systems OZONE simply replaces biocides, with the following advantages:
Eliminates the use of chemicals except for pH balancing.
Ends discharge liabilities and chemical storage record keeping.
Destroys all types of microorganisms.
Minimizes condenser fouling.
Decomposes organic waste by oxidation.
Prevents calcium carbonate scaling.
Removes existing calcium carbonate scale by destroying the biomass glue bonding agent.
Reduces the corrosion rate of metals, including copper heat exchangers.
Prevents delignification of wood frame towers.
Reduces water consumption by maintaining higher cycles of concentration in the cooling tower.
Saves on energy costs by increasing the heat transfer efficiency of the chiller.
Manual systems are more suitable for towers of up to 1,000 tons BTU (3,500 gal/min), where the additional cost of $10,000 to $17,000 US for a fully automatic system may not be justified. As a result, the corrosion rate and number of cycles may not be as optimized as with an automatic system - yet ozone will still provide the great advantages as listed above.
In automatic systems the corrosion, dissolved ozone, pH, conductivity, and AC current are measured in 0.5 second periods, and the ozone dosage is adjusted automatically. Data logging is also automatic, and easy to access from any telephone line via proprietary software. By precisely following the optimal pattern, the corrosion rate is very low in the first year, and almost below detectable level in the years following.
The automatic system will extend the life of the heat exchanger, and of other metal surfaces, by at least a factor of 10. Usually the initial investment for an ozonation system will be returned in just six months! A written report under a maintenance program will be available to the end user, showing the actual prorated savings on monthly bases. The phone line access also provides data for preventive maintenance, and security purposes.
The automatic system also allows for a more accurate blow down. The discharge water is very clean, almost safe to drink.
The makeup water should always meet potable water quality standards. In other words, a cooling tower should not be used as a dumpsite for sewer water. Ozonex systems are available to treat makeup water if necessary. Ozone is also very suitable to treat surface water sources. Surface waters are mostly very soft, thus ideal for use in cooling towers. We will size the proper makeup system based on your raw water test results.
For design and selection assistance please contact Weil
Aquatronics by phone, fax, e-mail, or online request form. We can provide
specifications and AutoCAD® details for your exact application. Discover why
Weil Aquatronics leads the industry with "The Confidence You Can Specify"K.
| LINKS WATER TREATMENT - COOLING TOWERS |
| The U.S. Department of Energy |
| Ozonex |
| VRTX Technologies |