Technology Stabilizes Multiple Makeup Sources in Cooling Towers at Multi-National Data Technology Company

A Western U.S. data technology company uses multiple makeup water sources for redundancy and environmental sustainability. ChemTreat faced two main challenges with this type of variable makeup to a cooling tower:

• Variable chemical makeup of the sources, outlined in the water analysis
• Variable incoming water volume for each source

Goals

Maximize reclaim water use and minimize chemical usage without compromising heat exchange surfaces to help prevent downtime and minimize the plant power usage effectiveness (PUE). Other specific goals included:

• Maintain the ability to subsidize reclaimed water with city water.
• Maintain cooling tower conductivity at a level that will not cause fouling but reduces cooling tower bleed.
• Reduce cooling tower bleed to minimize water usage effectiveness (WUE).

Solutions

ChemTreat used programmed non-proprietary water treatment equipment. Specific water treatment chemistries were selected to provide protection during variations in water treatment makeup while maintaining water savings. Treatment was set up in the following manner:

• Water meters placed on all incoming and outgoing water to maintain proper mineral balances.
• pH control with variable speed pumps to prevent scaling from high-hardness reclaimed water.
• Controllers placed on each cooling tower system.
  • Benefits include:
    • Volume regulation of differing makeup water
    • Chemical feed based on makeup flow rates
    • Remote accessibility with alarming feature reports
    • Versatile, non-proprietary technology

Results

Programming the controller with input from meters allowed the system to automatically maintain stability.

• 97% reclaimed water used for tower makeup
• 8% tower conductivity variance
• Alarms recognized and adjusted remotely
• Weekly water usage/savings reports

Cooling Towers, City Makeup

Min: 100
Max: 8,200
Average: 136.93
Total: 66,000

Cooling Towers, Reclaimed Makeup

Min: 100
Max: 1,700
Average: 112.66
Total: 54,300

Cooling Towers, Average Conductivity

Min: 5,928.935
Max: 6,426.607
Average: 6,244.340