Cooling Water De-Ionization Control for Water Saving and Scale Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing recirculating evaporative cooling facilities face challenges in achieving desired make-up water savings and blowdown water reduction while efficiently suppressing biological growth, scale formation, and corrosion, with existing systems not effectively controlling reverse osmosis cycles to minimize wastewater and chemical use.
Innovation Solution
A control system that monitors ion concentration and controls the hydraulic operation of de-ionising units, such as reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, or ion exchange units, to adaptively manage de-ionising frequency and flow based on target water savings, ensuring ion concentration remains below a threshold to suppress growth and corrosion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If reverse osmosis recycling circuit is used to de-ionise cooling water, then ion concentration is reduced, but make-up water saving and blowdown water reduction targets are not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the operational parameters of the de-ionising unit based on real-time monitoring of ion concentration. The control system modifies flow rates, cycle frequencies, and operational intensity adaptively to optimize both water savings and de-ionisation effectiveness, rather than operating at fixed settings
Solution Approach 2:
The control system continuously monitors ion concentration values from sensors and uses this feedback to adjust the hydraulic operation of the de-ionising unit. This closed-loop control ensures that de-ionisation is performed only when and to the extent needed to meet water saving targets while maintaining ion concentration below thresholds
2Quantity of substance
If reverse osmosis cycle operates continuously at high intensity, then de-ionisation effectiveness is maximized, but membrane cleaning frequency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic de-ionisation cycles rather than continuous high-intensity operation. The control system activates the de-ionising unit in periodic intervals based on monitored ion concentration levels, allowing the system to achieve necessary de-ionisation while reducing cumulative operational stress on membranes and minimizing cleaning requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically changes operational parameters such as flow rate, pressure, and cycle duration based on real-time conditions. By adjusting these parameters adaptively rather than maintaining constant high-intensity operation, the system achieves effective de-ionisation while reducing membrane fouling and extending cleaning intervals
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system maximizes water savings while effectively preventing biological growth, scale formation, and corrosion by dynamically adjusting de-ionising unit operations, reducing the need for make-up water and blowdown water.
Implementation Method 1
de-ionising the cooling water
Implementation Method 2
de-ionising units, such as reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, or ion exchange units
Implementation Method 3
de-ionising units, such as reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, or ion exchange units
Implementation Method 4
The heated water leaving the heat exchanger is fed through the ECT where it is cooled
Data Source
AI summary
A control system suppresses biological growth, scale formation and/or corrosion in a recirculating evaporative cooling facility (1). The control system is configured to: monitor a value (C) from at least one sensor (19a-l). The value is indicative of an ion concentration in a cooling liquid of the recirculating evaporative cooling facility (1). The control system controls at least one flow regulation device (21, 23) for regulating the hydraulic operation of at least one de-ionising unit (13) of the recirculating evaporative cooling facility (1). The control system is configured to control at least one parameter of hydraulic operation of the at least one de-ionising unit (13) based on an adaptive target water saving as long as the monitored value (C) does not pass a pre-determined threshold.