ION STICK WATER TREATMENT IN EVAPORATIVE COOLING TOWERS

Do I need Filtration? In comparison to the tonnage, the amount of water contained in an evaporative cooling tower is a small volume. It is possible to control suspended solids accumulation with simple cleaning and flushing procedures. The design enables easy access during downtime to purge out suspended material. If manpower is not a problem the system can be kept clean.

Process or continuous operating systems are not given the same opportunity to flush the tower. Filtration becomes more of a necessity if system cleanliness is required. It may enable cycles of concentration to operate at maximum values with crystal clear water (i.e. least amount of system bleed-off water).

Filtration can be justified easily for larger and continuous operating systems. Smaller intermittent use systems are less apt to be equipped with filtration provided there is sufficient power to apply a regular flushing schedule.

Any system will benefit from filtration. It must be practical with a suitable payback before the concept is acceptable.

ION STICK Selection

An average rule of thumb suggests the recirculation rate is three times the tonnage of a system. A 500 ton system would require approximately 1500 USGPM recirculating rate. The ION STICK models listed will handle the corresponding recirculation rates:

For those systems equipped with effective suspended solids removal or filtration, the maximum recirculation rates can be doubled. For example, one ION STICK model 750 can handle a maximum flowrate of 1500 USGPM (i.e. 500 ton cooling tower) with effective filtration. Larger systems require multiple unit installations consistent with the above correlation.

The ION STICK performs the best when it is installed near the pump suction. All of the water must flow past the ION STICK at the longest contact possible. Care must be taken not to damage the Teflon coating of the ION STICK. It should be protected from any moving parts (i.e. float mechanism) and/or contact of any objects. If filtration is applied, the Ion Stick can be positioned into the filter discharge piping back to the tower sump as an alternate location.

1. Effective suspended solids removal. This is accomplished by either filtration or routine manual cleaning of tower.
2. Appropriate bleed-off control to maintain proper cycles of concentration. Conductivity measurement is required to prevent dissolved solids from over concentrating.
3. Protection of recirculated water from sunlight if possible.
4. Constant circulation of the water in the cooling tower sump (i.e. filtration pump or very small auxiliary pump).
5. Regular inspection of tower and sump for system cleanliness.

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