Dec 23rd 2019
Saltworks Technologies Inc. (Saltworks) completed a pilot on cooling tower blowdown demonstrating minimal liquid discharge (MLD) with up to 70x volume reduction using advanced membrane systems. The MLD paper presents brine management results and economics for water plant designers. Readers will learn how to concentrate brines to 130,000 mg/L total dissolved solids (TDS) with reverse osmosis membrane technology while avoiding scaling and fouling. The work is intended to inform widening use of membrane-based brine concentration systems in order to offset more expensive evaporation or disposal methods.
Pilot test results are presented for cooling tower blowdown brine at 1,800 mg/L TDS. The pilot test consisted of several methods, used to achieve multiple volume reduction factors (recovery): 5X (80%), 10X (90%), 20X (95%), 40X (97.5%), and 70X (99%). Each jump in volume reduction adds plant complexity and cost. Each step will be explained and mapped so readers can learn about the technology and investment required to take the next step in recovery improvements.
The plant consisted of a robotized chemical softening system, BrineRefine, designed for use with variable water chemistry. This system includes a real time calcium sensor and precipitation management system. The plant also consists of ultra high-pressure reverse osmosis, XtremeRO, with spiral wound membranes rated for 1,800 psi (120 bar) to achieve ultra high recoveries.
Saltworks Technologies is a leader in the development and delivery of solutions for industrial wastewater treatment and lithium refining. By working with customers to understand their unique challenges and focusing on continuous innovation, Saltworks’ solutions provide best-in-class performance and reliability. From its headquarters in Richmond, BC, Canada, Saltworks’ team designs, builds, and operates full-scale plants, and offers comprehensive onsite and offsite testing services with its fleet of mobile pilots.
Saltworks can solve your cooling tower blowdown challenges. We can add novel sensors and controls to your cooling tower to minimize water consumption and blowdown production. We can treat blowdown for re-use at your cost-optimized freshwater recovery or achieve zero liquid discharge.
Cooling towers are used by industrial plants to reject waste heat to atmosphere. A portion of the cooling water is blown down after a number of cycles of concentration, before the ions and metals reach their scaling limits. This blowdown requires management.
Reverse osmosis-based brine concentrators are reaching new performance levels not seen before. Saltworks is pleased to report that a substantial pilot plant is currently demonstrating 99% freshwater recovery on cooling tower blowdown (CTB).
Saltworks delivers reliable solutions for data center cooling that maximize uptime and energy efficiency while helping meet water sustainability goals. Our modular, low footprint systems can optimize cooling cycles, reduce scaling, and minimize wastewater disposal volumes.