AWT: Electrochemical for Cooling Towers

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory tested an alternative treatment technology (AWT) that uses electricity to create a chemical reaction.

Researchers found that the system effectively treated the water without the expense of added chemicals. It reduced water use by 32%. View full-size infographic. [PDF - 245 KB]

GPG Findings 038, December 2018, Electrochemical Cooling Tower Water Treatment. Opportunity: How much water do cooling towers use? 28%OF WATER IN COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS IS USED BY COOLING TOWERS. Technology: How does electrochemical process water treatment work? ELECTROLYSIS SEQUESTERS SCALE IN REACTOR TUBES AND CREATES CHLORINE, A NATURAL BIOCIDE. Measurement and Verification. Where did M and V occur? NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY (NREL) assessed an alternative water treatment (AWT) system provided by Dynamic Water Technology for two 150-ton cooling towers in Savannah, Georgia. Results: How did electrochemical process water treatment perform in M&V? 32% WATER SAVINGS 99.8% reduction in blowdown. 50% MAINTENANCE REDUCTION Small cost increase in annual O&M contract. 100% CHEMICAL SAVINGS Technology generates chlorine; reduced slime. 3 YEAR PAYBACK @ GSA avg. water/sewer $16.76/kgal Deployment: Where does the study recommend deploying electrochemical process water treatment? CONSIDER FOR ALL COOLING TOWERS Most cost-effective in areas with high water costs or where water is excessively hard, has high pH values and/or large amounts of total dissolved solids [PDF - 245 KB]


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Last Reviewed: 2022-05-06