Cooling tower bio-count reduction at a US Southeast office complex
Cooling tower bio-count reduction was needed at a 2.3 million square foot complex of six office buildings, more than 50 restaurants and shops and three hotels, without giving up the high cycles of concentration that saved water. Bio-counts had reached around 100,000 CFU against a target below 10,000, and scale and biofilm were affecting the cooling tower and chiller surfaces. One HydroFLOW® Custom 14 inch unit was installed on the south-tower cooling and chiller system for a planned 90 day trial. Within days bio-counts fell below 1,000 CFU and scale and biofilm reduced. The unit was bought outright before the trial ended, and further units followed across the complex.
The Challenge
- Cooling tower bio-count reduction was needed without giving up the site’s water-saving strategy
- Bio-counts had reached approximately 100,000 CFU
- The required target was below 10,000 CFU
- High cycles of concentration cut water use but caused severe scale and biological fouling
- Scale and biofilm affected both cooling tower and chiller surfaces
The Solution
- Unit installed: one HydroFLOW® Custom 14 inch
- Installation point: south-tower cooling and chiller water system
- Trial: 90 days planned, unit purchased before the trial ended
Cooling tower bio-count reduction was measured against the site’s own 10,000 CFU target, with the tower kept at high cycles of concentration. The unit went on the south tower’s cooling and chiller water system, so the tower and the chiller tubes were treated together. Bio-counts were followed from the start of the planned 90 day trial and moved within days.
