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Cooling Tower Blowdown Formula:
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The Cooling Tower Blowdown Formula calculates the required blowdown rate to control concentration cycles in cooling tower systems. Blowdown is the intentional draining of a portion of the circulating water to remove dissolved solids and maintain water quality.
The calculator uses the blowdown formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula determines the blowdown rate needed to maintain desired concentration cycles by balancing the evaporation loss and the need to remove concentrated impurities.
Details: Proper blowdown control is essential for preventing scale formation, corrosion, and biological growth in cooling tower systems, while optimizing water and chemical usage.
Tips: Enter evaporation rate in GPM and desired concentration cycles. Cycles must be greater than 1, and evaporation rate must be positive.
Q1: What are concentration cycles in cooling towers?
A: Concentration cycles represent the ratio of dissolved solids in circulating water to make-up water, indicating how many times the water has been concentrated.
Q2: What is a typical range for concentration cycles?
A: Typical cycles range from 3 to 7, depending on water quality, system design, and treatment chemicals used.
Q3: Why is blowdown necessary in cooling towers?
A: Blowdown removes accumulated dissolved solids, preventing scale formation, corrosion, and microbial growth that can reduce system efficiency.
Q4: How does evaporation rate affect blowdown?
A: Higher evaporation rates concentrate dissolved solids faster, requiring more frequent or higher volume blowdown to maintain desired cycles.
Q5: What factors influence evaporation rate?
A: Evaporation rate depends on cooling load, ambient conditions, tower design, and approach temperature between cold water and wet bulb temperature.