Return Water Treatment

Closed-loop cooling systems recirculate water through heat exchangers and equipment. Organic buildup from biological activity, process leaks, or makeup water degrades heat transfer. Carbon filtration removes organics maintaining clean system operation.

Filter Configuration

Vertical pressure vessel with cooling water return inlet, activated carbon bed 30-48 inches depth providing contact time, support gravel preventing carbon loss, underdrain collection system, polished water outlet to cooling loop.

Carbon Media

Granular activated carbon particle size 8x30 or 12x40 mesh. High adsorption capacity for dissolved organics, oils, and chemical residuals. Carbon life 1-3 years depending on contamination loading and makeup water quality.

Operating Pressure

Typical 50-150 psig matching cooling system pressure. Clean bed pressure drop 8-15 psi. As carbon loads, pressure increases modestly. Breakthrough monitoring indicates exhaustion not pressure.

Contaminant Removal

Adsorbs dissolved organics reducing biofilm formation on heat exchangers. Removes residual biocides and corrosion inhibitors preventing overdosing accumulation. Oil and hydrocarbon removal from process leaks. Reduces total organic carbon maintaining water clarity.

Material Selection

Carbon steel with epoxy coating or stainless steel for cooling water service. Materials resist corrosion from treatment chemicals. Internal distribution systems corrosion-resistant. External coating protects from atmospheric exposure.

Backwash System

Periodic backwash removes particulates redistributing carbon bed. Flow rate 8-10 gpm per square foot expanding bed 10-15%. Backwash with clean cooling water prevents fouling. Frequency depends on system cleanliness.

Applications

Industrial closed-loop cooling systems, HVAC chilled water circuits, process cooling water loops, data center cooling systems, and any recirculating cooling requiring organic removal.

Heat Transfer Protection

Clean water maintains heat exchanger efficiency. Organic fouling creates insulating layer reducing thermal performance. Carbon filtration prevents buildup preserving design heat transfer rates.

Biocide Reduction

Excess biocide concentrations from slug feeding or overdosing removed by carbon. Prevents corrosion from excessive oxidizer levels. Maintains proper residual balance protecting equipment.

System Integration

Positioned in cooling water return line before makeup water addition. Side-stream filtration treating portion of flow continuously. Full-flow filtration on smaller systems. Proper placement optimizes water quality control.

Capacity Sizing

Volume based on cooling water flow rate and required contact time. Typical design 8-12 minutes empty bed contact time. Balance between carbon inventory and replacement frequency.

Performance Benefits

Maintains heat transfer efficiency through organic removal. Protects equipment from fouling and corrosion. Reduces biological activity and treatment chemical consumption. Simple proven filtration technology.

Construction Standards

Pressure vessels per ASME Section VIII. Materials for cooling water service with treatment chemicals. Design accommodates carbon weight when saturated. Complete documentation with hydraulic calculations and performance specifications.

ERGIL cooling water return activated carbon filters provide organic removal maintaining clean efficient closed-loop cooling systems in industrial and commercial applications.