Shandong Renke Control Technology Co., Ltd., a manufacturer of environmental sensors and IoT monitoring equipment, has launched an online water quality monitoring system designed to automate water treatment in industrial cooling towers. The system links continuous sensor data directly to dosing and blowdown operations, aiming to reduce manual sampling while maintaining consistent control over scale, corrosion, and biological growth in recirculating water.
The system continuously tracks key parameters such as conductivity, pH, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), residual chlorine, and turbidity. When conductivity rises above a set threshold, indicating the water has reached its target cycles of concentration, the system triggers a blowdown valve to release and dilute the water, reducing scale formation risk. Similarly, when ORP or residual chlorine readings drop below preset levels, an automated dosing pump releases biocide or corrosion inhibitor to restore the target range, without requiring operator presence on site.
Manual water testing in cooling towers is typically performed on a periodic schedule, often weekly or less, leaving gaps between changes in water chemistry and corrective actions. Continuous online monitoring closes this gap by detecting parameter shifts as they occur and triggering treatment actions automatically. This is particularly important for facilities aiming to comply with frameworks like ASHRAE Guideline 188, which addresses Legionella risk reduction through documented monitoring and control practices, as well as jurisdictions with mandatory cooling tower registration and testing requirements. For facilities discharging blowdown under EPA NPDES permits, continuous monitoring supports more consistent tracking of discharge water quality.
The system is built around Renkeer's industrial sensor portfolio, including pH sensors, conductivity sensors, dissolved oxygen sensors, COD sensors, ORP sensors, residual chlorine sensors, and turbidity sensors. It integrates with existing industrial automation or SCADA systems through standard communication protocols, and continuous data logging provides accessible records for internal management and external regulatory compliance.
The system architecture is structured in four layers. The measurement layer uses water quality sensors installed in the cooling tower loop to measure parameters continuously. The acquisition layer collects readings from multiple sensor points and uploads consolidated data. The platform layer provides a user interface for real-time viewing and trend analysis. The control layer allows users to issue commands to linked controllers, executing actions like opening blowdown valves or activating dosing pumps, closing the loop between measurement and treatment.
Deployment architectures vary based on monitoring environment and data path requirements. Field sensors can transmit measurements through local acquisition equipment or communication gateways to centralized software or cloud-based platforms. This flexibility is relevant for facilities with geographically separated monitoring points or where measurement records must be retained for review. Depending on configuration, data supports centralized observation, historical records, alarms, and system management, while sensor selection, installation, calibration, and maintenance depend on the application and water characteristics.
The system targets industrial facilities operating cooling towers as part of HVAC or process cooling infrastructure, including manufacturing plants, data centers, and commercial buildings. By triggering chemical dosing and blowdown based on measured thresholds rather than routine intervals, the system effectively reduces errors and delays associated with manual sampling.
