Chemical manufacturing water efficiency

There are several ways in which chemical manufacturers can reduce and optimise the use of water in cooling systems:

• reuse - the water is usually relatively uncontaminated and can often be recirculated or reused, eg for cleaning
• control use - fit thermostats to cooling circuits to control coolant flow and use only the minimum amount
• cooling water composition - prevent build-up of solids and chemicals in water recirculation systems, and where possible fit an automated system, eg a total dissolved solids controller
• reduce solids in cooling water - have a settlement or treatment stage in the circuit
• condensate - improve recovery of condensate from condensers and steam traps and reuse it for cleaning or dilution

You can reduce water use in liquid ring vacuum pumps by:

• interlocking the seal and cooling-water supply with a solenoid valve to shut off the water supply when the pump is not operating
• using alternative seal liquids such as organic solvents with high boiling points instead of water, reducing the need to purge solids
• using dry-vacuum technology such as lobe pumps, screw pumps and claw mechanism pumps