GB1383097A - Electrolytic treatment of cooling water in recirculating water cooling systems - Google Patents

Abstract

1383097 Lowering pH of cooling water by electrolysis MAGNA CORP 22 Nov 1972 53965/72 Heading C7B The pH of recirculating cooling system water subject to evaporation and hence increasing salt concentration is lowered e.g. in a conduit 86 by flowing a stream of water past an anode e.g. in anodic branch 92 so that its pH is lowered below that of the cooling water, and adding the whole of this stream to the cooling water e.g. via return line 104, and flowing a separate stream of water past a cathode e.g. in cathodic branch 94 and discharging the whole of this stream. Both streams may be drawn via supply conduit 88 from a common source which may be the cooling water in primary conduit 86 or well (32), Fig.3, (not shown). The rate of flow of the first stream is preferably greater than that of the second stream and is controlled by valves 100, 102 and pump 90 via switch 112 and controller 108 in dependance upon the pH of downstream cooling water sensed at 106; the voltage source 96 to the electrodes may be similarly controlled via switch 110. The electrodes may be annular or of recticulated, perforated sheets, Fig.2 (not shown) or otherwise formed of closely spaced electrically connected elements, the anode being of C (graphite), Pt or Ti, the cathode of brass, Ni or steel or the same material as the anode. Corrosion inhibitors e.g. sodium chromate or polyphosphate may be added to the water. The voltage may be half-wave rectified or other fluctuating (direct) current)