Shandong Renke Control Technology Co., Ltd., a manufacturer of environmental sensors and IoT monitoring equipment, has introduced an online water quality monitoring system designed for industrial cooling towers. The system integrates continuous sensor data with automated dosing and blowdown operations, aiming to reduce reliance on manual sampling while maintaining consistent control over scale, corrosion, and biological growth in recirculating water.
The monitoring system continuously tracks key parameters including conductivity, pH, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), residual chlorine, and turbidity. When conductivity exceeds a set threshold—indicating that the water has reached its target cycles of concentration—the system triggers a blowdown valve to release and dilute the water, mitigating scale formation. Conversely, if ORP or residual chlorine levels drop below preset values, an automated dosing pump releases biocide or corrosion inhibitor to restore the desired range, all without requiring on-site operator intervention.
Traditional manual water testing in cooling towers is often performed weekly or less frequently, creating a lag between changes in water chemistry and corrective actions. Continuous online monitoring addresses this gap by detecting parameter shifts in real time and initiating treatment automatically. This capability is particularly relevant for facilities aiming to comply with guidelines such as ASHRAE Guideline 188, which focuses on reducing Legionella risk through documented monitoring and control practices, as well as for those subject to mandatory cooling tower registration and testing requirements. For facilities discharging blowdown under EPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, continuous monitoring supports 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 can integrate with existing industrial automation or SCADA systems through standard communication protocols. Continuous data logging provides facility managers with accessible records to support internal water resource management and external regulatory reporting.
The system operates across four layers. The measurement layer involves water quality sensors installed in the cooling tower loop that continuously measure parameters. The acquisition layer uses a monitoring host to collect readings from multiple sensor points and upload consolidated data. The platform layer offers a monitoring interface for real-time viewing and trend analysis. The control layer enables users to issue commands to linked controllers, which execute actions such as opening blowdown valves or activating dosing pumps, closing the loop between measurement and treatment.
Deployment architectures vary based on the monitoring environment and data path requirements. Field sensors can transmit measurements via local acquisition equipment or communication gateways to centralized software or cloud-based platforms. This flexibility is beneficial for facilities with geographically dispersed monitoring points or where records must be retained for operational review. Data can support centralized observation, historical records, alarms, and further system management, while sensor selection, installation, calibration, and maintenance depend on the application and water characteristics.
Renkeer targets industrial facilities operating cooling towers as part of HVAC or process cooling infrastructure, including manufacturing plants, data centers, and commercial buildings with centralized cooling systems. By triggering chemical dosing and blowdown based on measured thresholds rather than routine intervals, the online water quality monitoring system aims to reduce errors and delays associated with manual sampling.
