73-12: Softening of Cooling Tower Blowdown Water For Reuse

The future of chromium- and zinc-based corrosion inhibitors in open recirculating water systems will depend greatly upon the approved disposal procedures for these elements. The State and Federal regulatory bodies are expected to sanction control stand­ards that will negate the use of chromates and zinc without acceptable disposal methods. Future power loads at the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant will make the disposal of chromate and zinc corrosion inhibitors in the blowdown water mandatory. 
This report covers the operational results of recycling and blending the recirculating water blowdown with raw makeup water and softening the mixture. Also included are future plans for softening hot cooling tower blowdown water in a separate treat­ment plant.