Renkeer Launches Online Water Quality Monitoring for Cooling Towers

Shandong Renke Control Technology Co., Ltd., a manufacturer of environmental sensors and IoT monitoring equipment, has launched an online water quality monitoring system designed specifically for industrial cooling towers. This innovative platform integrates continuous sensor data with automated dosing and blowdown operations, aiming to reduce manual sampling and maintain consistent control over scale, corrosion, and biological growth in recirculating water. The system tracks key parameters including conductivity, pH, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), residual chlorine, and turbidity. When conductivity exceeds a set threshold, it triggers a blowdown valve to release and dilute water, preventing scale formation. Similarly, if ORP or residual chlorine levels drop, an automated dosing pump releases biocide or corrosion inhibitor to restore optimal conditions without on-site operators.

Traditional manual water testing in cooling towers is often performed weekly or less frequently, leaving gaps between chemistry changes and corrective actions. This continuous monitoring system closes that gap by detecting shifts in real-time and initiating treatment automatically. It also supports compliance with frameworks such as ASHRAE Guideline 188 for Legionella risk reduction and helps facilities meet EPA NPDES permit requirements for discharge water quality. The system is built around Renkeer's sensor portfolio, including pH sensors, conductivity sensors, dissolved oxygen sensors, COD sensors, ORP sensors, residual chlorine sensors, turbidity sensors, and more. It can integrate with existing automation or SCADA systems via standard protocols, providing continuous data logging for internal management and external reporting.

The system is structured across four layers: measurement, acquisition, platform, and control. The measurement layer installs water quality sensors in the cooling tower loop to continuously measure parameters. The acquisition layer collects readings from multiple 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 command linked controllers to execute actions like opening blowdown valves or activating dosing pumps. This closed-loop system supports various deployment architectures, including local gateways or cloud platforms, making it suitable for facilities with geographically separated monitoring points. Renkeer targets industrial facilities with HVAC or process cooling systems, including manufacturing plants, data centers, and commercial buildings. By triggering actions based on measured thresholds rather than routine intervals, the system reduces errors and delays associated with manual sampling, enhancing operational efficiency and compliance.