The effectiveness of reclaimed condensed water used for an evaporative cooling tower in water conservation and energy saving

The water conservation bodies are reciting the use of grey-water to alleviate water consumption. The condensed water is a by-product of air conditioning that could be harvested at no extra cost and energy and its water quality is always good enough for direct application. The mineral-free condensed water is an ideal dilution to lower down the concentration of mineral-laden system water. The water losses mainly come from the water evaporation; while the bleed-off water for dilution is determined by the cycle of concentration (CoC). The higher CoC is, the lesser bleed-off volume will be. The conductivity sensing controller controls the level of Total Dissolved Solid (TDS) by dosing chemical agents interlocking with an auto bleed-off valve. Taking industrial standard 2,500ppm and make-up fresh water (130ppm), CoC is 19, bleed-off water are partially replenished by supplementary condensed water (60ppm). The reduction of bleed-off water is 70% that further increases to 85 % with the routine cooling tower cleansing water discharged. The water scale hinders the cooling towers' heat dissipations to the atmosphere and diminishes the condensers' heat transfer between the refrigerant and cooling water. For every 1°C condensing temperature rises, chiller's COP would decrease as 12% more energy consumed. The cooling tower cleansing and water quality control would abate scale formation, which are practical and maintainable. The condenser tube cleansing would improve condenser approach temperature that could enhance heat transfer between the refrigerant and condensing leaving water. The COP of the chiller unit was improved by 3.17%, once after annual condenser tube cleansing.