Shandong Renke Control Technology Co., Ltd., a manufacturer of environmental sensors and IoT monitoring equipment, has introduced an online water quality monitoring system designed specifically for industrial cooling towers. The platform links continuous sensor data to automated dosing and blowdown operations, allowing facilities to move away from manual sampling while maintaining consistent control over scale, corrosion, and biological growth in recirculating water.
The system continuously tracks key parameters such as conductivity, pH, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), residual chlorine, and turbidity. When conductivity rises above a set threshold—indicating the water has reached its target cycles of concentration—the system triggers a blowdown valve to release and dilute the water, reducing the risk of scale formation. Similarly, if ORP or residual chlorine readings fall below preset levels, an automated dosing pump releases biocide or corrosion inhibitor to restore the target range, all without requiring an operator to be on site.
Traditional manual water testing in industrial cooling towers is often performed on a weekly or less frequent schedule, which can leave a gap between a change in water chemistry and a corrective response. Continuous online monitoring is intended to close that gap by detecting parameter shifts as they occur and triggering treatment actions automatically. This real-time capability is particularly important for facilities aiming to comply with frameworks such as ASHRAE Guideline 188, which addresses reduction of Legionella risk through documented monitoring and control practices. For those discharging cooling tower blowdown under EPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, continuous monitoring supports more 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 be integrated with existing industrial automation or SCADA systems through standard communication protocols, and continuous data logging provides facility managers with accessible records for internal water resource management and external regulatory compliance reporting.
The system is structured across four layers. At the measurement layer, water quality sensors installed in the cooling tower loop continuously measure parameters. The acquisition layer uses a monitoring host to collect readings from multiple sensor points and upload consolidated data. The platform layer provides a monitoring interface where users can view real-time readings and analyze trends. The control layer allows users to issue commands to linked controllers, which execute actions like opening a blowdown valve or activating a dosing pump, thus closing the loop between measurement and treatment.
Deployment can be tailored to different environments and data paths. Field sensors can transmit measurements through local acquisition equipment or communication gateways to centralized software or cloud-based platforms. This flexibility is useful for facilities with geographically separated monitoring points or where measurement records must be retained for operational review. The system supports centralized observation, historical records, alarms, and further system management, though sensor selection, installation, calibration, and maintenance depend on the application and water characteristics.
Renkeer said the system targets industrial facilities operating cooling towers as part of HVAC or process cooling infrastructure, including manufacturing plants, data centers, and commercial buildings. By triggering chemical dosing and blowdown based on measured thresholds rather than routine intervals, the online water quality monitoring system can effectively reduce errors and delays associated with manual sampling.
