A Study of Iodine Vapor Infusion to Mitigate Fouling of Cooling Tower Water
Joel McElrath
Principal Technical Leader
Electric Power Research Institute
ABSTRACT
Effective treatment of biofouling is essential to maintain thermal performance and cooling of essential systems at steam generation power plants. Alternatives to chlorine treatment are needed where sites severely restrict residual chlorine discharge and to reduce environmental impact. The effectiveness of the I2 vapor infusion technology was tested and compared with traditional chlorine treatment in a cooling water flow loop at the Water Research and Conservation Center in Smyrna, Georgia. The flow loop consisted of two steam-heated condenser tubes connected to a single mechanical draft cooling tower. Make-up water for the tests came from the Chattahoochee River. A total of four tests were performed from April to October 2021. Heat transfer and pressure drop data were measured for the condenser tubes, water samples were taken to measure microbiological activity, fouling coupons were inserted in the cooling tower basin, and fouling deposits were observed following each test. I2 vapor infusion is a promising alternative to chlorine treatment for mitigating biofouling in condenser tubes. This technology also demonstrated the potential to mitigate buildup of sediment in condenser tubes.