The best method for determining the concentration factor

Usually, the concentration of certain ions in fresh water and recycled water is measured, and by dividing the latter value by the former, the concentration factor of that water is obtained. Among these ions, K ions are the best.

Method for determining the concentration ratio The concentration ratio is expressed as the ratio of the salt concentration of a certain component in the circulating cooling water to the salt concentration of the same component in the make-up water. However, the salt concentration of the component being measured should not change due to external factors such as heating, sedimentation, or the addition of chemicals; therefore, methods based on conductivity, Ca2+, and K+ can be used to determine the concentration ratio in the circulating water. 　　The dissolved salts in circulating cooling water are in ionic form and possess a certain degree of electrical conductivity; therefore, the conductivity of the solution can be used to indirectly indicate the concentration of dissolved salts. The method for measuring conductivity is relatively simple, but the addition of oxidizing bactericides to the system increases the levels of soluble ions such as Cl- and Br-, and fluctuations in conductivity can also occur due to material leaks within the system. Therefore, for circulating cooling water systems, the use of oxidizing biocides is generally done on a regular basis, and material leaks do not occur frequently. Therefore, measuring the concentration ratio of circulating water using conductivity has certain reference value. 　　Generally speaking, Ca2+ is a scaling factor, and scaling occurs to some extent in circulating water during operation, especially at high concentration ratios; therefore, the concentration ratio determined using Ca2+ will be lower. 　 　　The solubility of K+ ions in water is quite high, so they do not precipitate during operation; moreover, the K+ concentration in the make-up water remains relatively stable. Therefore, the concentration factor determined using K+ is fairly accurate.

Generally, it measures the calcium ions in water and their ratio to the raw water. Measuring chloride ions is also possible, as long as there are no added chlorides in the water. It’s easier to measure chloride ions.

Calculation of the concentration ratio The concentration ratio is an important indicator in the management of circulating cooling water. Currently, there are two methods for water quality management; generally, for waters whose salt content in the replenishment water does not vary much with the seasons, controlling the concentration factor is the main approach. Instead, the focus is on controlling the ionic strength in the circulating water. The ratio of the total solid concentration in the circulating water, or the concentration of a particular ion that does not react with other ions, to the total solid concentration in the make-up water, or the concentration of the corresponding ion, is called the concentration factor, denoted by N. N = CA/CB, where: N – concentration factor ； CA – Concentration of a certain ion in circulating water (mg/L) CB – Concentration of a certain ion in measured water (mg/L)