Cooling Tower Plume Constituents

[milwaukeebob]

I realize this may not be the proper forum to ask these questions but I’m unsure where to turn for help. Although I'm requesting non-technical feedback, I decided to post this on the Corrosion Engineering Forum due to the root cause of the issue.

I’m an employee of a power plant in the desert southwest. The plant contains an 8-cell cooling tower. The cooling tower plume contains salts and other organic compounds that settle on various structures in the plant including employees vehicles. The situation is so bad that even when a vehicle is clean at the beginning of the day, it is completely covered in a white film by the days end. This has been occurring since the plant began operating in early 2003.

Approximately 6 months ago, I provided a written request to the plant manager to company expense a car cover in order to provide some type of protective barrier against this corrosive film. He denied my request by indicating the company was under no obligation or responsibility. I dismissed the issue and regretfully did not purchase a cover on my own until just last week.

About 1 month ago, I closely inspected some of the minor paint chips on my 2002 vehicle and noticed surface rust forming in a minimum of 5 different areas. I immediately took the vehicle to a body shop and paid to have the areas properly treated and touched-up. In discussions with multiple shops prior to having the work done, all indicated the rust spots were very rare on a vehicle this new and in this part of the country (which receives very little rain). After advising of the environment the vehicle was subjected to, all body shops indicated it was likely the root cause of the rust.

My questions are as follows –

Does the company have any responsibility in this matter?

Are there any precedents that have been set regarding matters such as this?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[unclesyd]

As I understand it today in most states a company has no legal, only moral and ethical reasons to be responsible for their emissions. The only thing that drives most is the regulatory limits of the components in the source. This was the reason for the elimination of chromate water treatment. Incidental carry over doesn't count as lone as it falls under the regulatory guidelines and falls within the battery limits of site . It usually takes a lawsuit by a neighbor, good neighbor policy, to accomplished anything other than a study.

You should have been around in the good old days of “dilute it and dump it”. The paint would all be coming off not spotting. A local paper company has a drive thru spray car wash for the employees and neighbors.

 

[EdStainless]

I have worked for companies that did pay to repaint employees cars after emisson 'incidents'.

1. Asking for a free carwash is a good idea.

2. Look into the state air permits. Though my guess is that if this isn't leaving the site and bothering anyone else then it doesn't matter.

3. Where does you boss park? Either park next to him, or figure out how to get him to park next to you.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Corrosion never sleeps, but it can be managed.

http://www.trenttube.com/Trent/tech_form.htm

 

[metengr]

I currently work for an Independent Power Producer. So I can tell you that they have no legal obligation unless you can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the moisture plume is causing this problem. For contractors that have painted outside structures, cars that have had paint speckles had been re-touched at company expense because this can be directly proved.

Best advice I can give, which I use even at our coal fired stations, is to look up and park in the opposite direction that the plume is headed each morning. Also, a wise move to purchase a vinyl car cover.

 

[milwaukeebob]

Thanks to everyone for their responses. That's what I was afraid of. In regards to parking next to my boss, he actually parks in very close proximity to the cooling tower (within 30 feet) so parking next to him wouldn't be ideal. Fortunately for him, he drives a company car so the plume and resulting film has no effect on his wallet. I have been washing my vehicle but not on a daily basis like I probably should be. Doing so would be extremely costly from a time and money standpoint.

I may push the issue with my boss once again. In the meantime, I've already placed an order for a good car cover. If I'm lucky, I should be able to convince him that the righteous thing to do is pay for the car cover.

Thanks again.