Once-Through Cooling

[KenRad]

I know that at one time, one of the International Codes contained a prohibition on using potable water for once-through cooling of equipment. I recently told someone that I needed to connect their equipment to the building cooling system because once-through cooling was a violation of code (and a waste of city water). But now I can't find anything about it in either the mechanical or plumbing codes.

Anyone know where this is?

---KenRad

 

[walkes]

Isn't the violation if you tried to use the potable water after passing through the heat exchanger? With the once through system you would probably require a backflow preventer.

 

[KenRad]

walkes,

Yes, the IPC prohibits this, which they call reutilization. But I was talking about the use of potable water for cooling, then discharging to drain, which is referred to as once-through. I seem to remember seeing that this was somehow prohibited or at least restricted to certain conditions. But I can't find it now, so maybe my memory is making things up.

---KenRad

 

[GMcD]

I think it might be a local bylaw depending on the area you are in, for water conservation purposes. Given the state of the environment, I suggest that as engineers we should be promoting better environmental practices and even if potable water is "allowed" to be used for a cooling process, it should be avoided, and alternate means should be found- rain water collection tank as a cooling water source, closed loop chilled water or closed condenser water loop to an outdoor fluid cooler, etc.

Is the potable water metered? If so then is might be a pretty hefty operating cost depending on the average yearly flow rate of that nice expensive water being dumped into a drain.

 

[IRstuff]

Sure, wasn't there mention on NPR a couple days ago about circus clowns being in violation of water conservation rules in some county for using their squirting flowers?

TTFN