Solids mass balance

Definition

The steady-state requirement that the mass of dissolved solids entering with makeup equals the mass leaving with blowdown, expressed as M times C makeup equals B times C tower.

Evaporation removes only pure water, so dissolved solids accumulate and leave mainly through blowdown. Rearranging the balance yields M equals B times COC, the fundamental link between the water balance and the solids balance. It explains why higher concentration requires proportionally more makeup relative to blowdown.

Related concepts

Makeup Water · Cooling tower mass balance · Cycles of Concentration

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Part of The Blueprint of Water · 🛠️ operations