Problem 3.8: A field report lists conductivity as 23 mScm A

From Chapter 3 Problem Set. Level 3: System Integration.

Question

A field report lists conductivity as “2.3 mS/cm.” A technician enters it into a spreadsheet as 2.3 µS/cm. By what factor is the TDS estimate wrong, and what operational consequence could this cause?

Answer

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The error is a factor of 1,000 (1 mS/cm = 1,000 µS/cm). The technician’s TDS estimate would be 1,000 times too low. This could lead to severe under-blowdown - the system would concentrate far beyond safe limits while the spreadsheet shows acceptable chemistry.