Sprinkler reagent cleaning experience to improve cooling capacity and evaporative cooling tower efficiency

This paper describes a unique experience in cleaning the sprinkler of the evaporative cooling tower at power unit No. 1 of the Novovoronezh NPP-2 to increase its cooling capacity. The effectiveness of reagent cleaning of the sprinkler from carbonate deposits during the 2025 repair campaign was evaluated in comparison with mechanical methods tested earlier. The process of reagent interaction with contaminants is described. The influence of the working solution on the structural elements of the cooling tower is considered. Particular attention is paid to the cleaning technology with an emphasis on safety, technique, and quality of work with the achievement of process success criteria. The results of laboratory tests to determine the chemical composition of deposits and final cleaning products are presented. Methods for the disposal of wash water with minimal environmental impact are proposed. The article analyses the influence of process factors on its effectiveness: composition, reagent concentration, exposure time of the washing solution, and the degree of contamination of the sprinkler areas. The economic effect and payback period of the presented method are calculated based on the data obtained on the change in the cooling capacity of the cooling tower after SPM-2025.