Close circuiting of the three-stage low flow counter current rinse
system with an evaporative cooler was proposed for low temperature
operating plating baths. A model was developed for the
prediction of the equilibrium temperatures and the rate of water
evaporation for the CCPS based on user specific inputs. These results
will allow the electroplater to identify the operational conditions
where the rate of water evaporation from the plating
solution is equivalent to the make-up water requirements of the
rinse system, whilst maintaining the outputs of the electroplating
facility. This will reduce the rinse wastewater generation to almost
zero.
The primary limitation of the CCPS model is the basis of an aire
water system. The use of alternate cooling mediums would require
saturation enthalpy-temperature data obtained either from literature
or experimental methodology be inputted into the model.