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What actions do you take to prevent algae blooms and calcium carbonate scaling in the spray pond water?
The Susquehanna Steam Electric Station is a twin Boiling Water Reactor nuclear power plant located on the Susquehanna River in Eastern Pennsylvania. Our spray pond tends to become scaling as a result of circulating water input and evaporative losses. Normally, we can control this by diluting with river water. However, during algae blooms, pH is driven above 9.0 and the Langelier Saturation Index (which we use as our scaling index) rises accordingly. Believe it or not, we're in the middle of an algae bloom right now (and the pond water is only ~40F)!
Our water contains manganese, and our attached systems contain stainless steels, so we are reluctant to dose the pond up with sodium hypochlorite to kill the algae. Manganese deposits and hypochlorite have been associated with pitting corrosion of stainless steels.
Have any of you used non-oxidizing biocides to effectively control algae in your ponds? I'd appreciate knowing what you used, what concentration, and how often you had to apply it.
Have any of you used scale inhibitors in your spray ponds? If so, what did you use, what concentration, and how often did you have to apply it? Also, how did you apply it?
Have any of you had to add an acid to your spray pond to reduce pH? Which acid? How applied? How often?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.