JHI provided a variety of engineering services to Oregon Steel Mills in response
to their need for an improved water system to provide treated cooling water to steel
making equipment. The project began with a study of the existing spray pond system
and establishment of mass and thermal balances for the system. Various options to
increase flow and cooling capacity were investigated and a cooling tower system
was recommended. A new substation was provided and the instrumentation and controls
were integrated into the existing TI master controllers. In addition to the cooling
requirement, substantial amounts of solid and oil contaminants were introduced into
the system, so JHI studied several approaches to water cleanup and completed a preliminary
design for a sand filter system.