Resources
Technical resources for facilities and operations teams
Check cooling tower blowdown fit, ICP's separation method, and the inputs behind a site savings estimate. Other ICP module applications require their own technical review.
Nona RECOVER
NONA RECOVER treats liquid cooling tower blowdown for reuse. Its MIT-patented ICP process is designed to return 90% of the treated stream to the loop. The modular unit works alongside an existing tower; recovery and installation depend on measured flow, chemistry, and site tie-ins.
How RECOVER Works
RECOVER uses Ion Concentration Polarization, an MIT-patented electric-field process, to separate dissolved minerals from cooling tower blowdown. It operates at low pressure, and the bulk cooling water does not pass through a filtration membrane. Site chemistry determines the treatment plan.
Reduced filtration membrane fouling risk
ICP uses ion-selective membranes to create separation zones, but the bulk cooling water does not pass through a filtration membrane as it does in reverse osmosis.
Low-pressure operation
Nona's September 2026 RECOVER technical sheet lists 5–30 PSI. Reverse osmosis pressure depends on feedwater and system design.
Designed for concentrated cooling water
RECOVER continuously demineralizes the loop and is evaluated against each site's water chemistry, treatment program, and recovery target.
ICP Technology
What is ICP? Ion Concentration Polarization (ICP) uses an electric field and ion-selective membranes to separate dissolved ions into treated water and a concentrate stream. Bulk water moves through a low-pressure channel rather than passing through a filtration membrane as it does in reverse osmosis. ICP was developed at MIT.
Nona's RECOVER technical sheet specifies a 5–30 PSI operating range for its cooling tower blowdown system. Pressure, pretreatment, maintenance, and energy should be compared at the expected site flow and water chemistry.
The ICP module technical sheet lists cooling tower sidestream filtration, water polishing, RO brine treatment, and industrial water reuse as example applications. Those streams require separate fit reviews; RECOVER's cooling tower recovery claims do not transfer to them.
Nona RECOVER Product OverviewICP vs. Reverse Osmosis
Compare separation and site fit for cooling tower blowdown. Neither route guarantees a recovery rate for every feed.
| RECOVER | Reverse Osmosis (RO) | |
|---|---|---|
| Separation method | Electric field creates demineralized and concentrated streams | Pressure moves water through a filtration membrane |
| Pressure required | RECOVER: 5–30 PSI technical range | Application-specific high pressure |
| Cooling water fit | Designed for concentrated cooling water | Pretreatment depends on feed chemistry |
| Water recovery outcome | 90% treated blowdown return target | Feed and system specific |
| Operating model | Side-stream retrofit | Pretreatment, pumping, membranes, and reject handling |
Ready to talk specifics?
Bring your cooling tower load, measured blowdown, operating hours, and water chemistry. Our technical team can identify what is still needed for a recovery estimate.