- What is a PTSA tracer?
- PTSA (1,3,6,8-pyrenetetrasulfonic acid) is an inert fluorescent tracer dosed into a water treatment program. Because it is not consumed by the system, its fluorescence reading stays proportional to concentration, which lets you measure dilution, system volume, and chemical feed rates accurately.
- How does tablet-based system sizing work?
- A known number of PTSA tracer tablets is dissolved into the system. After they circulate fully, the rise in PTSA concentration (ending minus starting, in ppb) reveals how much water diluted them. System volume = 100 ÷ (ending PTSA − starting PTSA) × tablets × 1000, returned in gallons or liters.
- Why is accurate system volume important?
- System volume drives every dosing calculation — inhibitor demand, biocide slug doses, and closed-loop dosing all scale with it. Nameplate or estimated volumes are often wrong, so a measured tracer volume prevents under- or over-feeding chemistry.