What can happen to corrosion rates in cooling towers when water temperatures increase by 15 to 30° for temperatures up to 70°?

When water temperatures in cooling towers increase, particularly within the range of 15 to 30 degrees for temperatures up to 70 degrees Celsius, the rates of corrosion typically increase significantly. This is largely due to the increased reactivity of both the dissolved oxygen in the water and the potential for accelerated chemical reactions that promote corrosion when temperatures rise.

The rate of many corrosion processes, particularly those involving metallic surfaces in contact with water, can often double with a temperature increase of approximately 10 degrees Celsius. Therefore, when considering the 15 to 30 degrees increase, it is reasonable to conclude that corrosion rates can potentially double, or could even triple, depending on the specific conditions and types of materials involved. As such, selecting an answer that indicates a doubling or tripling of corrosion rates reflects the broader understanding of how temperature influences chemical reactions and corrosion phenomena in cooling towers.

In this context, the option that suggests corrosion rates could double or triple aligns best with the established principles of thermodynamics and material science regarding corrosion behavior at elevated temperatures.