PRODUCT INFORMATION
INDEX
DATE
Dep. 2
IO-C-M-20-001e D
February 2016
COOLING WATER QUALITY AND TREATMENT
2/6
One of the most typical reactions is:
Ca (HCO
3
)
2
+ heat CO
2
+ H
2
O + Ca CO
3
Calcium bicarbonate Carbon dioxide Calcium carbonate
highly soluble (760 mg/l. approx.) (hardly soluble 30 mg/l. approx.)
The presence of scale has a significant impact on the performance and operation of the equipment, since some
of its effects are:
-
Reduction in heat transfer
-
Non-scheduled
outages
-
Maintenance
costs
-
Deterioration
and
overheating of exchangers
-
Decrease in the quantity of circulating water
Microbiological growth
This basically originates in algae, fungi, bacteria and other micro-organisms to a lower extent, all of which avail
themselves of light, heat, sludge and contamination by the manufacturing process or otherwise, nutrients and
pH to keep growing. Special consideration is to be given to autotrophic bacteria (ferrobacteria and sulphate-
reducing bacteria) which can give rise to localised corrosion.
A product of this activity is sludge that builds up in the system, reducing its efficiency in addition to limiting the
water passage and decreasing the flow rate, which in turn results in an increase in temperature. Both observing
the colour, feel and smell of sludge and analysing it will provide information about its origin.
2. COOLING WATER QUALITY
In general, an engine coolant consists of water, additives and antifreeze.
There are several basic parameters that ensure optimum coolant quality and, thus, a trouble-free operation of the
equipment.
This is why, it is strongly advisable to have cooling water analysed at the planning stage or before commissioning,
so that should results fail to match the values in Table 1, the user can contact a water treatment specialist in order
to take the necessary actions to ensure compliance with those specifications.
According to information provided by the equipment and the available water analysis results, it is essential to
determine the optimum concentration and any appropriate external and internal treatment which will maintain the
above issues under control and ensure the lowest possible water consumption.
These are the most common chemical treatments:
- Sludge dispersants or conditioners.
- Scale inhibitors.
- Corrosion inhibitors.
- Algicides
- Microbicides/biocides
- Biodispersants
In the market, there exist combined products suitable for treating different problems simultaneously.
4.1.6
O&M_2.002211.810_A_10_2016
