A BRIEF ACCOUNT ON COOLING WATER MANAGEMENT

In an Open recirculating Cooling system, a definite volume of water is circulated through the system several times. The water picks up heat from the process fluids, releases the heat to the atmosphere at the cooling tower, thereby gets cooled. This evaporative cooling process increases the concentration of the various ionic species present in the water, which makes the water more and more aggressive to the equipment metallurgy. The end game of cooling water treatment is to efficiently address the following problems associated with water:

CORROSION: Corrosion is the electrochemical reversion of the base metal to its naturally occurring state. Water, in contact with a metal surface, sets up an electrolytic cell, whereby the metal undergoes slow, but steady dissolution. This electrolytic Oxidation constantly converts the metal to its Oxide. Unless controlled properly, expensive process equipment would soon be reduced to heap of worthless metal oxides.

SCALE: Water contains dissolved salts of minerals like Calcium and Magnesium which contribute to the ’Hardness’ of water. Some of these salts exhibit a unique property called ‘Inverse Solubility’. With increase in concentration and temperature, they lose their solubility and tend to precipitate. The precipitates start settling along the metal surface and with passage of time, bake into a hard, tightly adherent and non-conducting layer on the metal surface, which is referred to as ‘Scale’. Apart from seriously impeding the heat transfer capability of the equipment, this also leads to premature failure of metal due to the uneven thermal stress on the metal surface.

BIOFOULING: Water contains Micro organic species of all kind. These Microorganisms constantly secrete matter called ‘Slime’. This sticky, gooey layer, apart from forming a thick mat on the metal surface reducing the flow path and flow of water, also provides active sites for the mineral precipitates and Corrosion products to settle and grow. Besides, some of the Microorganisms like the ‘Sulphate Reducers’ and ‘Nitrifiers’, through their process of metabolism, produce a pronounced acidic environment in the system, leading to extensive and uncontrolled Corrosion.

WE OFFER A RANGE OF SCALE, CORROSION AND MICROBIAL PROTECTION SOLUTIONS FOR OPEN COOLING WATER SYSTEMS.

CHALLENGES MET
✓ Higher cycles of concentration to reduce water consumption
✓ Better corrosion control in the presence of oxidizing biocides to extend plant life
✓ Microbiological control and system cleanliness to maintain safety and efficiency
✓ Protection during system upset and offline conditions
✓ Greener, metal-free programs that support sustainability
✓ More effective scale control for systems in steel or other plants containing dissolved or suspended iron

The RK Water range of cooling water treatment programs include;

  • Antiscalant
  • Corrosion Inhibitor
  • Scale Dispersant
  • Micro-Biocide
  • Oxidising Biocide
  • Non–Oxidising Biocide
  • Bio Dispersant
  • Multipurpose Inhibitor
  • Alkalinity Reducer/Builder
  • Iron Dispersant
  • Polymeric Dispersant
  • Chlorine Dioxide precursor and generator
  • Closed System treatment programmes (Nitrite/Molybdate/Phosphonate based)
  • Descaling Chemicals etc.