Heat exchangers allow excess heat to be removed from a system by using large amounts of cool water. However, the water used is commonly taken from a natural source and thus contains a wide variety of minerals and living microorganisms—all of which can cause blockage in the system.
This blockage and buildup is known as fouling or biofilm. Fouling can decrease the heat exchanger’s efficiency and effectiveness when left unattended and is extremely undesirable. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at how you can reduce fouling in a heat exchanger for good.
Types of Fouling Common in Heat Exchangers
There are numerous ways that buildup can accumulate, including:
- Corrosion
- Precipitate
- Freezing
- Particle
- Chemical Reaction
- Biofouling
While these aren’t all the ways, they are the most common. Luckily, there are methods you can implement to reduce and prevent biofilm from forming in your heat exchanger or other water system.
Ways to Reduce Fouling
Antifouling (AF) Coatings
AF coatings are often an effective way of preventing buildup in heat exchangers. However, in the past, AF coatings have been harmful to the surrounding environment, but now new technology has led to the development of nontoxic AF coatings.
Biocide Treatments
Biocide chemical additives are an effective method of controlling biofouling. However, if the water used in your heat exchanger originates and circulates through a natural source (like a lake or ocean), certain biocides may be harmful to the natural ecosystem.
Heat Treatments
Periodically heating the water that goes through your system to extreme temperatures may be effective against biofouling by freezing or precipitates. The hot water often kills microorganisms and may redissolve certain clogging materials.
Pressure Treatments
Occasionally submitting your system to increased water pressure (within safe engineering limits) will flush the system and remove some of the accumulated material.
Ultraviolet (UV) Irradiation
An effective disinfectant, UV exposure causes some of the nearest water molecules to split, creating unstable “hydroxyl radicals,” which can break up clumps of organic material, and kill microorganisms by changing their DNA.
Electromagnetic Field Exposure
Exposing your system to electromagnetic fields can increase the interaction of calcium and carbonate ions in the water, which reduces the tension forces in the water. This means that many microorganisms will have more difficulty sticking to the heat exchanger’s surfaces.
Importance of Reducing Fouling
Fouling can lead to many harmful decreases in productivity, both in the reduction of efficiency and the loss of time when the system must be shut down to be cleaned.
It can also lead to the corrosion of metallic components, either through oxidation (like rust), or biological corrosion, which involves microorganisms damaging a system with the chemicals they produce.
Often fouling (particularly biofouling) can cause heat exchangers to release much less heat. This is because the additional layer of clogging around the coils acts as a kind of insulator and prevents the surrounding water from absorbing all of the excess heat.
Want to Reduce Fouling in Your Heat Exchanger?
Depending on the scale and variety of heat exchangers you have, different antifouling methods may work better. At Ecolink, we are ready to help you find the best way to reduce biofouling in your system. Contact us today for a free consultation session!
What are some preferred Eco-friendly Paint Removers?
/in Ecolink News/by Industrial DegreasersPaint removers are some of the most utilized chemicals by various industries, as they are used to strip paints and coatings from surfaces. These chemicals are usually aggressive, as they need to be able to penetrate the layers of paint to cause them to swell, which leads to the weakening of the adhesion to the surface.
Unfortunately, these aggressive chemicals are known to pose many health risks to workers and to the environment as hazardous waste.
In order to reduce risks associated with handling hazardous waste, it’s important to choose an eco-friendly paint remover over a traditional paint remover. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of making this switch, and where you can shop for eco-friendly options.
What Are Some of the Risks Associated with Traditional Paint Removers?
Most paint removers rely on methylene chloride, a hazardous air pollutant, as the active ingredient. The risks associated with methylene chloride are particularly alarming:
Though the chemical is the active ingredient in traditional paint removers, companies are beginning to utilize alternative options and modern chemicals formulated to replace these hazardous solvents.
What Are Some Examples of These Eco-friendly Paint Removers Options?
Paint removers that are becoming increasingly more popular are soy-based, which consist of methyl esters from soybean oil, are non-ozone depleting, and are low in VOC content. Another popular example would be terpene-based paint removers, which are derived from citrus fruits.
The perfect example of a highly effective eco-friendly paint remover is Safe Strip, which replaces methylene chloride, benzene, toluene, and other traditionally used hazardous solvents. There are multiple desirable characteristics of Safe Strip as an environmentally conscious paint remover:
Utilizing a product like Safe Strip not only creates a safer workspace but also allows for the preservation of our delicate environment.
Interested in Purchasing Safe Strip?
At Ecolink, we strive to provide our customers with eco-friendly chemicals that not only protect workers’ health but also the health of the environment. To learn more about why Safe Strip is a great greener alternative to traditional paint and coating removers, click here.
Looking for Eco-friendly Paint Removers?
Ecolink can help you find the right solutions for your business’s needs! Shop Safe Strip here for your paint removal needs. Our expert team members are standing by to answer any questions that you may have. Reach out to us today for a free quote and consultation!
Where Can I Find MEK?
/in Ecolink News/by Industrial DegreasersMethyl ethyl ketone, also known as MEK and 2-butanone, is a nonpolar, organic solvent traditionally utilized as a plastic welding agent and in the manufacturing of various materials, including:
MEK is considered to be a highly effective solvent due to its strong performance and high boiling point. Though an effective solvent, consistent use of MEK comes with multiple risks, particularly affecting workers who are exposed to the hazardous qualities of the chemical. The solvent also carries potential environmental risks, such as being able to potentially react with volatile organic substances in the atmosphere to form photochemical smog.
Some specifically associated health hazards include:
Where Can I Find MEK?
MEK is typically sold industrially by chemical companies and may even be sold at home improvement stores, but due to the serious associated health and environmental risks, many companies have begun to seek out eco-friendly, worker-friendly, and cost-efficient substitutes for the product. The increase in demand for these alternative products has enabled greener alternatives to be much more accessible to companies seeking them out.
What Is a Good Replacement for MEK?
An ideal replacement for MEK would be a product like Preptone, which is a fast-evaporating solvent system utilizing terpene solvent technology. The solvent consists of a blend of acetone-based high-purity d-limonene. Preptone is meant to replace solvents like TCE and MEK, because of its fast evaporation quality. The utilization of terpenes over ketone solvents allows for more effective performance.
Some of the benefits of using Preptone over ketone solvents include:
Want to Know if Preptone Is Right for Your Business?
At Ecolink, we are here to help you find the best eco-friendly and worker-friendly products for your industrial needs. Reach out to us today to learn if Preptone is right for your business needs!
Types of Fouling in a Heat Exchanger
/in Ecolink News/by Industrial DegreasersHeat exchangers are used in industrial settings to transfer heat away from a system, usually by pumping it through a set of coils or membranes surrounded by natural water. Unfortunately, heat exchangers are susceptible to fouling, which is when minerals or organic materials build up, causing clogged waterways and a decrease in efficiency.
Keep reading to learn about the types of fouling found in many heat exchangers!
Biological Fouling
Also known as “biofouling,” biological fouling refers to any fouling created by the accumulation of organic material, such as:
Biofouling is very common in saltwater heat exchangers due to the organic abundance of saltwater. Additionally, biofouling can be troublesome because just like a weedy garden, once a small amount of biomass has taken hold, it will increase itself exponentially.
Fouling by Chemical Reaction
This type of fouling occurs when two metals interact during the heat transfer process, and react to form new solid material, which blocks the flow of water in the system. This is frequently seen in the oil industry where refining takes place.
Corrosion
Corrosion is a type of fouling that involves the electrochemical reaction of a surface with the fluid surrounding it.
For example, rust occurs when iron atoms lose electrons to the surrounding oxygen atoms contained in the water (this reaction is called oxidation). Usually, corrosion can be reduced by coating metal surfaces with an anti-corrosion material, though sometimes these materials are not as resilient.
Freezing Fouling
Depending on the temperature of the surface and the speed of liquid through the system, the fluid or material in the fluid may solidify. In extreme cold, this can cause a buildup of ice, and in warmer situations can cause wax buildup, which will harden and have a clogging effect in relatively cold temperatures.
Fouling by Precipitation
Precipitation in a chemical sense refers to the deposition of solid materials through a chemical interaction. If a liquid-liquid reaction (aqueous) creates a non-soluble product, it will appear as a solid and is referred to as a precipitate.
Precipitates can also occur when the conditions for solubility change, which does not require a chemical reaction. If you have ever tried to make salt water without heating the water, you may have noticed that some of the salt remains in solid form (precipitate). Similarly, if the temperature of a system drops, or some of the fluid evaporates, precipitants can form.
Some examples of common precipitants seen in industrial heat exchangers include:
Fouling by Particles
Sometimes fouling can occur without chemical interactions, but simply by the accumulation of the small particles suspended in a fluid. This process is often referred to as sedimentation, as the most common form of particles includes different types of sand, dirt, and small rocks. However, pollution can also cause plastic and metal particle buildup, depending on the location of the heat exchanger, and the amount of filtering that occurs during water intake.
Have a Fouling Problem?
If you find yourself with any of these types of heat exchanger buildups, Ecolink is here to help you find an eco-friendly solution! Check out our catalog of chemicals or contact us to get started.
How to Reduce Fouling in a Cooling Tower
/in Ecolink News/by Industrial DegreasersIf you’ve ever walked outside on a hot day or exercised hard enough to feel warm, then you are familiar with the body’s natural tendency to sweat. By releasing hot water from your body in the form of sweat, your body is attempting to decrease your heightened body temperature. Basically, your body is releasing excess heat into the atmosphere to keep you cool off.
This is the same mechanism behind industrial cooling towers.
Cooling towers typically use water from open natural sources because of their abundance and reduced cost. But since the water from a lake or ocean contains tons of nutrients and microorganisms, sometimes these outside materials can build up and create fouling, which in turn can harm the internal structure and reduce the overall efficiency of the tower.
In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the best ways to reduce fouling in cooling towers.
Biofouling and Treatments
A lot of the fouling that occurs can be considered “biofouling,” which refers to the buildup of living material, such as:
Biofouling can be reduced by periodically or continuously flushing the system with biocides. Biocides or antimicrobial chemicals are designed to kill organisms or prevent them from reproducing.
Particulate Fouling and Treatments
Sometimes fouling is caused not by organisms, but by particles suspended in water that enter through the water intake and settle in the system. This is controlled mainly by the water velocity (how quickly it is moving down through the tower) and the size of the particles in the system.
Particulate matter is mainly made up of insoluble minerals, such as:
This matter may enter as small molecules, but as the water is recirculated, it can coagulate (clump together) to a more troublesome size.
There are several methods of dispersing particulate fouling, including:
Filtration
Filtering water before it recirculates can greatly reduce the amount of larger particulates entering the system, but may not be effective against fouling that forms and settles.
High Water Velocity
If your system can handle a higher velocity of water, this method can be effective against silt and clay deposits. Other foulants, such as aluminum and iron are “stickier” and may not be affected.
Dispersants
Dispersants work by attacking suspended particles and giving them a high electric charge, making them repulsive to each other. This method prevents the clumping of particulates and also reduces the attraction between particles and the structure.
Surfactants
Surfactants are basically soaps that work similarly to dispersants by reducing the electrostatic attraction between the surface of the system and the particles attached to it.
Fouling Problems in Your Industrial Water System?
Let Ecolink help you reduce and prevent fouling in your industrial equipment. Reach out to one of our knowledgeable experts to learn the best method and product for your needs!
How to Reduce Fouling in a Heat Exchanger
/in Ecolink News/by Industrial DegreasersHeat exchangers allow excess heat to be removed from a system by using large amounts of cool water. However, the water used is commonly taken from a natural source and thus contains a wide variety of minerals and living microorganisms—all of which can cause blockage in the system.
This blockage and buildup is known as fouling or biofilm. Fouling can decrease the heat exchanger’s efficiency and effectiveness when left unattended and is extremely undesirable. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at how you can reduce fouling in a heat exchanger for good.
Types of Fouling Common in Heat Exchangers
There are numerous ways that buildup can accumulate, including:
While these aren’t all the ways, they are the most common. Luckily, there are methods you can implement to reduce and prevent biofilm from forming in your heat exchanger or other water system.
Ways to Reduce Fouling
Antifouling (AF) Coatings
AF coatings are often an effective way of preventing buildup in heat exchangers. However, in the past, AF coatings have been harmful to the surrounding environment, but now new technology has led to the development of nontoxic AF coatings.
Biocide Treatments
Biocide chemical additives are an effective method of controlling biofouling. However, if the water used in your heat exchanger originates and circulates through a natural source (like a lake or ocean), certain biocides may be harmful to the natural ecosystem.
Heat Treatments
Periodically heating the water that goes through your system to extreme temperatures may be effective against biofouling by freezing or precipitates. The hot water often kills microorganisms and may redissolve certain clogging materials.
Pressure Treatments
Occasionally submitting your system to increased water pressure (within safe engineering limits) will flush the system and remove some of the accumulated material.
Ultraviolet (UV) Irradiation
An effective disinfectant, UV exposure causes some of the nearest water molecules to split, creating unstable “hydroxyl radicals,” which can break up clumps of organic material, and kill microorganisms by changing their DNA.
Electromagnetic Field Exposure
Exposing your system to electromagnetic fields can increase the interaction of calcium and carbonate ions in the water, which reduces the tension forces in the water. This means that many microorganisms will have more difficulty sticking to the heat exchanger’s surfaces.
Importance of Reducing Fouling
Fouling can lead to many harmful decreases in productivity, both in the reduction of efficiency and the loss of time when the system must be shut down to be cleaned.
It can also lead to the corrosion of metallic components, either through oxidation (like rust), or biological corrosion, which involves microorganisms damaging a system with the chemicals they produce.
Often fouling (particularly biofouling) can cause heat exchangers to release much less heat. This is because the additional layer of clogging around the coils acts as a kind of insulator and prevents the surrounding water from absorbing all of the excess heat.
Want to Reduce Fouling in Your Heat Exchanger?
Depending on the scale and variety of heat exchangers you have, different antifouling methods may work better. At Ecolink, we are ready to help you find the best way to reduce biofouling in your system. Contact us today for a free consultation session!