Water cooling systems, like any space that contains a lot of water, are susceptible to many types of issues. Just as fish tanks require frequent filtration and chemical additives to maintain stable conditions, and make sure the fish remain healthy, cooling water requires treatment to prevent living creatures from growing.
There are hundreds of chemical additions that may be incorporated into water to keep it healthy. In this blog post, we’ll examine the types of additives and the problems they address.
Examples of Cooling Water Additives
Many different categories of additives are used to keep cooling water safe. These types and a few examples include…
Oxidizing biocides = chlorine, bromine, ammonium
Non-oxidizing biocides = carbamate, glutaraldehyde, guanides
Corrosion inhibitors = zinc, nitrate, polyphosphates
Scale inhibitors = polyphosphates, acrylate polymers, phosphonates
pH adjusters = sodium carbonate, hydrochloric acid, magnesium hydroxide
Water softeners = lime (calcium oxide), resin
Many of these chemicals wear multiple hats, which often has to do with the roles that they play. For example, hard water and acidic conditions often lead to increased scaling, so scale inhibitors may work by lowering the pH to an acidity specifically intended to prevent a certain type of mineral from depositing.
However, the pH of water also has impacts on biological activity, so they can be considered for several functions.
Problems That Additives for Cooling Water Address
Systems that rely on water for cooling may run into many different types of problems, though most can be described as types of fouling. Fouling refers to the build-up of extra deposits, which can prevent the system from working properly. Some examples of fouling, and other issues that additives address include…
- Corrosion
- Scaling
- Biofouling (bacteria, algae, fungus, other microorganisms)
All these types of fouling can cause serious issues, like clogging, and a loss of efficiency. Biofouling can insulate the metals intended to transfer heat to the surrounding water, thus hindering the water’s ability to cool.
Scaling, which refers to the deposit of minerals in solid or crystalline form, can congregate in smaller pipes and clog necessary water flow. Additionally, large amounts of scaling can lead to increased corrosion. Corrosion occurs when atoms in the water oxidize exposed metal, causing them to deteriorate. Corrosion also creates some scaling deposits, like iron oxide deposits from rusting iron.
Looking for Some Effective & Eco-Friendly Chemical Additives?
Making sure your cooling water system is uninhibited by buildup and corrosion is important for efficiency and safety. Ecolink is prepared to help provide effective chemicals for many of the potential problems that you may have.
Please reach out to our chemical experts today for assistance finding the best chemicals for your industrial needs!
What Is Cooling Water Biocide?
/in Ecolink News/by Industrial DegreasersCooling water systems are often dependent on large quantities of water, often obtained from natural sources. This means that all sorts of microorganisms may be found and can build up to cause harmful biofouling. This can have drastic effects on the flow of water, and decrease the efficiency of cooling by insulating the structures intended to spread heat to the water.
One of the most effective methods of preventing the buildup of biological material is using cooling water biocides.
Types of Biocide
Biocides can be organized into two categories: oxidating and non-oxidating. The former uses the destructive phenomena of oxidation, where electronegative atoms steal electrons from the outer layers of biological buildup. This destroys the outer cell layers, killing the organisms.
Some examples of this kind of biocide include:
Non-oxidizing biocides work through other more specific methods, though usually by inhibiting the reproduction of the microorganisms they are intended to target. A few examples would be:
Because these chemicals work differently than the oxidizing additives, they are often used conjointly to tackle a biological problem or to prevent buildup from occurring.
How Biocide Is Administered
There are several methods for administering biocides, which mainly depend on the scale of the operation, and the type of biocide being introduced to the system. Sometimes additives are added in a method known as shot dosing. This is when chemicals are dumped into the most turbulent area of water flow in a large quantity manually, as prescribed by a schedule. This is by far the most cost-effective method because it does not require the installation of any additional equipment.
However, a more nuanced method is to use a pump to administer continuous dosing. Typically, the chemicals are pumped into the system based on a timer, or on a sensor. Sensor systems may be programmed to measure the changing concentration of the chemical in the water or to measure pH, redox, and temperature levels to make specialized doses to best meet the conditions of the water.
Still Curious About Cooling Water Biocide?
Biocides provide a useful method of cleaning and keeping clean the water used for cooling systems. To make sure your water system is the healthiest it can be, please fill out a contact form to let Ecolink’s experts help you on your journey!
Examples of Cooling Water Additives
/in Ecolink News/by Industrial DegreasersWater cooling systems, like any space that contains a lot of water, are susceptible to many types of issues. Just as fish tanks require frequent filtration and chemical additives to maintain stable conditions, and make sure the fish remain healthy, cooling water requires treatment to prevent living creatures from growing.
There are hundreds of chemical additions that may be incorporated into water to keep it healthy. In this blog post, we’ll examine the types of additives and the problems they address.
Examples of Cooling Water Additives
Many different categories of additives are used to keep cooling water safe. These types and a few examples include…
Oxidizing biocides = chlorine, bromine, ammonium
Non-oxidizing biocides = carbamate, glutaraldehyde, guanides
Corrosion inhibitors = zinc, nitrate, polyphosphates
Scale inhibitors = polyphosphates, acrylate polymers, phosphonates
pH adjusters = sodium carbonate, hydrochloric acid, magnesium hydroxide
Water softeners = lime (calcium oxide), resin
Many of these chemicals wear multiple hats, which often has to do with the roles that they play. For example, hard water and acidic conditions often lead to increased scaling, so scale inhibitors may work by lowering the pH to an acidity specifically intended to prevent a certain type of mineral from depositing.
However, the pH of water also has impacts on biological activity, so they can be considered for several functions.
Problems That Additives for Cooling Water Address
Systems that rely on water for cooling may run into many different types of problems, though most can be described as types of fouling. Fouling refers to the build-up of extra deposits, which can prevent the system from working properly. Some examples of fouling, and other issues that additives address include…
All these types of fouling can cause serious issues, like clogging, and a loss of efficiency. Biofouling can insulate the metals intended to transfer heat to the surrounding water, thus hindering the water’s ability to cool.
Scaling, which refers to the deposit of minerals in solid or crystalline form, can congregate in smaller pipes and clog necessary water flow. Additionally, large amounts of scaling can lead to increased corrosion. Corrosion occurs when atoms in the water oxidize exposed metal, causing them to deteriorate. Corrosion also creates some scaling deposits, like iron oxide deposits from rusting iron.
Looking for Some Effective & Eco-Friendly Chemical Additives?
Making sure your cooling water system is uninhibited by buildup and corrosion is important for efficiency and safety. Ecolink is prepared to help provide effective chemicals for many of the potential problems that you may have.
Please reach out to our chemical experts today for assistance finding the best chemicals for your industrial needs!
Mithuna’s Internship Experience
/in Interns/by Industrial DegreasersThis completes my journey at Ecolink as an intern. It has been a journey of growth and learning, which I assume is the case for every one that went through it with me.
Coming into this internship, I knew how to write scientific papers that earns me an A in my college classes. I also knew how to write a fictional story, which is captivating. At least, that is what my friends say. I never thought about writing captivating, but also scientifically informing pieces, until Ecolink.
For the first time ever, I was able to combine the two types of writing I love to bring interesting and informational works for you. Unlike research done for lab reports, the research necessary for this internship was different in that there weren’t scholarly articles everywhere for the niche topics I was covering. However, due to my degree in biochemistry, I was knowledgeable in most of the scientific aspects of the topics, which helped me a lot. For the aspects I wasn’t sure about, I spent a large amount of time researching.
Starting out, I was a newbie when it came to working with SEO optimization. Most of what I learned was from Ecolink. I’m beyond glad to say that I’m finishing my internship well-versed in SEO optimization. However, that does not mean I’m done learning. There is still a lot more to learn, which is the case with everything we know, and I’m looking forward to continuing learning.
People at Ecolink were extremely understanding, friendly, and willing to teach, which is something I’m grateful for. Working under Hannah was very gratifying because having a supervisor/boss like Hannah is a blessing. She was available at the odd times I would be working, ready to assist me without complaints. She was very understanding towards unexpected situations that arose. Best of all, she was very happy to teach me when I was confused or stuck. She created a very welcoming environment for you to learn, even if that’s by making mistakes.
Though I’m sad about this chapter of my life ending, I will always have the experience and knowledge I gained from this opportunity. I had a lot of fun learning, researching, and writing during my time at Ecolink.
Interested in Remote Internships?
Ecolink offers year-round remote internship opportunities. From digital marketing to SEO Copywriting your time with Ecolink strives to accomplish your goals and areas of interest during your internship with us. We offer opportunities in Spring, Summer, and Fall. Sound like something you’re interested in? Apply today!
Tristan’s Internship Experience
/in Interns/by Industrial DegreasersWhen I first learned about the Ecolink internship, it caught my interest to say the least. I’ve always been passionate about the environment, so working with a company that emphasizes environmental issues and sustainability like Ecolink is a big priority for me. Plus, being able to work remotely and on my own schedule was great as a busy senior in college. All in all, I knew I had to apply right away.
What I’ve Learned
In addition to being perfect for my interests and schedule, the Ecolink internship has also taught me quite a bit and helped me grow as a professional. This Spring, I’ve gotten to learn about:
Entering this internship, I was mostly looking to supplement my schoolwork with something that could give me some insight into the chemical industry and help prepare me to really enter the professional world as an engineer. Exiting this internship, I can definitely say I got what I came for and much more.
Working At Ecolink
Being an intern at Ecolink was an absolute joy. Hannah is a wonderful supervisor that is easy to communicate with, unbelievably helpful and understanding, and just an overall amazing person to work with. I never felt bad about having questions or needing help with something, which makes working so much more pleasant.
In addition to the amazing peers, I also only have good things to say about the work itself. Getting to educate myself on important topics in the industry and then actively work towards presenting that information in a new, more digestible way feels like meaningful work that you can be proud of.
All in all, I can’t recommend interning with Ecolink enough. Amazing work with amazing people, and you can do it in a way that fits perfectly into your schedule. I simply couldn’t ask for more!
What Are Some Anti-Algae Chemicals for Cooling Towers?
/in Ecolink News/by Industrial DegreasersAlgae is a simple plant and only needs a few things to prosper: water, sunlight, and nutrients like carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. This simple recipe makes cooling towers an ideal place for algae to set up shop.
However, accumulation can cause serious problems for the health and efficiency of systems, which is why an understanding of anti-algae chemicals for cooling towers is extremely important.
Examples of Chemicals Used
There are many anti-algae chemicals used to deter growth, and to remove that which has already grown. Some of these chemicals include:
The efficiency of these various chemicals often depends on the conditions of the cooling water. For example, isothiazolines are only effective in mostly acidic to slightly alkaline conditions (pH 6.5-9.0). Also, some of these chemicals are fine to mix with other biocides, such as chlorine, but others may lose effectiveness when used conjointly. For that reason, it is extremely important to look at all of the additives you are using to make sure they will work harmoniously with each other.
Why Anti-Algae Chemicals Are Important
Controlling the growth that occurs inside a cooling tower is very important for keeping the system working. Algae buildup can clog nozzles, pipes, pumps, and filters can quickly cause clogging that will prevent the proper flow of water.
A coating of plant matter can also decrease the efficiency of heat transfer by insulating the cooling membranes. If you’ve ever touched metal on a hot day, then you are probably familiar with metal’s conductive ability, which is part of what makes cooling towers work so well. However, compare that to touching something fluffy or fuzzy, like grass or fabric. Those substances will not feel as hot, showing how they do not transfer heat easily. When algae or other microorganisms coat the metal in a cooling tower, the heat intended to move into the water will be trapped inside.
Additionally, large growths of algae can lead to the accumulation of Legionella pneumophila, bacteria that thrive on the growth’s byproducts. Legionella is responsible for Legionnaires disease, a serious type of pneumonia that can be contracted by breathing in water droplets or ingesting water that contains the bacteria. While cooling towers are not usually situated near areas with lots of people, these water droplets can travel far, and their design makes the aeration of water easy.
Interested in Anti-Algae Chemicals?
Reducing microorganism growth in industrial machinery is extremely important for increasing the efficiency of the system and preventing damage. At Ecolink, we offer many of the chemicals suggested for algae control. For help with this issue, or any other industrial problem you might have, please reach out today!