Basic Cooling Water Treatment Principles: GE Water and Process Technologies

Basic Cooling Water Treatment
principles
GE Water and Process
Technologies
USING WATER
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS
CORROSION
DEPOSITION - Fouling
Biofouling
Scaling
Scale Formation
Results in loss of heat transfer efficiency

Increased running costs
Danger of under deposit corrosion
Increased maintenance costs
Danger of bacteria
Health implications
Corrosion
Destruction of plant
increased maintenance costs
Fouling
loss of efficiency due to increased pumping
costs
loss of heat transfer efficiency
Increased Biological Nutrients

fouling and health implications
Fouling
Loss of heat transfer efficiency
increase in running costs
Under deposit corrosion
increase in maintenance requirements
Increased biological nutrients
health implications
Blockages in system
increased operating costs and downtime
Objectives of Water Treatment
MINIMISE SCALE
MINIMISE CORROSION
MINIMISE FOULING
MINIMISE BIOFOULING
MAXIMUM SAFETY
MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY
NON-POLLUTING
WHAT CAUSES OUR PROBLEMS?
DISSOLVED SOLIDS
e.g.CALCIUM
MAGNESIUM
SODIUM
CHLORIDE
BICARBONATE
SULPHATE
SILICA
IRON
DISSOLVED GASES
e.g.
OXYGEN
CARBON DIOXIDE
NITROGEN
SULPHUR DIOXIDE
SUSPENDED MATTER
DUST/DIRT
CONTAMINANTS e.g. OIL
BIOLOGICAL e.g. ALGAE,
FUNGI, BACTERIA
TYPICAL WATER ANALYSIS CHART
Water Analysis Result
pH 7.7
Colour 3.00 HAZEN
Turbidity 9.00 F.T.U.
Solids - Suspended 5 mg/l
Chloride as Cl 44 mg/l
Alkalinity as CaC03 144 mg/l
Ammoniacal Nitrogen as N 0.140 ug/l
Iron (Total) as Fe 311 ug/l
Manganese (Total) as Mn 65 ug/l
Nitrate as N 4.0 mg/l
Total Hardness as CaC03 207 mg/l
Sulphate as S04 62.3 mg/l
Silica - Reactive as Si02 6.9 mg/l
Sulphide as S 0.015 mg.l
Carbon Dioxide - Free 2.50 mg.l
Solids - Total Diss. at 180C 347 mg/l
D.O. Concentration (Field Det.) 10.7 mg/l
Coliforms <10 /100ml
E. Coli <10 /100ml
Faecal Streptococci <1 /100ml
Sulphite Red. Clostridia 300 /20ml
Hardness
Hardness
is due to calcium and
magnesium salts dissolved in water
All hardness salts are less soluble in hot
water than in cold water (they show
inverse solubility)
Different hardness salts have different
levels of solubility
Hardness is normally reported as calcium
carbonate
EVAPORATION
WINDAGE
MAKE UP
M=E+W+B BLEED
Useful Equations
E=R/100 x Temp Drop(degF)/10

W=R x 0.2/100 ( Forced Draught)
W=R x 0.6/100 (Natural Draught)
B=E/(C-1) -W
M=E + B + W
SCALE FORMATION
SCALE CAN BE CONTROLLED BY:
PRE-TREATMENT
CHEMICALS
CONCENTRATION FACTOR
CORROSION
Iron ore is found in nature and requires
a large input of energy to convert it into
steel.
Steel corrodes in order to get back to its
natural (lower energy) state
Corrosion is an electrochemical process
CORROSION CAN BE
CONTROLLED BY:
REMOVAL OF OXYGEN ?
ADDITION OF CHEMICALS
CONTROL OF pH
Biofouling
What is Biofouling caused by?
FUNGI
ALGAE
BACTERIA
FOULING/BIOFOULING
Can be controlled by
Filtration
Control of Concentration Factor (bleed)
Dispersants
Biocides
Open Cooling
When evaporation occurs, the heat of
evaporation is used to drive off the
vapour
The loss of this energy results in a
cooling effect in the water
Pure water is evaporated (gases may
also be lost)
Dissolved solids remain in the water
Customer Training WT200C Page 23

Cooling Water
WATER DROPLET
COOLS BY:
EVAPORATION
RADIATION
CONVECTION

Control of Concentration
The number of times the solids build in
the system water is termed the
concentration factor (CF).
CF is controlled by bleed
to increase CF - decrease bleed
to decrease CF - increase bleed

Bleed Control
Effect of too much or too little bleed:
Too much bleed :-
low concentration factor
waste of water
waste of treatment
Too little bleed:-

high concentration factor
danger of scale and fouling
increased nutrient in system
danger of biofouling

x
While increasing concentration factor
reduces water use, it also increases
nutrients in the system water,
encouraging growth of bacteria and
Water slimes. Therefore, we normally run
Use x most cooling systems between 2 and 5
x
x
x x
1 2 3 4 5 6
Concentration Factor
Non-biological Fouling
Treated by addition of dispersants
dispersants (antifoulants) coat the particles
and so keep them apart
The dispersed particles are then
removed from the system water
either with the bleed or via a side stream
filter

Non-biological Foulants
Silt
Rust
Process contamination
all removed by dispersant/bleed
Oil
Grease
a different chemical is required but the
principle is the same

MICROBIOLOGY

Microbiology
in
Industrial Cooling Systems
Problematic Microorganisms
The Biofouling Process
Water Treatment Biocides
Biocide Programming
Monitoring and Control

FUNGI
Although yeast and some aquatic fungi are

normally unicellular, most fungi are
filamentous organisms
Fungi form solid structures which can reach a
considerable size
Some wood destroying fungi exist,
associated with deterioration of tower timber
Fungi require presence of organic energy
source
Exist at between 5 to 38 C and pH 2 to 9 with
an optimum of 5 to 6

ALGAE
Classified as plants as they grow by

photosynthesis
Range in size from unicellular microscopic
organisms to plants that can be up tp 50m in
length
Single cells Multi cellular

ALGAE
Algae cannot survive in the absence of air,
water or sunlight
Basic difference is that algae utilise CO2 and
water using sunlight as the energy source to
assimilate food
Large quantities of polysaccharides (slime) can
be produced during algal metabolism
Plug screens, restrict flow and accelerate
corrosion
Provide excellent food source
Exist between 5 to 65 C and pH 4 to 9

BACTERIA
Universally distributed in nature

Great variety of micro organisms
Multiply by cell division
Slime formation
Pseudomonas (utilise hydrocarbon contaminants)
Sulphur bacteria - anaerobic sulphate reducing
bacteria
Nitrogen cycle bacteria

FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO
MICROBIAL GROWTH
Rate of incoming contamination
Amount of nutrient present
pH
Temperature
Sunlight
Availability of oxygen/carbon dioxide
Water velocities

THE BIOFOULING PROCESS
Bacteria prefer to colonise surfaces

enables production of biofilm which acts to protect
and entrap food sources
Planktonic bacteria
free swimming in bulk water
Sessile bacteria
attached to surfaces

EFFECTS OF BIOFOULING
Fouling of: tower, distribution pipework, heat

exchangers
Reduction in heat transfer efficiency
Lost production
Under deposit corrosion
Inactivation/interference with inhibitors

WATER TREATMENT BIOCIDES
Oxidising Biocides
Have the ability to oxidise organic matter eg. protein
groups
Non-Oxidising Biocides
Prevent normal cell metabolism in any of the following
ways :
Alter permeability of cell wall
Destroy protein groups
Precipitate protein
Block metabolic enzyme reactions
OXIDISING BIOCIDES
Sodium Hypochlorite
Hypobromous Acid
Chlorine dioxide
Ozone
Hydrogen Peroxide

Oxidising Biocides
Rapid kill
Cost effective
Tolerant of contamination
e.g. Bromine, Chlorine Dioxide
Minimal environmental impact
e.g. Bromine, Ozone, Peroxide, Chlorine Dioxide
Ineffective against SRBs
Low residual toxicity
Counts approaching potable water standards
possible
Non Oxidising Biocides
Screen water
Select alternating biocide to prevent resistant strains from
developing
Effective against SRBs
Can protect system long after dosing.
Contain biodispersant
Higher dosage for kill possible
Environmentally some have rapid breakdown e.g.
DBNPA

BIODISPERSANTS
Improves penetration of biocide within

bacterial slime
Disperse released bacteria and biofilm into
bulk water for removal by blowdown
Reduces ability for bacteria to attach to
system surface
Improves performance of both non oxidising
and particularly oxidising biocides

Physical Methods
Ultra Violet and Ultra Filtration
Only Effective At Point Of Use
Cannot Kill Sessile Organisms
Offer No Protection To Isolated Parts Of

System (Static Areas)
Environmentally Acceptable.

Control of Concentration
The number of times the solids build in
the system water is termed the
concentration factor (CF).
CF is controlled by bleed
to increase CF - decrease bleed
to decrease CF - increase bleed


Basic Cooling Water Treatment Principles: GE Water and Process Technologies

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Basic Cooling Water Treatment Principles: GE Water and Process Technologies

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Basic Cooling Water Treatment Principles: GE Water and Process Technologies

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Basic Cooling Water Treatment

Results in loss of heat transfer efficiency

Increased Biological Nutrients

E=R/100 x Temp Drop(degF)/10

Customer Training WT200C Page 23

Customer Training WT200C Page 24

Customer Training WT200C Page 25

Too little bleed:-

increased nutrient in system

Customer Training WT200C Page 26

Customer Training WT200C Page 28

Customer Training WT200C Page 29

Customer Training WT200C Page 30

Customer Training WT200C Page 31

Although yeast and some aquatic fungi are

Customer Training WT200C Page 32

Classified as plants as they grow by

Single cells Multi cellular

Customer Training WT200C Page 33

Customer Training WT200C Page 34

Universally distributed in nature

Customer Training WT200C Page 35

Customer Training WT200C Page 36

Bacteria prefer to colonise surfaces

Customer Training WT200C Page 37

Fouling of: tower, distribution pipework, heat

Customer Training WT200C Page 38

Customer Training WT200C Page 40

Customer Training WT200C Page 42

Improves penetration of biocide within

Customer Training WT200C Page 43

Ultra Violet and Ultra Filtration

Only Effective At Point Of Use

Cannot Kill Sessile Organisms

Offer No Protection To Isolated Parts Of

Customer Training WT200C Page 44

Customer Training WT200C Page 45

You might also like