ClearWater field engineers are experts in industrial cooling, with extensive experience in a variety of applications.
Best-in-Class Chemical Treatment for Industrial Cooling Systems
Experience has taught us no two industrial cooling water systems are alike. Each system is impacted by the raw water source, air quality, flow rates, metallurgy, temperature, humidity, operating procedures, and a host of other factors. There is no one-size-fits-all solution; the best water treatment programs are specifically tailored to meet the needs of your particular system.
Our treatment program starts with an assessment of the process, water chemistry, cooling requirements, and metallurgy in your industrial cooling system. This allows us to determine whether there is a tendency towards corrosion, scale, and/or fouling. Our chemical programs are effectively used to reduce and prevent these issues in industrial cooling water systems.
We expertly apply our products to keep your system running at peak efficiency, extend equipment life, reduce water usage, and protect the environment. We also offer state-of-the-art control and monitoring technology with DCS compatibility to increase reliability and decrease costs.
CLOSED LOOP SYSTEMS
Most chilled water systems incorporate an open recirculating cooling water system with a cooling tower for condenser cooling. Our field engineers have expertise with all associated equipment, including evaporative condensers, shell and tube heat exchangers, plate and frame heat exchangers, etc.
Custom Solutions for Unique Cooling Systems
ClearWater is the knowledge leader in cooling water treatment. Our field engineers average 15 years of experience with industrial water cooling, providing our customers with the highest level of expertise and service available.
BREAKTHROUGH INNOVATIONS IN CLOSED LOOP COOLING SYSTEMS
ClearWater’s expertise with closed loop water systems includes the following:
- Chilled water systems that generate cold water used to produce cool air for comfort air conditioning and/or humidity control
- Chilled water systems used in process cooling water loops
- Chilled water thermal storage systems and ice-making equipment
- Hot water systems that generate tempered water for space heating
- High-temperature hot water systems (HTHW) that circulate water for a variety of uses
Most chilled water systems incorporate an open recirculating cooling water system with a cooling tower for condenser cooling. Our field engineers have expertise with all associated equipment, including evaporative condensers, shell and tube heat exchangers, plate and frame heat exchangers, etc.
The most significant issues faced within the exchangers are corrosion and scale formation.
HEAT EXCHANGERS
Heat exchangers remove unwanted heat and typically transfer it to a recirculating cooling water stream. While water-cooled heat exchangers are used most often (shell and tube, plate and frame), some heat exchangers are air-cooled.
Heat exchangers typically transfer unwanted heat to a recirculating cooling water stream. The cooling water temperature will be elevated as it absorbs heat from process and utility equipment, which is then expelled through partial evaporation of the water across a cooling tower. Several problems may arise in this heat transfer process as issues like corrosion, scale, fouling, and microbial growth will reduce flow rates and heat transfer rates and lower system efficiency.
ClearWater field engineers are experts at customizing treatment programs to ensure heat exchangers operate at peak efficiency and the cooling water system effectively reduces the process fluid temperature. We have expertise in a variety of different heat exchanger designs including:
- Shell and tube
- Plate and frame
- Exposed tube
ONCE-THROUGH COOLING
Corrosion, deposition, and microbial growth have to be controlled to maintain efficiency and reliability in a once-through cooling system. Our products include polyphosphates, silicates, and molybdates to control corrosion. Our phosphate and polymer products prevent scale and fouling, and our chlorine, bromine, and chlorine dioxide products control microbiological activity and macro-organism fouling.
These chemical treatments have to be applied relative to the quality of the raw water supply. Problems often arise with variable raw water quality because the treatment program has to change in real time. The best choice is to install a ClearWater Solutions system that will monitor the relevant water quality parameters and adjust your chemical feed rates to maintain an optimal treatment program at all times.
OPEN RECIRCULATING WATER COOLING TOWERS
In this cycle, the water returning to the cooling tower water absorbs excess heat, which is then dissipated by passing the water over a cooling tower where evaporation takes place. The cooling tower exposes the heated flowing water to air, causing a percentage (approximately 1–3%) of the water to evaporate, removing 1,000 BTUs per pound of evaporated water. This cools the water that is not evaporated, which is then recirculated through the system.
Reusing cooling water results in water and chemical savings, as the chemistries are retained in the system. However, problems associated with corrosion, deposition, and microbial growths become more severe for several reasons. First, the evaporation process concentrates the amount of dissolved and suspended solids in the circulating water, leading to deposition. Second, the warm temperatures in open recirculating cooling towers are optimal for biological growth. Third, cooling tower operation tends to scrub airborne contaminants from the air. These contaminants can accumulate in the circulating water, causing fouling and microbial growth.
ClearWater field engineers have experience treating every kind of water cooling towers, including natural draft, mechanical, crossflow, and counterflow cooling tower designs. Our technical staff averages 15 years of experience, which helps them customize a solution for your specific system and work to find savings in the following areas:
- Increase heat transfer efficiency by eliminating heat exchanger fouling within heat exchangers with scale inhibitors
- Prevent fouling caused by the precipitation of constituents, the settling of suspended matter, and microbial growth
- Reduce maintenance and plant downtime with corrosion inhibitors
- Maintain the integrity of metal components by mitigating corrosion and pitting that cause system failures
- Increase cycles of concentration with proprietary chemical solutions
- Reduce the amount of makeup water and chemicals required and lower your sewer costs
- Maintain cooling tower water design efficiency with biocides
- Reduce microbial growth on the cooling tower fill, resulting in an increased splash effect that maximizes air contact and increases evaporation rates