Summer puts extra demands on cooling water systems. Unfortunately, the proliferation of biofilm can lead to serious problems that decrease the design efficiencies of chillers, heat exchangers, and cooling towers. Cortec® offers the following suggestions to reduce operator stress and maximize cooling tower performance during peak operating season.
Biofilm Problems
Open evaporative cooling systems are an incubator for microbial growth. This buildup can insulate heat exchangers (even more than scale!), coat sensors and interfere with readings, reduce flow in areas far from the pump, and allow acid-producing anaerobes to grow and produce pitting corrosion. As a result, cooling system operators need to treat the system with biocide three to four times weekly—sometimes daily—to take care of the biofilm buildup and reduce extra power use and strain on the system.
Biocide Synergy
To maximize biocide efficiency, a bio-dispersant such as BioClean™ 612 should be used first. Slug feeding BioClean™ 612 into the system 30-45 minutes before biocide application will give the bio-dispersant time to work, lifting the biofilm off the internal surfaces and giving the biocide easy access to it. The biocide subsequently turns the biofilm into a dead silt-like matter that is easy to filter out of the system.
Reduce Stress This Summer!
Hot summers and biofilm are a fact of life for most facility managers. Help yours reduce their summer stress by introducing them to the synergistic effect of BioClean™ 612 with routine biocide application. Contact Cortec® water treatment to get started!
Keywords: summer chiller problems, biofilm problems for cooling systems, bio-dispersant for cooling systems, HVAC maintenance tips, microbial buildup in heat exchanger, heat exchange efficiency, Cortec, summer water treatment, best practices for biofilm, biocide best practices
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