GoalMaintain cooling system reliability and energy efficiency through proven water treatment.
⊘
Prevented severe scale buildup that compromised refrigeration system reliability and performance.
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Reduced operating costs by avoiding repeated cleaning expenses exceeding $51,000 and excessive energy consumption.
⬆
Improved condenser efficiency and long-term system reliability through proven chemical water treatment.
GoalMaintain cooling system reliability and energy efficiency through proven water treatment.
<p><!-- wp:heading {"level":5} --></p> <h5 class="wp-block-heading">Customer Challenge</h5> <p><!-- /wp:heading --><!-- wp:paragraph --></p> <p>A FORTUNE<sup>®*</sup> 100 food company installed a non-chemical water treatment device at one of their facilities. The device reportedly makes opposing water streams collide with such force that “hydrodynamic cavitation” occurs. For a cooling tower system, it is claimed this process causes: calcium carbonate to form in the bulk water where it can be removed by filtration, the water to be degassed and made non-corrosive, and microorganisms to be destroyed. Reduced bleed was also promoted.</p> <p><!-- /wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --></p> <p>After a test period, the company decided the NCD would replace chemical treatment in over 20 facilities with the objective of reducing costs and becoming more environmentally responsible.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/link/4609824b343d41d7962c977971a5a78a.aspx" alt="" width="400" height="287" /></p> <p><!-- /wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:image {"id":7490,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none","align":"center"} --><!-- /wp:image --><!-- wp:heading {"level":5} --></p> <h5 class="wp-block-heading">Recommended Solution</h5> <p class="PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer" data-start="1151" data-end="1677">The NCD was implemented across multiple facilities based on claims that it would provide effective scale, corrosion, and microbiological control while reducing bleed, operating costs, and environmental impact. Following initial performance issues, the NCD supplier attributed the problems to improper tuning and inadequate filtration. A new, properly tuned device and larger filtration system were installed, and over<strong> </strong>$20,000 was spent to chemically clean the evaporative condensers and chillers so the trial could resume.</p> <p class="PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer" data-start="1151" data-end="1677"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/link/89217f8f1ced42a0bef698067fc3274d.aspx" alt="" width="589" height="315" /></p> <h5 class="wp-block-heading">Results Achieved</h5> <p><!-- /wp:heading --><!-- wp:paragraph --></p> <p>Three years after installation, Chem-Aqua surveyed a facility that had installed the NCD on a 2,000 ton ammonia refrigeration system with multiple oil chillers. The condenser tubes showed significant scale buildup and the chillers were so badly scaled that oil temperatures were running at 165-175°F instead of at 120-130°F.</p> <p><!-- /wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><!-- /wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:image {"id":7489,"width":"457px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none","align":"center"} --></p> <p>Six years after installation, the condenser tubes were 75% bridged with calcium carbonate scale that was 1/16” to 1/4” thick and the plant was having difficulty keeping the refrigeration system online. They were permitted to remove the NCD and resume chemical treatment. Over $31,000 was spent to chemically clean the systems to restore the head pressure before chemical treatment was implemented.</p> <p>The chemical program kept the condenser tubes clean and energy-efficient. As of last update, the NCD has been replaced by chemical treatment in all but three facilities within the corporation.</p> <p><!-- /wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --></p> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Any environmental benefits gained from use of the NCD were unquestionably offset by increased energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions. Instead of saving money and safeguarding the environment, the NCD resulted in reduced system reliability and higher operating costs.</p> <p><!-- /wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --></p> <p><em>CS8-002</em></p> <p><!-- /wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:acf/two-cols-text-ctas {"name":"acf/two-cols-text-ctas","data":{"option_change_padding_block":"1","_option_change_padding_block":"field_6629e1de35327","padding_options":"py-none","_padding_options":"field_6629e0d2860af","background_colour":"white","_background_colour":"field_6629e20935328","block_options_clone":"","_block_options_clone":"field_662a2539a7d03","block_text_list_0_block_title":"","_block_text_list_0_block_title":"field_662a2573bc047_field_6629f36ac5d6b","block_text_list_0_block_excerpt":"","_block_text_list_0_block_excerpt":"field_662a2573bc047_field_6629f37dc5d6c","block_text_list_0_show_cta_button":"1","_block_text_list_0_show_cta_button":"field_662a2573bc047_field_662b4b6278ee7_field_6629f386c5d6d","block_text_list_0_block_cta_button":{"title":"Download PDF","url":"https://www.chemaqua.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/07/CS8-002.pdf","target":""},"_block_text_list_0_block_cta_button":"field_662a2573bc047_field_662b4b6278ee7_field_6629f39cc5d6e","block_text_list_0_use_special_button":"0","_block_text_list_0_use_special_button":"field_662a2573bc047_field_663af6cb5a467","block_text_list":1,"_block_text_list":"field_662a2550bc046"},"mode":"edit"} /--></p>
⊘
Prevented severe scale buildup that compromised refrigeration system reliability and performance.
⬇
Reduced operating costs by avoiding repeated cleaning expenses exceeding $51,000 and excessive energy consumption.
⬆
Improved condenser efficiency and long-term system reliability through proven chemical water treatment.