This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
This Website Uses Cookies
By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn More
This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
Process Cooling logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Process Cooling logo
  • Home
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Digital Editions
    • Archives
    • News
    • Products
    • Columns
    • Commentary
    • Web Exclusives
  • Multimedia
    • Podcasts
    • eNewsletter
    • PC Mobile App
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • Technology
    • Air Cooling
    • Ammonia Refrigeration
    • Cryogenic Systems
    • Equipment Cooling
    • Flow Control/Monitoring
    • Heat Transfer
    • Industrial Gases
    • Leak Detection
    • Temperature Control/Sensing
    • Water Cooling
    • Water Treatment
  • Equipment
    • Chillers
    • Compressors/Condensers
    • Cooling Towers
    • Enclosure Cooling
    • Fans & Blowers
    • Filtration
    • Heat Exchangers/Coils
    • Pumping
    • Refrigeration Systems
    • Valves & Piping
  • Design/Build
  • Industry Focus
    • All Process Industries
    • Beverages & Breweries
    • Chemicals/Petrochemicals
    • Cosmetics & Fragrances
    • Dairy Foods
    • Electronics
    • Food Processing
    • Pharmaceuticals
    • Power Plants
    • Plastics
    • Soaps/Cleaners
  • Resources
    • Events
    • Classifieds
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • Directories
    • Buyers Guide
    • Cooling Capabilities
    • Take a Tour
    • Heat Transfer Fluids
  • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
    • Print Edition Subscription
    • Digital Edition Subscription
    • eNewsletters
    • Online Registration
    • Customer Service
Home » Cooling Water Treatment vs. Cooling Systems, Part 4
Water WorksColumns

Cooling Water Treatment vs. Cooling Systems, Part 4

July 1, 2002
Paul Puckorius, Puckorius & Associates Inc.
Reprints
No Comments
Paul Puckorius continues his series on cooling water treatment vs. cooling systems with a look at the heat transfer equipment in a process cooling system.

As I have noted throughout this series, a thorough knowledge of the cooling water equipment and the cooling system operation is required prior to determining or selecting a water treatment program.

In my last column, I looked at heat exchangers as a part of my discussion of the heat transfer equipment in your cooling system. In addition to heat exchangers, other equipment is specific to certain cooling water systems.

The heat transfer equipment is considered to be the most critical because it is the heart of the cooling system and performs the main objective of the intent of the cooling system: to cool. Thus, the heat transfer equipment is the most important and is listed as the top priority.

The next most critical equipment varies with different types of cooling water systems and in different industries and often depends on the different types of other equipment within the cooling system. For example, a cooling water system utilizing a galvanized steel cooling tower would likely make the cooling tower the next priority to be protected. But, if the cooling tower was fabricated with plastic, wood or even concrete, it would be a much lower priority. As another example, in a closed cooling water system, the heat rejection coils or radiator would be a high priority.

The piping often is quite high in the priority rating, particularly if fabricated with mild steel and if of small diameter (3" or less). This is due to restrictions by corrosion product or scale deposits.

The pump and its components usually are very low in priority.

Each cooling water system owner must identify and prioritize his list of cooling water equipment that must be protected.

Materials of Construction

Perhaps I am getting ahead of myself. Once the design of the cooling water equipment is identified, the materials of construction of that equipment must be identified. Mild steel corrodes rapidly and thus needs to be located within the cooling water system to determine how critical severe corrosion (i.e., leaks and deposits of any corrosion products) would impact the integrity of the cooling water system. Heat exchangers with mild steel tubing are a good example of equipment requiring excellent corrosion control. Even mild steel piping requires very good corrosion control, particularly with inner diameters of 3" or less. Copper alloys can corrode but usually at a much lower rate; galvanized steel cooling towers and/or piping can corrode quite rapidly.

Stainless steel also can corrode rapidly in cooling water under certain water qualities, but under protective water qualities, it can last a life time.

Aluminum is very susceptible to corrosion, again depending upon the water quality.

Nonmetallic materials of construction generally do not deteriorate rapidly, but cooling tower wood can decay, concrete can be attacked, certain plastics can soften or harden and fail. Even fiberglass-reinforced plastic can gradually deteriorate under specific water qualities.

To know your system, you must identify the metallurgy and nonmetallic materials of construction and in which specific cooling water equipment they are located. You are now two-thirds of the way to knowing your system.

Cooling System Piping. Identifying the piping's materials of construction will help determine the water treatment requirements. Most common in all cooling water systems is mild steel piping. Copper is common in smaller diameter (2" ID or less) piping. Stainless steel is utilized in some facilities; galvanized piping is seldom used. Occasionally, aluminum piping appears, usually in closed cooling water systems. Rarely, titanium and specialty molybdenum-containing steels are used due to unusually severe conditions. Fiberglass-reinforced plastic as well as PVC piping are being used more today to reduce corrosion potential. Concrete often is used in large cooling water systems.

Heat Rejection Equipment. The heat rejection equipment of a cooling water system also must be identified relative to materials of construction as well as design. These units, whether cooling towers, evaporative condensers, evaporative coolers, or even radiators or coils, can influence the selection of the water treatment program.

Cooling towers can be constructed of preservative-treated wood, galvanized steel, stainless steel, PVC, and concrete. Identifying the materials of construction will determine if the water treatment should include products to protect the cooling tower. Galvanized steel certainly does; wood towers require special consideration for water quality; and concrete also may require some considerations.

The cooling tower internal design also is a consideration that can influence the cooling water treatment program.

Cooling towers utilize several types of internal fill designs to provide maximum water evaporation. Boards, slats or bars have been used to break up the water droplets in the past. Though these methods still are utilized, in some applications they have been replaced by a new design fill of closely packed plastic sheets to maximize water evaporation. This design is prone to deposit buildup, even plugging, reducing cooling tower efficiency. Severe cases of fill plugging have resulted in its collapse into the basin of the cooling tower.

If used, plastic fill greatly influences the water treatment program and must be identified and included in the information on the cooling water system.

Cooling System Operation

The next most important piece of information about your cooling water system is its operation (table 1). Yes, this means if it is continuous 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, or if it shuts down periodically. This also includes individual chillers, heat exchangers and even cooling towers. Continuous adequate cooling water flow is desirable and is easiest to develop an economical, effective water treatment program. Periodic shut down, if not considered in selecting and implementing a water treatment program, can lead to premature failures and reduction in efficiency as well as higher costs.

Sidebar: Typical Equipment
All Types of Cooling Water Systems

Heat Transfer Equipment
  • Heat Exchangers
  • Coolers
  • Condensers
  • Jacket Vessels
  • Plate and Frame Exchangers
  • Engine Jackets
Piping

Pumps
  • Impellers
  • Housing
  • Shafts
Evaporative Cooling Water Systems
  • Cooling Towers
  • Evaporative Condenser
  • Evaporative Chillers
Closed Cooling Water Systems
  • Radiators
  • Chillers
  • Coils


Table 1. Cooling System Operation

Factors to Consider
  • Continuous or Periodic Shutdown
  • Entire System or Individual Units
  • Water Velocities – Minimums
  • Water Temperatures – Maximums


Links

  • Water Works: Complete Column Archives
  • Water Works:
    Cooling Water Treatment vs. Cooling Systems, Part 1
  • Water Works:
    Cooling Water Treatment vs. Cooling Systems, Part 3
  • Water Works:
    Cooling Water Treatment vs. Cooling Systems, Part 4
  • Water Works:
    Cooling Water Treatment vs. Cooling Systems, Part 5
  • Water Works:
    Cooling Water Treatment vs. Cooling Systems, Part 2
  • Puckorius & Associates Inc.

Subscribe to Process Cooling

Recent Articles by Paul Puckorius, Puckorius & Associates Inc.

Predicting Calcium Carbonate Scaling Accurately

Testing Cooling Tower Water for Total Bacteria and Legionella

Water Treatment for Cooling Towers and Evaporative Condensers Q&A

Friend or Foe? Water Treatment and Cooling Towers

Filters for Cooling Water Systems

Paul_puckorius_100x130
Paul R. Puckorius is the president and CEO of Puckorius & Associates Inc., Evergreen, Colo., a water treatment consulting firm that does not sell any chemicals or equipment and is not affiliated with any water treatment supplier. He has more than 50 years’ experience in cooling water, boiler water and reuse water technology, specializing in corrosion, scale and microbiological problem solving, treatment selection and system startups. He has extensive knowledge and expertise relative to Legionnaires’ disease relating to investigations and Legionella control in cooling and potable water systems. For several years, Paul wrote a column for Process Cooling magazine, and he presents webinars and articles for the magazine. For more information from Puckorius & Associates, call 303-638-0587 or visit www.puckorius.com.

Related Articles

Cooling Water Treatment vs. Cooling Systems, Part 1

Cooling Water Treatment vs. Cooling Systems, Part 3

Cooling Water Treatment vs. Cooling Systems, Part 5

Cooling Water Treatment vs. Cooling Systems, Part 2

Related Products

Process Cooling July 2019 Issue

Process Cooling March 2019 Issue

Designing Plastic Parts for Assembly, 8E

Related Directories

Griswold Water Systems

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscribe For Free!
  • Print Edition Subscriptions
  • Digital Edition Subscriptions
  • eNewsletters
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Popular Stories

hybrid cooler

Hybrid Cooling Saves Water, Reduces Energy Use

descaling cooling towers

Cleaning Scale from Cooling Tower Systems

News_900

Partnership Focused on Industrial Refrigeration

111319-HRS

Turnkey Cooling System Increases Marinade Production

112719-eurovent

Opting for Evaporative Cooling Will Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions, Says Report

CoolingCapabilities_360


Events

January 1, 2030

Webinar Sponsorship Information

For webinar sponsorship information, visit www.bnpevents.com/webinars or email webinars@bnpmedia.com.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

What Do You Look For in a Process Cooling Equipment Supplier?

Let’s talk purchasing: When specifying and purchasing industrial process cooling equipment, what about an equipment supplier is the most important to you?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

Refrigeration Systems and Applications, 3rd Edition

Refrigeration Systems and Applications, 3rd Edition

See More Products

events_360

Process Cooling Magazine

Process Cooling November/December 2019

2019 November/December

Check out the November/December 2019 edition of Process Cooling: Tackling tower scale, hybrid cooling, energy conservation, paper mills and plastic towers and much more!
View More Create Account
  • Resources
    • Manufacturing Group
    • List Rental
    • Contributor Guidelines
    • Web Exclusives
    • Product of the Month
    • Partners
    • Manufacturers Photo Gallery
    • Polls
    • Survey and Sample
  • Want More
    • Connect
    • Privacy Policy

Copyright ©2019. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing