Problem
Cooling tower water is often contaminated by airborne dust, sand, pollen, algae, and pipe scales. These contaminates circulate through heat exchangers, chillers, and compressors, significantly reducing the system's cooling ability. Dirt particles in the water foul the system by settling on warm surfaces. Calcium and magnesium are the bonding elements that cement the dirt on the equipment. Chemical analysis shows that the calcium and magnesium are less than 2% of contaminates, while the rest is dirt that is brought in by the cooling tower. Scale formation reduces the heat transfer rate and increases the water pressure drop through the heat exchanger, condenser, and pipes. A study by Carrier® shoes found that 0.002" fouling will increase pumping needs by 20%.
Solution
Filtration is one of the simplest and most convenient ways of solving these problems. TEKLEEN® self-cleaning water filters provide the ultimate solution where dirty water is a problem. The filters operate on line pressure alone. The self-cleaning process is triggered by a pressure differential and is accomplished in seconds without interrupting the main flow. The filters are compact in size and designed to meet a variety of industrial applications. ASME code stamp vessels are also available as an option.
