If cooling tower water isn’t properly treated, corrosion can occur.
In addition to dissolved gasses, some other factors that can lead to corrosion in a cooling tower can include:
- Bacterial contaminants.
- Variations in temperature.
- Alkalinity (pH)
- Dissolve and/or suspended solids.
In this post
What is the effect of nitrite in engine cooling water system?
Nitrite is added to closed cooling systems as an oxygen scavenger. Nitrite will react with any free oxygen to produce nitrate. Removing oxygen helps to prevent corrosion occurring. If nitrite levels are allowed to fall below recommended concentration, pipework corrosion could begin through the system.
Why do cooling towers need water treatment?
Why Cooling Water Treatment Is Done? Proper water treatment in your cooling tower system is required to minimize the risk of corrosion, scaling, and microbiological buildup. These issues can reduce plant productivity, cause unplanned downtime, and require costly equipment replacements if conditions get out of control.
Why is cooling tower water corrosive?
Corrosion is the breakdown of metal and naturally occurs when a metal comes into contact with water. In cooling tower systems, the chance of corrosion is particularly high due to the chemicals used in water treatment and the high concentration of electrolytes in the water due to evaporation.
Is cooling water corrosive?
Cooling tower water is corrosive to carbon steel equipment and the corrosivity depends on the water treatment, process conditions and outside environment.
How do you treat cooling water of engine?
The cooling water of the engine should be only demineralized (distilled) water with proper treatment, which is necessary for keeping effective cooling and preventing corrosion of the system. Though the distilled water matches best to the requirements for cooling water, it is necessary to add corrosion inhibitor.
What is the recommended pH for the engine cooling water?
Therefore, the pH value in an ideal cooling system always needs to be between 8 and 10. To achieve this, you need buffers in your cooling fluid to neutralise the formation of acids or alkalis.
How do you maintain pH in a cooling tower?
What You Can Do to Balance Tower Water pH
- Determine Water Quality. Start by measuring the water’s pH, alkalinity, hardness and conductivity.
- Establish Target Cycles of Concentration.
- Monitor COC and Water Performance.
- Automate Your Processes.
- Protect Your Equipment.
- Work With Your Vendor.
What chemicals are used in cooling tower water treatment?
Here are the main chemicals that are frequently used in cooling tower water treatment:
- Corrosion and Scale Inhibitors.
- Algaecides and Biocides.
- pH Adjusters.
What is the purpose of cooling water system?
The function of a cooling system is to remove heat from processes or equipment. Heat removed from one medium is transferred to another medium, or process fluid. Most often, the cooling medium is water.
How do you know if corrosion is in the cooling system?
Symptoms of Cooling System Electrolysis Corrosion
* Coolant leaking from the heater core, and the appearance of small black pinholes anywhere on the heater core. Coolant leaking from the heater core will usually leave drips, wet spots or stains on the carpet on the passenger side of the vehicle.
What is the most common problem with water cooled equipment?
Potential problems with cooling towers are fouling (that affects airflow and heat transfer), excessive makeup water, improper temperature controls, and mechanical damage leading to leaks and inefficient operation.
Does coolant corrode metal?
It provides protection from rust and corrosion and does not harm rubber hoses and plastics. Antifreeze should not corrode metal parts, attack rubber, become viscous at low temperatures, or evaporate readily at the ordinary engine operating temperature.
Does glycol cause rust?
Ethylene glycol is a source of corrosion. Most corrosion from ethylene glycol is due to the decomposition to organic acids (such as glycolic acid) at higher temperatures. Aluminum alloy corrosion in the presence of ethylene glycol is presumed to be the result of acidic attack of these acids.
What causes cavitation in cooling system?
An increase in air bubbles in a cooling system can increase the potential for cavitation erosion (pitting) of metal surfaces. Increased air can enter the cooling system through cooling system leaks and/or a faulty radiator cap.
What quality of water must be used in the engine?
Engine coolant is a mixture of antifreeze and water, usually 50% each. ASTM specs require the antifreeze be formulated so that when it is mixed with water at 50%, the freeze point is no higher than -34°F (-37°C).
What is cooling water treatment?
Cooling tower water treatment involves using select filtration technologies and chemical products in order to remove toxic or otherwise damaging impurities from your cooling tower system. Through cooling tower water treatment, you can solve the top cooling tower issues, including: Biofilm and fouling.
What is engine cooling water?
An engine cooling water system consists of a thermostat, cylinder sleeve, cooling water pump and a heat exchanger (radiator). Engine Cooling Water System. A cooling water pump is required to circulate the cooling water throughout the engine.
Why is sulfuric acid used in cooling towers?
Sulfuric acid has been used to reduce alkalinity in cooling towers for decades. By neutralizing carbonate alkalinity with acid, scaling potential is reduced on heat exchangers, and often systems can be run with less water. However, handling large quantities of acid can be hazardous and requires special permitting.
What causes cooling tower to foam?
Here’s why: Cascading water, the continuous recycling of contaminants, and a high concentration of foam stabilizers can cause foam to overflow the tower sump, blow off the towers, or even cause an airlock in the water pumps.
How can I improve my cooling tower performance?
How to Increase Your Industrial Cooling Tower Efficiency
- Save energy.
- Reduce the amount of water being consumed.
- Decrease the amount of chemicals required for water treatment.
- Extend the equipment service life.
- Reduce operating costs, overall.