Don’t Send Your Air-Handler Condensate Water (and Money) Down the Drain!

  • 20 March 2018
  • Author: Pat Guccione
  • Number of views: 6926
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Don’t Send Your Air-Handler Condensate Water (and Money) Down the Drain!

Facilities are under continuous pressure to reduce costs and operate in a more environmentally responsible manner.  In many locations, the reduced availability and increased cost of water are making water conservation a much more attractive goal than in the past. More and more facilities are being limited on how much water can be used; while there are alternatives to oil and gas, there is no substitute to water. Thus, the economic and environmental payback on reducing water usage is greater than ever.

Softener Regeneration in Four Easy Steps

How to Achieve Optimal Softener Performance

  • 13 March 2018
  • Author: Chem-Aqua, Inc
  • Number of views: 34624
  • 0 Comments
Softener Regeneration in Four Easy Steps

Everyone knows soft water feels different than hard water—but did you know soft water may be better for your water systems? To improve efficiency and extend the life of your water systems, scale-causing calcium and magnesium ions are replaced with sodium ions in the softening process. To regenerate a softener that has reached capacity, you must conduct four steps: backwash, brine draw, slow rinse, and fast rinse.

Review this infographic for details about how to achieve optimal softener performance, and turn to Chem-Aqua for all of your water treatment needs.

Why Should You Consider a Career in Industrial Water Treatment?

A Closer Look into the Industry

Why Should You Consider a Career in Industrial Water Treatment?

How many careers can you think of that are rewarding, virtually recession proof, and give you exclusive behind-the-scenes access to a variety of fascinating locations? How about careers that also offer multiple options for personal advancement, a supportive employer, and opportunities to improve the environment? There certainly aren’t many, but here is one that might surprise you — industrial water treatment. Water is the lifeblood of many, if not most, facilities and the literal life blood of society; no one can survive without water. Let’s take a closer look at what industrial water treatment is, why it is important, and why you should consider a career in this vital, dynamic industry.

Why Dip Slides and Laboratory Bacteria Testing May Not Agree

Diving into How These Tests Differ

  • 27 February 2018
  • Author: Allan Browning
  • Number of views: 8910
  • 0 Comments
Why Dip Slides and Laboratory Bacteria Testing May Not Agree

Dip slides and laboratory plate counts are both used to monitor total aerobic bacteria levels in cooling water systems. However, the results sometimes don’t agree. This invariably raises the question “Which one’s right?”  The answer may be “Both.” To understand why dip slides and laboratory bacteria testing can give different, equally valid results requires a deeper dive into what these tests actually measure, and the factors that influence the results.

Protecting Off-Line Cooling Water Equipment

Best Practices to Prevent Corrosion

  • 20 February 2018
  • Author: Chem-Aqua, Inc
  • Number of views: 7073
  • 0 Comments
Protecting Off-Line Cooling Water Equipment

 

Periodically, it is necessary to take cooling systems offline due to seasonal cycles, maintenance, lead-lag configurations, etc.  An offline cooling system can experience a multitude of problems, though, including microbiological growth and corrosion.  This can lead to reduced equipment life, increased operational and utility costs, and increased maintenance costs.

 

Facility managers are faced with the unappealing options of wasting money, needlessly running a system or repairing a system that sits unprotected too long.  Luckily, there are options available to mitigate these concerns and problems.

Off-Line Boiler Corrosion Protection Options

Seven Ways to Prevent Damage

  • 6 February 2018
  • Author: Chem-Aqua, Inc
  • Number of views: 8446
  • 0 Comments
Off-Line Boiler Corrosion Protection Options

When a boiler is shut down and removed from service, oxygen intrusion occurs as the boiler cools. This dissolved oxygen can cause a rapid pitting attack and metal failure. The potential for oxygen corrosion is particularly high in multiple boiler systems where the boilers are rotated or left off-line for extended periods of time. Unless very high levels of oxygen scavenger are present and the boiler water remains well mixed while off-line, severe corrosion can occur.

The High Cost of Boiler Scale

The Importance of Good Water Treatment

  • 31 January 2018
  • Author: Chem-Aqua, Inc
  • Number of views: 11325
  • 0 Comments
The High Cost of Boiler Scale

Scale deposits in steam boilers can cause serious problems including higher fuel use, increased maintenance and unexpected failure. The high costs associated with boiler scale highlights the importance of good water treatment to keep waterside surfaces clean. These costs can also be used to evaluate investments to improve program results. For example, the costs can be used to calculate the payback on cleaning a scaled boiler, installing more reliable softeners, or upgrading the chemical feed and blowdown control system.

Active Chiller Approach Temperature Monitoring Leads to Increased Operating Life and Efficiency

  • 23 January 2018
  • Author: Chem-Aqua, Inc
  • Number of views: 61103
  • 0 Comments
Active Chiller Approach Temperature Monitoring Leads to Increased Operating Life and Efficiency

In many facilities, chiller and condenser systems are the largest energy consuming component of the plant. Operating a chiller at its peak performance saves energy, as well as maintenance costs, and can keep the facility’s loads properly maintained. Chiller performance varies significantly with operating conditions, and any opportunity to improve efficiency and extended equipment life is greatly desired by any facility manager. One major indicator of chiller performance is the historical values of the chiller approach temperatures. These temperatures show the heat transfer efficiency and can be a precursor to a potential issue in the system. With proper, routine monitoring of approach temperatures, the chiller’s operating life and operating efficiency are greatly increased.

Keep Cooling Costs Down with Clean Heat Exchangers

How Chem-Aqua Helps Protect your Cooling Water System

  • 16 January 2018
  • Author: Chem-Aqua, Inc
  • Number of views: 6820
  • 0 Comments
Keep Cooling Costs Down with Clean Heat Exchangers

The chiller, recirculating pumps, and fans are the main energy consumers in water-cooled air conditioning systems, and chiller efficiency can have a significant impact on the amount of energy required to produce a ton of refrigeration. Effective water treatment keeps the evaporation and condenser heat exchange surfaces clean and corrosion-free. That means the water is flowing and heat is transferred such that the chiller is optimally efficient and energy costs minimized.

A Method to Accurately Measure System Volumes for Cooling Towers and Closed Loop Systems

  • 9 January 2018
  • Author: Chem-Aqua, Inc
  • Number of views: 25089
  • 0 Comments
A Method to Accurately Measure System Volumes for Cooling Towers and Closed Loop Systems

Cooling towers or closed loop systems require continuous treatment. But to achieve effective water treatment in either of these settings, the precise system volume must be known. This is particularly essential when adding biocides to ensure the correct amount of treatment is added. Although there are many ways to measure volumes, many are inexact and hard to execute. There are three ways typically used to determine system volumes.

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