Chemical Water Treatment

Water is used for a wide variety of industrial applications including:

    Heating

    Comfort heating for buildings
    Heating or cooking in a manufacturing process

    Cooling

    Air conditioning
    Cooling in a manufacturing process

    Washing/Cleaning

    Water treatment is a general name given to a wide range of equipment and chemicals which are there to prevent problems and increase efficiency.  The main problems found in industrial water systems are scale formation, corrosion and bacterial growth. Chemicals are sometimes added to the water to avoid or reduce these problems.

    Types of Chemical Water Treatment

    There are a wide variety of chemicals used as additives to water – the main types are:

    • BIOCIDES – control or reduce bacterial levels. Are usually oxidising agents such as sodium hypochlorite (bleach), or non-oxidisers.

    • DE-SCALING CLEANERS – remove scale which has formed in a water system. Usually acid based.

    • SCALE INHIBITORS – reduce scale formation in the water systems

    • CORROSION INHIBITORS – complex mixtures which reduce corrosion of metal components of the system such as pipework or heat exchangers

    • ANTIFREEZE – usually based on glycol, these allow the water system to operate at well below 0˚C

    • FLOCCULANTS AND COAGULANTS – used in waste water treatment to help remove selected solids

    • pH CONDITIONERS – acids or alkalines used to reduce or increase the pH of the water

    steam boilers

    Dosing Water Treatment Chemicals

    Water treatment chemicals are often hazardous and handling them should be reduced as much as possible.

    They are normally dosed using an automatic system of dosing pumps and tanks. Sensors are often used to detect the level of chemicals in the system and control the dosing.

    The Environment

    Water treatment chemicals can often be hazardous and harmful to the environment. It is therefore important to consider the most environmentally friendly chemical solution and ensure that usage is minimised.

    Summary

    There are a wide variety of water treatment chemicals available which can be very effective if applied correctly. Expert help is usually required to select the correct chemical and use it properly. Site chemical testing may be required to check the levels are optimised. Some complex formulations can be expensive, so any waste needs to be minimised.