Improving cooling water system performance

Several serious problems were encountered in three different cooling water systems during the commissioning of a new synthetic fuels complex in 1992. Fouling of heal exchangers with a silica sediment and cases of microbiological growth were found. These problems persisted and after the first year of operation, serious corrosion damage, iron precipitation, and microbiological fouling of carbon steel exchanger tubes were detected. This article reviews the dramatic improvements made since July 1994 in terms of corrosion control, fouling control, pH control, total dissolved solids/conductivity control, and the control of microbiological species.