The best water treatment system will depend on the specific water quality issues at your facility. This could include chemical feed systems for cooling towers, bypass filter feeders for circulating water or glycol feeders for closed loop HVAC. No one system will be suitable for all.
Having a water treatment system will help prevent issues with scale, corrosion, suspended solids and biological growth. Understanding the best system for your facility will help ensure you maintain high-quality water throughout and keep systems running efficiently.
Understanding the type of water you’ll be treating, any contaminates or chemical issues, and the required treatment system will make it easier to ensure the equipment you choose is suitable.
Why Do Industrial Facilities Need Water Treatment Systems?
Many pieces of industrial equipment will use water to assist with heat transfer, steam, manufacturing and building temperature. As water flows through the systems, there can be issues with the chemical composition and cleanliness of the water. Minerals can deposit out of solution, oxygen and incorrect water chemistry can cause corrosion, and suspended particles can cause issues.
Cooling towers can cause further issues due to evaporation causing higher concentrations of dissolved minerals. This can cause issues with deposit formation and can cause increased risk of corrosion. Facilities willneed to consider the balance between saving water and ensuring they’re maintaining a suitable water chemistry.
Guidance from the U.S. Department of Energy shows that facilities can monitor conductivity, control blow down and use suitable chemical treatments to help manage these issues. Tracking makeup water, blow down and concentration cycles will also help identify any issues with the systems.
Water treatment can help with protecting equipment, providing consistent running and preventing unwanted deposits forming. The results will depend on the water quality, system design, running conditions and consistency of treatment.
What Are the Different Types of Water Treatment Systems?
Understanding the different types of systems will help you determine which equipment will be suitable for your situation.
Cooling Tower Water Treatment Systems
Cooling tower water treatment systems are designed to help reduce scale, corrosion, suspended solids and biological growth. Depending on the facility, cooling towers can use chemical feed systems, filtration, conductivity monitoring, blow down control and regular water tests.
Chemical feeders can be used to add suitable treatment chemicals to the system. This may include scale inhibitors, corrosion inhibitors and treatments to help control biological growth. The treatment will need to be considered based on the makeup water qualities, tower running conditions and materials.
Filtration can also be used to help remove suspended materials. However, this won’t remove all dissolved minerals.
Closed Loop Water Treatment Systems
Closed loop systems use water or water based fluids within chiller, boiler, radiant heating and industrial process systems. Since the water is being recycled, there will be less makeup water required compared to an open cooling tower. However, corrosion, sediment build up, loss of fluid and water chemistry issues can occur.
Suitable treatment can be carried out using chemical additives, filtration, testing and equipment to ensure the correct conditions are maintained. If a glycol system is used within the loop, a glycol feeder can be used to help maintain the correct amount of fluid and pressure.
However, if there is a constant loss of fluid a feeder shouldn’t be used. Technicians should investigate why makeup is constantly required. This could be due to leaks, expansion tank issues, pressure control issues or other underlying issues.
Boiler Water Treatment Systems
Boiler water treatment can be an important consideration to avoid issues with scale and corrosion affecting heat transfer, consistency and safe running. The requirements will depend on the pressure of the boiler, feed water quality, makeup water and steam quality required.
Water softeners, filtration, de-aeration, dosing and regular sampling can be used. Testing the boiler and feed water will help technicians understand if the treatment is working.
Sample coolers can be useful within suitable boiler and steam applications to help cool down hot waters. Ensuring correct sampling will help ensure reliable testing can be carried out and help staff understand any changes in the water chemistry.
Filtration and Bypass Filter Feeders
Filtration equipment can be used to help remove suspended solids from circulating water. This can be useful within cooling towers to help remove debris from the air, sediment and corrosion.
A bypass filter feeder can be used to recirculate a proportion of the water within the system. Depending on the model, it can help with both filtering and adding suitable treatment chemicals.
As mentioned by the U.S. Department of Energy, filtering a proportion of the circulating water can help reduce suspended solids and fouling. However, it shouldn’t be used as an alternative to chemical treatments as dissolved minerals and other issues will need to be controlled.
Facilities comparing leading water treatment systems for industrial use USA should begin with the actual process requirements, including water chemistry, filtration needs, flow conditions, and equipment compatibility. A well-matched system is generally more useful than choosing equipment based only on capacity or price.
Glycol Feeders and Makeup Units
Glycol feeders can be used within suitable closed loop systems that require a mix of glycol and water. This can help with adding makeup to the system and maintaining the correct pressure.
Consider the volume of fluid within the loop, glycol concentration required, pressure of the system, temperature range and how much makeup will be required. The feeder should be suitable for the glycol formulation and running conditions.
If there is a constant requirement for makeup then an investigation should be carried out. Loss of fluid could be due to leaks or other issues that need to be corrected. Some models are only suitable for adding makeup and won’t be suitable for filling an empty system.
How to Choose the Best Water Treatment System
By following a structured process, you’ll find it easier to choose the right equipment.
Start with Water Testing
Carrying out water testing will help you understand what issues you need to address. Depending on the application, tests can include pH, conductivity, hardness, alkalinity, dissolved solids, suspended solids, corrosion and microbiological testing.
This will give a starting point to understand what treatments are required. If there are high levels of suspended solids then filtration could be useful. If there are high levels of hardness then a scale management strategy would be required. Boilers will have different requirements to closed loop chilled water.
Ensure you’re testing the correct water. This should reflect the source water, circulating water and running conditions. An experienced water treatment professional can help you understand the results and recommend a suitable treatment.
Identify the Main Issue
What is the issue you want to improve? Are you having issues with scale deposits, corrosion, dirty circulating water, pressure issues, high chemical usage or constant maintenance interruptions?
Depending on the issue, a different combination of equipment and treatments may be required. A bypass filter feeder can help with suspended solids and chemical treatment. A glycol feeder has a different purpose within a suitable closed loop. A sample cooler will help with safely sampling but doesn’t treat the water.
Understanding the issue will help avoid unnecessary purchases and help set targets.
Ensure Suitable Size and Compatibility
Equipment should be suitable for the running conditions. Consider the pressure and temperature limitations, size of connections, materials, flow requirements, filter rating and chemical compatibility. If using a glycol feeder then consider the size of the reservoir, concentration requirements and instructions from the manufacturer.
Don’t assume a larger unit will be better. This could cause unnecessary costs and not provide a practical improvement. If it’s too small then it could struggle to meet requirements.
Consider installation requirements and ease of access for regular maintenance. Ensure replacement filters, seals and other parts are available.
Consider the Overall Costs
Whilst the initial purchase costs may be low, there are other considerations. This could include installation costs, replacement parts, labour costs, chemical usage, energy requirements, testing and downtime.
Consider how much the equipment will contribute to your facility. If using a filtration system consider how often the filter will require servicing/ changing. If using a chemical feeder then consider how easy it is to inspect and service. If using a closed loop system consider fluid compatibility and costs of investigating constant makeup.
A suitable system for the application and that can be consistently serviced may be more practical than a cheaper option that will cause service issues.
What Water Treatment Equipment Does Bypass Feeder Offer?
Bypass Feeder offer a range of commercial and industrial water treatment equipment for cooling towers, boilers and closed loop. We offer equipment from J.L. Wingert and Neptune.
Chemical Pot Feeders can be used to add suitable treatment chemicals to suitable systems.
Bypass Filter Feeders can be used to help with both filtration and chemical treatment. They can help remove suspended debris.
Glycol Feeders can be used within suitable HVAC, hydronic heating and industrial closed loops.
Sample Coolers can be used to cool hot water samples. They’re suitable for boiler, steam and industrial water treatment applications. Accurate sampling will help with regular testing.
We also offer a range of accessories and spare parts. Ensure you’ve got the correct model, size, limits and compatibility for your system.
Visit our website to view our range of water treatment equipment and find a suitable product.
Also Read: New Technologies in Water Treatment
Common Mistakes
Assuming all industrial water issues can be solved with the same equipment. Different systems will have different running conditions and water chemistry requirements. Cooling towers, boilers and closed loop HVAC systems will all have different requirements. The equipment should be chosen based on the process.
Assuming filtration will solve all issues. Whilst filters can help remove suspended materials, they generally won’t remove dissolved minerals. The U.S. Department of Energy note that side stream filtration should not be used as an alternative to chemical treatment.
Not regularly carrying out maintenance. Sensors may require calibration, filters should be inspected and feeders should be serviced regularly. If you don’t carry out these tasks then even suitable equipment may not work as expected.
leading water treatment systems for industrial use usaIgnoring constant issues. If you’re constantly adding glycol, using a lot of water, having constant scale issues or fluctuating water chemistry this could be an underlying issue. It’s important to correct the underlying issue to ensure long term performance.
FAQs
What is the best water treatment system for industrial use?
It will depend on your application and water quality. Cooling towers may require chemical feed and filtration. Boilers will require suitable treatment for their running conditions and closed loops may require chemical treatment or glycol makeup.
Is a bypass filter feeder the same as a water filtration system?
A bypass filter feeder will treat a proportion of the circulating water. Depending on the model it can help with filtration and chemical feeding. It won’t have the same purpose or capacity as a full filtration system or water purification.
Does industrial water treatment require chemicals?
Not all processes will require chemical treatment however many industrial applications will require chemical treatment to help reduce scale, corrosion and biological growth. This can be complimented by using filtration. The correct approach will depend on the water analysis and running requirements.
How often should industrial water be tested?
It will depend on your system, running conditions, treatment and risk. Cooling towers, boilers and closed loops will have different requirements. Follow the treatment, equipment and industry requirements.
What should I consider when purchasing water treatment equipment?
Consider the application, water quality results, pressure and temperature of the system, flow and size requirements, materials, chemical compatibility, maintenance requirements and spare parts. Ensure the equipment has been designed for the task.
Find the Right Water Treatment Equipment
The best water treatment system will be one that solves an identified issue and ensures reliable running. By carrying out water testing, having a clear understanding of the process and choosing the correct equipment you’ll avoid unnecessary purchases and create an effective maintenance programme.
If you need chemical feed, bypass filtration, glycol makeup or sampling equipment choose something that is suitable for your systems requirements and can be properly maintained. Visit our website to see the range of commercial and industrial solutions we offer.