Case Study from HYDROPATH Asia
LNG plant bacteria control on river-water condensers
LNG plant bacteria control was failing at a Chinese site, where river-water-cooled steam condensers carried a bacteria count of 300,000 CFU. Biofilm and scale were fouling the condensers, which needed chemical dosing and regular cleaning, and condensation performance was suffering. River water brings a biological load that never lets up, which is why the cleaning cycle had settled at four to six months. In July 2018 two HydroFLOW® Multihead 50 inch units were fitted to the 1,250 mm condenser pipes. The bacteria count fell by 97%, condenser performance recovered and the plant saved $56,000 a year.
The Challenges
- LNG plant bacteria control was failing, with counts at 300,000 CFU
- Biofilm and scaling required chemical dosing
- Condensers were cleaned every four to six months
- Steam condensation performance was falling
- River water cooling made the biological load constant
The Solution
- Unit installed: two HydroFLOW® Multihead 50 inch units
- Installation point: steam condenser pipes on river water cooling
- Pipe size: 1,250 mm
- Installed: July 2018
- Previous treatment: chemical dosing, with cleaning every four to six months
The two Multihead units went on the 1,250 mm condenser pipes, where river water carries a constant biological load into the condensers. The signal disrupts the conditions that let biofilm and scale establish. Bacteria counts, condenser performance and the cleaning interval were the measures reported, and LNG plant bacteria control reached a 97% reduction.
