Case Study from HydroFLOW Chile
The Challenge
- Seawater intake corrosion (MIC) built up across the intake pipelines and strainers
- Severe biofouling affected the plate and tube heat exchangers, reducing efficiency
- Frequent shutdowns and system openings were needed for manual cleaning and inspection
- High chemical use was required for corrosion control
- Marine growth accelerated during the peak summer season, speeding up fouling and blockage
The Solution
One HydroFLOW® Multihead 52″ unit was installed on the ammonuium nitrate production facility’s main seawater intake line, a 1,320 mm OD pipe, at a point before the line splits to the heat exchangers, 126 m upstream of them, so one unit treats every branch. It went in on 12 November 2024 and performance was monitored across 12 months of seasonal conditions. An initial analysis in June 2025, at peak summer marine growth, showed a significant maintenance reduction, and laboratory validation in late 2025 confirmed the reduction in seawater intake corrosion and biofouling across the system.
