Chemical free condenser water treatment at G & G Orchards
Chemical free condenser water treatment was the goal at G & G Orchards in Yakima, where two evaporative condensers, a BAC and an EVAPCO, were dosed with descalant, biocide and anti-corrosion chemicals. Both still had hard tube scale, fouled fins, and scum and corrosion in the sump. A HydroFLOW® P100 was fitted to the BAC in September 2011 and a P120 to the EVAPCO in March 2012, both at the common sump discharge. Over 12 months, with all chemicals stopped, blowdown fell to less than once a month, conductivity held below 1,600 µS and the BAC tube scale went from an eighth of an inch of hard deposit to a thirty-second of soft, wipeable film.
The Challenge
- Chemical free condenser water treatment was needed to replace descalant, biocide and anti-corrosion dosing
- Hard scale accumulated on the BAC heat exchange tubes
- Scale and biological growth affected the EVAPCO condenser fins
- Scum, biological growth and corrosion affected the common sump
- The problems persisted despite chemical treatment
The Solution
- Units installed: HydroFLOW® P100 on the BAC, HydroFLOW® P120 on the EVAPCO
- Installation point: common sump discharge, for both condensers
- Installed: P120 on 1 March 2012, following the P100 on 20 September 2011
- Monitoring period: 12 months
- Dosing stopped: descalant, biocide and anti-corrosion chemicals
Chemical free condenser water treatment was introduced one condenser at a time, starting with the BAC in September 2011 and adding the EVAPCO the following March. Chemical dosing stopped and stayed stopped. Blowdown, conductivity and the condition of the BAC tubes were logged over 12 months, and the scale that remained turned soft enough to wipe off.
Testimonial
“My cooling towers were never this clean when they were on chemicals.” — G & G Orchards owner
