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Cooling Water System - Industry Primer

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Industry Primer |   Products   | Calculations   | Test Program Setup   |   Additional Resources

For a quick introduction of LuminUltra's capabilities in this market, go here.

Background

Biocide treatments are essential to control microbiological growth in cooling systems. If not properly managed, the warm environments of cooling systems are ideal for the growth of microorganisms. As microorganism communities grow in cooling systems, the can attach to pipe walls and form biofilms. These biofilms pose serious risks, from human health risks like Legionnaire’s disease to reduced operating efficiency and eventually to equipment failure via microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). As such, effective monitoring programs are necessary to ensure that microbial buildups are kept under control.

Additional Information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooling_tower

The QGA method is similar in design to ASTM Standard D4012 for the measurement of ATP in water.  The full standard can be obtained here: http://www.astm.org/Standards/D4012.htm.

How can ATP Monitoring Help?

LuminUltra has developed the first and only commercial ATP test kit designed specifically for aqueous samples.  As such, LuminUltra’s test protocols were optimized to achieve excellent sensitivity while ensuring complete and accurate results.  The ability to always be aware and in control of microbial growth in water systems allow you take preventative action sooner than ever before to prevent microbial proliferation before it happens!

The use of QGA and DSA provide water treatment professionals with the ability to:

  • Assess raw/make-up water quality, which can also assist in estimating loading on the disinfection process.
  • Obtain a real-time indication of disinfection efficacy.
  • Assess downstream locations for regrowth.
  • Quantify microbial build-up on surfaces.
  • Troubleshoot contamination via line breaks (trace up the line to find the source).
  • Prevent premature equipment failure by prevention of microbially-induced corrosion (MIC) and line plugging.
  • Supplement HACCP programs for preventative control of Legionella (http://www.legionella.org/).

Types of Water Treatment

  • Chlorine – Due to its relatively low cost, good effectiveness, and widespread availability, chlorine treatment is the most commonly used disinfectant for water treatment.  It is able to kill most microbial species, although it has been known to struggle with cyst-forming species (e.g. cryptosporidium).  It is also pH-dependent, with disinfection being less effective at pH values above 7.5.

    Additional information:
    Chlorine: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorine
    Chlorination: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorination
  • Chloramine – While not quite as aggressive as chlorine, chloramine is often favoured because of its longer-lasting residual and also because it has a lower tendency to form disinfection by-products such as Trihalomethanes (THM) and Haloacetic Acids (HAA).  The main drawback to chloramine is that it contains ammonia in addition to chlorine, which serves as a food source for nitrifying bacteria.

    Additional information:     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloramine
  • Chlorine Dioxide – While the most common use for ClO2 in the past has been for pulp bleaching, it is becoming more widespread in water treatment due to its ease of use (onsite ClO2 generators) and ability to destroy organics.  It is also more effective than Chlorine at pH values greater than 7, where chlorine on its own is less effective.

    Additional information
    Chlorine Dioxide Overview: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorine_dioxide
  • Ozone – While ozone can be a very effective biocide, it does not maintain a residual.  Therefore, additional biocide (e.g. chlorine) must be added downstream of treatment to establish a disinfectant residual prior to delivery to users.

    Additional information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone
  • UltraViolet (UV) –Perhaps the most common non-chemical water treatment, UV de-activates cells rather than destroying them, thereby preventing them from re-producing. Like ozone, additional treatment is required downstream to establish a disinfectant residual.

    Additional Information:     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UV_water_disinfection

Regulations

In most jurisdictions, government regulations are put in place to regulate treated water quality as well as that which is delivered to customers.  It is therefore critical to maintain cleanliness at all points in the system to prevent water quality violations.

Additional Information: