Put Water Treatment By Clarity within Your Christmas Tree This tax Year!
Hey folks! Spring is here! (Finally?)
And if you are a building owner or operator that means that you have a laundry list of things to do! Spring cleaning, repairing pot holes, re-tar the roof ? we all know the drill.
Sorry to add to your list, but we want to remind you about your building?s water systems! Unfortunately, water treatment is often neglected and sometimes is a complete afterthought in some facilities; however, most seasoned building engineers know that proper water treatment can save them from hours of headaches and unnecessary energy and maintenance costs. In fact, implementing a good water treatment program is one small expense that could have a huge impact on operational savings.
To help identify some low hanging fruit at your facility, here are the top 7 things that every building owner or operator should be thinking about this spring when it comes to their water systems and water treatment! Don?t forget to add these items to your punch list:
Make sure you fully inspect and properly lay up any equipment that is going idle for the warmer months. That usually means boilers! Making sure your boilers are protected while they are off line could add many years to their usable life. (Read our blog to learn how to lay up a boiler.)
Clean and disinfect what is coming online! For webpage many facility operators, this mostly and especially means your cooling towers! Cooling tower maintenance should be a priority every spring. Starting the cooling season with a clean cooling tower could mean the difference between a great summer and a horrible (and sweaty) one. It is also the number one way to ensure that your ?down line?? HVAC equipment stays well maintained, free from headaches and running at peak performance. This means less angry phone calls throughout the summer if you provide free cooling to your tenants? package units. And remember, cleaning and disinfection is step one ? you must follow it up with a proper cooling tower water treatment program.
Test your water systems. Some water systems are prone to fouling which can cause corrosion or blockages. Some may have small leaks that cause them lose water throughout the winter; therefore losing their proper chemical protection levels. Make sure that your water treatment service provider is testing your water systems before you bring any major equipment online.
Make sure your water treatment chemistry is ready to go! Running a cooling tower, chiller, or closed loop system without the proper water treatment is a surefire way to ruin your expensive equipment quickly. In the case of a cooling tower, you run the risk of spreading extremely dangerous bacteria like legionella. Legionella is the bacterium that causes Legionnaires Disease. Make sure your chemistry is on-line and feeding properly.
Inspect your pre-treatment equipment! Make sure your sand filters and commercial water softeners are functioning properly. A fouled sand filter can gum up your entire cooling system making everything have to work harder!
Implement a circulation schedule for your idle water systems! Remember, proper water chemistry needs circulation to be most effective. Running the pumps on your closed loop systems that are down for the season could make a world of difference when it comes to your overall corrosion rates.
Check your vents, ducts and coils and make sure they are clean! You need clean coils to produce efficient cooling; and dirty vents and ducts can cause sickness as well as unrelenting complaints from your tenants and leaseholders. Be proactive! Have your HVAC Cleaning Team clean them out before the cooling season starts! Need a good HVAC Cleaning Company? Consider using one that is NADCA Certified.
That wraps up our top 7 tips! We hope you have a great spring season! Don?t forget to subscribe to our blog for more great information about water treatment!
Need more great tips for taking care of your facility this spring? Check out our free checklist below available for immediate download: The Ultimate Springtime Facilities Management Checklist!
Thanks for reading!
ABOUT CLARITY WATER TECHNOLOGIES
Clarity Water Technologies is a full service water treatment company offering advanced solutions for maintaining HVAC, wastewater and industrial process systems at reasonable prices. From treating massive cooling towers to cleaning delicate heat exchangers and cooling coils, Clarity?s specialized water treatment and mechanical cleaning teams have you covered. Clarity?s water treatment experts are considered to be some of the best and brightest in their field; many with decades of water treatment practice, and with experience working for some of the most renowned water treatment companies in the world including Nalco, GE Bets, Ashland and ChemTreat. Clarity is considered to be one of the best water treatment companies in New York and throughout the Northeast; however, they have consistently helped facility owners and operators tackle difficult water treatment related challenges throughout other parts of the United States. They are known for going the extra mile for their customers and for building their professional relationships on trust and measurable results.
The Clarity Water Technologies motto is: ?The best relationships start with great chemistry!??
Need some help with your water treatment or HVAC cleanings? Give Clarity a call.
Greg Frazier is an expert in Industrial Water Treatment and is currently the Managing Partner of Clarity Water Technologies, one of the best Water Treatment and HVAC Cleaning Companies in the Atlantic Northeast. Mr. Frazier has over 18 years of Industrial Water Treatment experience and holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Tennessee. Clarity Water Technologies specializes in extended water treatment services. For instance, Clarity's service goes beyond just Cooling Tower Water Treatment - it also includes Cooling Tower Maintenance and HVAC Cleaning Services.
Ashrae Standard 188 Is Approved: Here Is What You are Trying To Learn!
Author's Note: PART ONE of this post is about the Customer's perception of dirty vents and ducts. PART TWO is about the realities of neglecting your vents and ducts. Thanks for reading! Mason Bourbon
When it comes to indoor air quality effecting your business or facility, sometimes perception can be worse than reality. Ever go to a nice restaurant and see a dusty ceiling air supply vent and think, ?This place is dirty??? Even if the food was great, the dishes were clean and the glassware was spotless, we are conditioned to be afraid of anything that remotely looks like dust or mold coming out of an air vent. It is not without reason. From a health standpoint, we cannot be 100% certain of the effects of dirty vents and ducts on our indoor air quality and therefore, our health. If you are a business owner, building owner or a facility manager, you need to consider the cleanliness and maintenance of your vents and ducts. In this two part post, we will explore common perceptions and realities surrounding the issues of cleaning the vents and ducts in your commercial facility.
Do My Ducts Need to Be Cleaned?
It is important to understand that proper maintenance is necessary to remove biological contaminants from your HVAC system, since they can cause illness and reduce efficiency. One of the most important and often overlooked ways to accomplish this is through routine cleaning of ducts as well as vents in an HVAC system. The EPA supports it, and the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) provides the general specifications to follow in order to prevent illness and maintain peak efficiency. The key to success is knowing what to do and choosing the best HVAC cleaning service company that has the qualifications and training necessary to perform vent and duct cleanings efficiently and flawlessly. The right duct cleaning contractor will give you an honest assessment of your ductwork and a fair price to properly clean it.
Perception is Often Reality
In the above example I ask the question: ?Is a restaurant with dirty air vents, actually dirty??? The truth about how good or bad the indoor air quality is in a restaurant with dirty vents is not an easy or straightforward determination to make; however, your customer?s perception trumps all that actual data anyway.
To put it simply: If your vents and ducts are dirty to the point that they are making people sick, it is truly BAD for business. (You may even have substantial liability issues.) If your customers or tenants even suspect that they may be getting sick from your vents and ducts, it is JUST AS BAD for business.
It is naive to assume that people that frequent your facility will not take notice of visible dirt, dust and mold surrounding the intakes and vents of your HVAC system. These could be customers that may choose not to return to your business, tenants that may complain to OSHA or employees that may refuse to come to work. The moral of the story: Keeping your vents and ducts clean as part of your regular maintenance schedule is one more way to keep your customer?s confidence in your facility running HIGH.
What is My Responsibility as a Business Owner?
Under the US Department of Labor, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) sets and maintains standards for workplace safety. According to OSHA?s website: ?Employers are required to follow the General Duty Clause of the OSHAct, which requires them to provide workers with a safe workplace that does not have any known hazards that cause or are likely to cause death or serious injury. The OSHAct also requires employers to obey occupational safety and health standards created under it. Employers should be reasonably aware of the possible sources of poor air quality, and they should have the resources necessary to recognize and control workplace hazards. It is also their responsibility to inform employees of the immediate dangers that are present. Specific state and local regulations may apply.??
What Should I Do Today?
Most reputable HVAC cleaning service companies are members of NADCA and, as such, they are governed by NADCA?s Assessment, Cleaning and Restoration (ACR) Standard and the NADCA Code of Ethics. NADCA?s ACR Standard is the vent and duct cleaning industry?s gold standard for assessing, cleaning and restoring HVAC ductwork. The NADCA Code of Ethics protects the consumer from unnecessary repairs.
As part of our commitment to being the best vent and duct cleaning company in New York City and its surrounding areas, we are proud members of NADCA and we highly recommend seeking out a NADCA Member to do a proper evaluation of your HVAC system?s ductwork.
According to the NADCA Code of Ethics, NADCA Members agree that they will:
1. Provide their clients with accurate inspections and THPS biocide evaluations of the cleanliness and physical condition of their HVAC systems and use this information to determine the type of cleaning and maintenance services required, if any.
2. Provide only necessary and desired services to their clients, and will not use furnace/air duct cleaning as a means of selling unnecessary or unwanted products or services.
If you believe that there could be an issue with the cleanliness of your HVAC system, do not hesitate to call a reputable company today. When it comes to HVAC maintenance, small problems can quickly become large problems. Make the call while the issues are still small.
Our Commitment to You
At Clarity Water Technologies, LLC, we strive to provide the best possible HVAC cleaning service at a fair price. We are also dedicated to being the best air vent and duct cleaning company in NYC, and across other markets throughout the East coast. We specialize in industrial water treatment services and HVAC cleaning projects. Our technicians clean and maintain all types of HVAC equipment including cooling towers, ventilation systems, heat exchangers, exhaust hoods, and condenser and evaporator coils. With this in mind, our commitment to you is that we will provide our highly trained and skilled technicians with the tools and resources necessary to inspect and clean your HVAC system as thoroughly as possible in order to eliminate biological contamination that can lead to illness and reduced efficiency. In other words, if it is accessible, it will be cleaned.
Need Help Today?
If your ducts and vents are in need of cleaning and you would like a free estimate, or if you have any questions about the process of cleaning your vents and ducts, please do not hesitate to contact us at 888-616-3545.
Stay Tuned?
In PART TWO of this post, we will discuss the realities of poorly maintained and dirty HVAC systems.
BONUS: If you would like information of choosing the best HVAC cleaning service in New York or in your area, please download our FREE eBook: Top 5 Tips for Choosing the Best HVAC Cleaning Company here:
Happy New Year! Did You Know 2015 Is all Four Of Water Treatment?
SUEZ E.C.O.Film Non-Phosphate Cooling Water Treatment Enters Market After Successful Pilot Saved Customer $5M
SUEZ has developed a new corrosion and scale control chemistry for cooling water. E.C.O.Film, which stands for Engineered Carboxylate Oxide, relies on SUEZ?s proprietary engineered film technology to eliminate the need for phosphorus, and other anti-corrosion solutions that employ EPA priority pollutant metals. With wide applicability across cooling systems, E.C.O.Film is a socially responsible product that removes the risk of costly phosphate deposition, and meets regulatory requirements in environmentally restricted and phosphorus restricted applications. In a pilot study, E.C.O.Film helped a large gas plant reduce phosphate discharges by more than 80%, enabling them to comply with new regulations while avoiding the need for a $5 million capital equipment expenditure.
?E.C.O.Film is a complete cooling water treatment solution that uses no phosphate and requires no metal additives,?? said Hoshang Subawalla, executive vice president of Chemical & Monitoring Solutions for SUEZ ? Water Technologies & Solutions. ?It?s the perfect solution for systems with calcium phosphate deposition challenges, those facing tightened environmental restrictions, and customers that want to meet sustainability goals.??
Since the 1970s, phosphorus-based corrosion inhibitor programs have provided a costeffective method of protecting industrial assets such as cooling towers, chillers, and heat exchangers. When discharged into natural water bodies however, the phosphorus contributes to eutrophication and algae blooms due to the increased nutrient pollution.
SUEZ?s proprietary E.C.O.Film technology can eliminate deposition issues related to calcium phosphate, zinc phosphate, and other phosphate salts. E.C.O.Film technology can help customers improve operational efficiency and increase time between cleanings and turnarounds.
In a pilot study at a large gas plant, treatment with E.C.O.Film reduced phosphorous content in the cooling tower discharge by more than 80% while achieving the targeted mild steel corrosion rates. As a result, the plant will meet pending phosphorous discharge regulations and avoid capital costs of approximately $5MM for a phosphorus removal system, including associated operational costs and complexity of running such a system.
?The industry has struggled to find a replacement for phosphate corrosion inhibitors that performed adequately,?? said Robert Hendel, senior technical advisor for SUEZ ? Water Technologies & Solutions. ?Not only does E.C.O.Film allow customers to meet upcoming regulations, but it also helps our customers reduce their capital and operating expenses.??
About SUEZ
With 90,000 people on the five continents, IRO biocide SUEZ is a world leader in smart and sustainable resource management. We provide water and waste management solutions that enable cities and industries to optimize their resource management and strengthen their environmental and economic performances, in line with regulatory standards. To meet increasing demands to overcome resource quality and scarcity challenges, SUEZ is fully engaged in the resource revolution. With the full potential of digital technologies and innovative solutions, the Group recovers 17 million tons of waste a year, produces 3.9 million tons of secondary raw materials and 7 TWh of local renewable energy. It also secures water resources, delivering wastewater treatment services to 58 million people and reusing 882 million m3 of wastewater. SUEZ generated total revenues of 17.3 billion euros in 2018.
Acwa Power Wins The World's Largest Independent Water Desalination Plant
Executive Summary
Coagulation-flocculation is a chemical water treatment technique typically applied prior to sedimentation and filtration (e.g. rapid sand filtration) to enhance the ability of a treatment process to remove particles. Coagulationis a process used to neutralise charges and form a gelatinous mass to trap (or bridge) particles thus forming a mass large enough to settle or be trapped in the filter. Flocculation is gentle stirring or agitation to encourage the particles thus formed to agglomerate into masses large enough to settle or be filtered from solution.
Advantages
Simplicity and cost-effectiveness
Separates many kind of particles from water
Enhances filtration process
Uses abundant and low cost chemicals
Disadvantages
Input of chemicals required
Qualified personnel required for design (e.g. construction of chambers and dosage of chemicals) and system maintenance
Transfer of toxic compounds into solid phase and formation of sludge that has to be treated subsequently
Relatively time consuming process
Introduction
Factsheet Block BodyDissolved and suspended particles are present in most of natural waters. These suspended materials mostly arise from land erosion, the dissolution of minerals and the decay of vegetation and from several domestic and industrial waste discharges. Such material may include suspended, dissolved organic and/or inorganic matter, as well as several biological organisms, such as bacteria, algae or viruses. This material has to be removed, as it causes deterioration of water quality by reducing the clarity (e.g. causing turbidity or colour), and eventually carrying pathogenic organisms or toxic compounds, adsorbed on their surfaces (TZOUPANOS and ZOUBOULIS 2008).
To separate the dissolved and suspended particles from the water coagulation and flocculation processes are used. Coagulation and flocculation is relatively simple and cost-effective, provided that chemicals are available and dosage is adapted to the water composition. Regardless of the nature of the treated water and the overall applied treatment scheme, coagulation-flocculation is usually included, either as pre-treatment (e.g. before rapid sand filtration) or as post-treatment step after sedimentation (see also centralised water purification plants).
Most solids suspended in water possess a negative charge; they consequently repel each other. This repulsion prevents the particles from agglomerating, causing them to remain in suspension. Coagulation and flocculation occur in successive steps intended to overcome the forces stabilising the suspended particles, allowing particle collision and growth of flocs, which then can be settled and removed (by sedimentation) or filtered out of the water. Coagulation-Flocculation is also a common process to treat industrial and domestic wastewater in order to remove suspended particles from the water.Factsheet Block TitleCoagulation principles
Factsheet Block Body(Adapted from MRWA 2003)
Coagulation destabilises the particles? charges. Coagulants with charges opposite to those of the suspended solids are added to the water to neutralise the negative charges on dispersed non-settable solids such as clay and organic substances.
Once the charge is neutralised, the small-suspended particles are capable of sticking together. The slightly larger particles formed through this process are called microflocs and are still too small to be visible to the naked eye. A high-energy, rapid-mix to properly disperse the coagulant and promote particle collisions is needed to achieve good coagulation and formation of the microflocs. Over-mixing does not affect coagulation, but insufficient mixing will leave this step incomplete. Proper contact time biocide in oil and gas，DBNPA the rapid-mix chamber is typically 1 to 3 minutes.
Flocculation
Factsheet Block Body(Adapted from MRWA 2003)
Following coagulation, flocculation, a gentle mixing stage, increases the particle size from submicroscopic microfloc to visible suspended particles.
The microflocs are brought into contact with each other through the process of slow mixing. Collisions of the microfloc particles cause them to bond to produce larger, visible flocs. The floc size continues to build through additional collisions and interaction with inorganic polymers formed by the coagulant or with organic polymers added. Macroflocs are formed. High molecular weight polymers, called coagulant aids, may be added during this step to help bridge, bind, and strengthen the floc, add weight, and increase settling rate. Once the floc has reached its optimum size and strength, the water is ready for the separation process (sedimentation, floatation or filtration). Design contact times for flocculation range from 15 or 20 minutes to an hour or more.
Coagulation flocculation separation
Factsheet Block Body(Adapted from SNF FLOERGER 2003)
In water treatment, coagulation and flocculation are practically always applied subsequently before a physical separation. The Coagulation-Flocculation process consists of the following steps:
Coagulation-flocculation: The use of chemical reagents to destabilise and increase the size of the particles; mixing; increasing of flog size,
A physical separation of the solids from the liquid phase. This separation is usually achieved by sedimentation (decantation), flotation or filtration.
The common reagents are: mineral and/or organic coagulants (typically iron and aluminium salt, organic polymers), flocculation additives (activated silica, talcum, activated carbon?), anionic or cationic flocculants and pH control reagents such as acids or bases. Certain heavy metal chelating agents can also be added during the coagulation step.
Jar test
Factsheet Block Body(Adapted from TRIPATHY and DE 2006)
The jar test is used to identify the most adapted mix of chemical compounds and concentrations for coagulation-flocculation. It is a batch test consisting of using several identical jars containing the same volume and concentration of feed, which are charged simultaneously with six different doses of a potentially effective coagulant. The six jars can be stirred simultaneously at known speeds. The treated feed samples are mixed rapidly and then slowly and then allowed to settle. These three stages are an approximation of the sequences based on the large-scale plants of rapid mix, coagulation flocculation and settling basins. At the end of the settling period, test samples are drawn from the jars and turbidity of supernatant liquid is measured. A plot of turbidity against coagulant dose gives an indication of the optimum dosage (i.e. the minimum amount required to give acceptable clarification). The criteria thus obtained from a bench jar test are the quality of resultant floc and the clarity of the supernatant liquid after settling. The design of the full-scale plant process is then done based on the bench-scale selection of chemicals and their concentrations.
Unfortunately, the jar test suffers from a number of disadvantages, despite its widespread application. It is a batch test, which can be very time-consuming. And the results obtained from a series of jar tests might not correspond to the results obtained on a full-scale plant.
Operation and maintenance
Factsheet Block Body(Adapted from WHO 1996)
The operation of coagulators, flocculators and clarifiers requires trained operators. Maintenance work should be undertaken regularly. The key aspects of operation and maintenance of coagulators, flocculators and clarifiers are:
Chemical stock: There should be a good stock (at least sufficient for one month of operation).
Dosing control: Correct dosing of coagulant chemicals is very important for efficient and effective removal of suspended solids. Samples of raw water should be taken regularly, and tested with a range of coagulant concentrations to determine the optimum dose rate of coagulant. The results should be used to adjust the coagulant dose.
Rapid mixing of the water and coagulant chemicals at the point where the chemicals are added is essential.
Flocculation should be achieved by gentle mixing so as to maximise the number of collisions between suspended particles and flocs, without breaking the flocs up through rapid mixing.
Plant layout: The flocculator and clarifiers should be located close to one another and water should flow slowly between them so as to not break up the flocs.
Applicability
Coagulation-flocculation is a conventional pre-treatment method (typically in combination with sedimentation] and rapid sand filtration) used to separate the suspended and dissolved compounds (turbidity) from the water in (semi-)centralised drinking water treatment plants. Many charged species such as suspended mineral, organics, pathogens, and dissolved species such as metal ions, phosphates, fluoride, and radionuclides can be separated by these processes.
Chemicals reactants (flocculants and coagulants) concentration must be adjusted properly to the exact composition of the water. The operation of coagulators, flocculators and clarifiers requires trained operators. Maintenance work should be undertaken regularly to guarantee an efficient treatment.
Coagulation-flocculation is also often used to remove suspended solids in domestic and industrial wastewater treatment plants.
