Calcium carbonate scale can sometimes build up in cooling towers. This is caused by softener failure, unexpected changes in water quality due to a change in water source from the utility company, or from poor water treatment from a previous supplier.
Whatever the cause, this build-up of calcium carbonate will lead to problems in the cooling tower, such as under-deposit corrosion, blockage of pipework or build-up of biofilm.
Having a chemical solution is very important. The last thing you want is to be forced to shut down the cooling tower for descaling, causing disruption to production on-site or damage to sensitive tower materials, such as galvanising.
Introducing iChem 1055
The product you need in this situation is iChem 1055. This is a gentle, effective on-line descaling chemical, which very effectively removes calcium carbonate scale on-line with no potential damage from acid cleaning and with minimal process disruption.
iChem 1055 is a product that contains Polyphosphonate, which is unique to B & V Chemicals in the UK. The phosphonate chemistry polymer is a patented dispersing agent which combines the dispersing capacity of polymers with the typical properties of phosphonates, such as their chelating power, their capacity to alter the crystalline growth of mineral salts and the threshold effect. These dispersing agents control the formation and precipitation of various types of inorganic salts and metal oxides, besides facilitating the dispersion of inert substances.
The scale dispersion of iChem 1055 is based on three steps:
- Prevention of precipitation through the threshold effect
- Alteration of the crystalline growth of saline precipitates, leading to the build-up of amorphous precipitates
- Dispersion of particles in solution (ions, metal oxides, inorganic salts…)
Success with iChem 1055
The first image is taken before treatment with iChem 1055, the second after 1 weeks' treatment.
iChem 1055 has achieved remarkable results on sites. The images above show the impressive effects that the product has on a calcium carbonate-covered drain outlet within one week of the start of treatment. The product has also worked very successfully in cooling towers, greatly improving heat transfer efficiency by removing scale from heat transfer surfaces.
Guidance on how to use it
iChem 1055 is primarily used for the control of calcium carbonate (chalk) scale and can be used in a range of water systems, including large, industrial systems and smaller systems. As it is not recognised as a hazardous product, it is ideal for use where there may be regular human contact with water from the system.
iChem 1055 should be dosed alone at 100ppm to the system, i.e. as a temporary replacement for the current corrosion/scale inhibitor in use.
The descale will take several weeks; once it has been completed, this program should be replaced with ongoing treatment. Please note that during the descaling process, the water may become very cloudy as it lifts the deposit. It is important to note that iChem 1055 is not halogen stable, so non-oxidising biocides must be used during this on-line descaling operation.
For further information on iChem 1055, please contact the Own Label department on 01327 709 439, or by email (ownlabel@bvwater.co.uk).
