HVAC – Going Geothermal

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It is an irrevocable fact that energy prices have been soaring higher and higher in recent years. Geothermal options are now being considered as the best way to reduce their energy costs. The use of a geothermal exchanger for heat is a method that consumers are opting to employ in order to conserve energy while cooling or heating their home. When you consider beginning construction on a new house or simply replacing your existing cooling and heating systems, it is advisable to take into account the obvious advantages that geothermal usage has to offer.

Checking out the Geo Options

At first glance, geothermal cooling and geothermal heating may seem more like science fiction than a viable heating and cooling source. Not so. Rapidly advancing technology and catapulted geothermal cooling and heating into a method of proven credibility in environmental control. Its acceptance has enjoyed a steady growth and it is quickly gaining popularity among consumers who wish to install systems that are more cost effective. In addition to the heating and cooling properties that it can give your room during nighttime when the temperature of the room tends to drop, there are those geothermal systems, which can even provide a home with a hot water system.

This economically wise move, can save up to 60 percent on annual energy bills. The Federal government and quite a number of states in the US are offering credits and tax incentives to those who install a geothermal HVAC system. These incentive programs are also finding their way into other countries outside the US, such as in Canada. Consumers should access their state government website or the electrical utilities in their area to learn about possible incentive programs being offered.

Pump it Up with Geothermal HVAC Means

Pump exchangers, as well as heat exchangers, are technologies currently used in the geothermal HVAC system. Property owners who are installing a geothermal system on their land should drill out a well so that the water the well offers will be pumped using a heat exchanger situated inside the home. This allows the home to be heated by the fraction of the latent heat derived from the water that is produced by the well. During the summer, the well water temperature generally considerably cooler when compared to the air temperature outside. This, in turn, will cool the inside air, thus providing air conditioning to cool the home. Supplemental heating such as gas, fuel oil, or electricity is advised with this system, particularly in regions where the temperature drops below 0 degrees.

The pump, as well as the circulation fans which draw out water from the well, is powered by electricity. This, in effect, means free heat for the homeowner due to the fact that there is no consumption of gas or fuel of any type in order to keep things running with geothermal HVAC system.

Energy Star offers an informative website where consumers can learn more about geothermal heat pumps, their viability for your specific system and needs and a guide to qualified contractors.

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Source by Greg McNary

Fuel Injector Cleaning Can Improve Fuel Economy

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Deposits from fuel can accumulate on your car’s engine intake valves, injectors, ports, fuel injectors, and combustion chambers. Dirty fuel injectors, one of the most common problems, can cause clogging, which leads to a wide variety of engine problems such as loss of power, rough idle, hesitation, misfire, pinging, knocking and hard starting.

However, one of the biggest problems, which can affect your wallet without you even noticing very easily, includes a drop in fuel economy, inferior performance or even dirty emissions. However, there is a simple way to clean fuel injectors that can result in helping maintain the health of your car, so you can avoid engine problems and improve fuel economy – saving you money in the long run.

Fuel/Air Induction Service Solution

Deposit control additives for your car’s fuel system can safely, rapidly and thoroughly remove engine deposits that naturally build in combustion chambers, intake manifolds, fuel injectors, ports and on intake valves. Your local tire retailer and auto care center can provide a highly effective “on engine” cleaning of the entire fuel system by quickly and efficiently flushing out accumulated deposits. Products that bring extended life and efficiency to engines, transmissions, brakes, steering, cooling, and car air conditioning systems are extremely helpful in properly maintaining these operational systems of today’s cars.

Some tire stores and auto care centers are equipped with the right products and tools using pressurized shop air to flush and clean the air intake and fuel lines. These services make the most noticeable difference on cars that are driven short distances, or have been neglected and have not had regular maintenance. This process will essentially clean out the intake system (throttle plate, valves, mass air flow sensor, piston top) and flush out the fuel injectors. Depending on the condition of your car you may or may not notice a difference after the service is done.

The results of a ASE certified mechanic performing a fuel/air induction service with the right products that are innovative, well made, protective of the environment, and attuned to the task at hand, can help:

  • Clean fuel injectors
  • Clean throttle body
  • Clean plenum and air intake
  • Clean intake valves and ports
  • Correct balance of fuel and air in system

Tire stores and auto service centers can perform this cleaning, which can restore flow in fuel injectors and cleans the entire fuel system. A properly cleaned fuel injection system will improve fuel economy and reduce exhaust emissions. It restores that “like new” drivability to an engine’s performance and keeps it running better, longer and more efficiently, such as:

  • Reduced emissions
  • Restores horsepower
  • Increased fuel economy
  • Starts and idles smooth and runs quieter

If you are experiencing loss of power, rough idle, hesitation, misfire, pinging, knocking, hard starting or loss of mileage and your car has never had a Fuel/Air induction service, take your vehicle to a certified mechanic. It is always a good idea to take it to a professional, such an ASE certified technician at one of your local tire stores. They can use the right three part cleaner process to get this done right.

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Source by Michael Trudel

How EPS or Styrofoam Shipping Coolers Are Used In Meat and Seafood Cold Chain Shipping

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Cold Chain Shipping in the meat and seafood industry (especially with mail order products) is the logistical process of packaging and delivering goods so that they arrive properly fresh or frozen at their destination, preventing spoilage, customer dissatisfaction, and profit loss. Many businesses rely on Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Foam Coolers and EPS Foam Shippers (often called Styrofoam Shipping Coolers or Styrofoam Shipping Boxes) as a means to meet the demanding thermal protection requirements for temperature-sensitive products and at the same time boosting potential profits by lowering the costs of container packaging. Here, we discuss what’s involved in using these space-age materials for basic business delivery needs.

Common Combinations of Cold Chain Shipping Supplies

Mail order packaging and general expedited shipping involving meat and seafood has evolved into a very standardized, efficient, cost-effective, profit-maximizing logistical process. For many businesses, that system of moving goods means using a well-tested arrangement of supplies proven to get the job done effectively. Among those are…

  • Corrugated Cardboard Box Containers – printed or plain, marked “Perishable” by hand or stamp, often in white but mainly in a normal cardboard color
  • Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Foam Shippers – usually a minimum of 1.5 inches thick with a sealing lid to strengthen internal thermal integrity
  • Thick and Durable Plastic Bags or Other Product Wrapping – to seal in the cargo itself so that it’s secure and has less contact with air
  • Refrigerants for Cooling or Freezing – gel packs, gel blocks, or other self-contained chemical coolant; or, sometimes dry ice is utilized
  • Temperature Trackers – temperature-sensitive strips or other devices that track the history of temperature changes, or with simpler tools, track whether the package contents have been exposed to out-of range temperatures at some point during delivery
  • Absorbent Padding – to handle and prevent messes from any dripping or melting liquids
  • Filler or ‘Dunnage’ Material Such As Packing Peanuts – takes up excess space so that cargo does not shift around excessively. Also, there’s less air to keep within temperature range
  • Pressure Sensitive Packaging Tape – strong enough to keep a tough seal but flexible enough to allow for movement and shifting without cracking, splitting, or breaking during transit

This group has within it hundreds of varieties of products that companies can choose from according to their budget, with some being of higher quality than others. Of course, one gets what one pays for, so those responsible for shipping understand how a cheap shipping supply can ultimately end up costing much more in product returns and customer complaints.

In addition to standard supply sets for shipping, there are a couple of industry practices helpful for better results, such as…

Pre-Cooled Environmental Packing

To ensure that cargo within the insulated shipping containers have the best chance for fresh arrival, a good practice is to pre-condition the package itself so that there is no significant temperature range conflict at the start. For instance, companies who need to keep cold items cold will lower the temperature of the cargo to within the correct range and then package it in a controlled environment so that, once sealed, the refrigerants contained therein can stay at their current temperature or close to it for a longer period of time.

Pre-Testing Temperature Ranges

Depending on the geographic and weather peculiarities of differing regions of cities and states along the path of delivery, time can be an important factor for maintaining thermal equilibrium within a cold chain package. When a shipment moves from warm areas into cold or vice versa, cargo insulation must be able to compensate for temperature changes so that contents are not adversely affected. In the meat and seafood shipping logistical process, faster delivery times can make all the difference between customer satisfaction and product complaints and refunds. Twenty-four to forty-eight hour maximum delivery times are common, thus lowering the risk of spoilage, contamination, and cargo damage.

Wisely, organizations will minimize unpleasant surprises by sending “TEST SHIPMENTS” along routes they expect to use regularly, and then record the results. When companies know that a specific type of package going from California to Florida can arrive safely and securely as long as it is within a 48 hour window, they can ship with confidence when using a consistent schedule.

So, we see that businesses involved in the shipping of meat and seafood rely on an established choice of shipping supplies to prolong thermal insulation and temperature control of perishable goods and that they do so because it saves money, increases customer satisfaction, and improves the bottom line.

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Source by Riley Marquette

The Benefits of Using Cooling Fan Covers

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Cooling fans are an essential competent for all types of electronics and electronic cabinets, as these items stop equipment from overheating and therefore ensure that equipment works optimally and does not suffer from any negative effects from heat damage.

With that said, it is also essential to put in place covers on your cooling fans for your electronics cabinet. Covers serve an important purpose and are therefore an important piece of kit to have installed. Currently, they come in a range of different materials including metals and plastic, ensuring that there is a cover to match each different type of fan.

Firstly, it is important to note that these fan covers can prevent damage to the fan itself. In an area that is unattended – or on the contrary is very busy – it is possible for fans to get damaged if they are left without any kind of protection. This can include certain items accidentally striking the fan when it is or is not operational.

If a fan were to become damaged, this could have negative consequences for the equipment that it is cooling and could result in costly replacements. Although fans are often made from sturdy materials, this is not always sufficient to mean that they will not break or become damaged to the point of less efficiency.

It is also important to note that the lack of a cover for your cooling fans for your electronics cabinet or other equipment can mean that damage is also more likely to occur to the electronics themselves. Although a fan can provide sufficient protection to a certain extent – especially if the fan is in operation – its efficiency as a barrier to the electronics is doubled by a fan cover.

Many fan covers take the form of aluminium spirals or plastic grids, and stop anything from striking the fan. This will therefore add an extra level of protection to all your electronics equipment too, safeguarding your expensive investments from damage.

In addition to providing protection for your equipment, another major advantage of covers for cooling fans for your electronics cabinet is that it can stop any accidents involving any other office equipment or workers.

Wires can easily become trapped in fans and therefore damaged, which can result in various severe consequences such as electrical fire or even electrocution. Covers will stop wires from being able to enter fans easily – or at all – therefore drastically reducing the risk. Indeed, installing these items can be a very reasonable precaution to take.

The covers will also stop people from injuring themselves too, as fans can all too easily hurt fingers that are touching the electronic equipment in question, Again, this can be a very reasonable step to take for any company or business owner looking to protect the health and safety of their staff.

Finally, another advantage of these fan covers is that they can be a very inexpensive insurance policy for the safety of both your electronic equipment and your staff. Many fans cover are available in bulk for very affordable prices, the cost of which far outweighs the cost of investing in new electronic equipment should it get damaged by accidents or by overheating.

These are just some of the reasons why covers for cooling fans for your electronics cabinet can be extremely beneficial. If you are considering investing in these items, it is strongly recommended to seek out a reputable supplier who will be able to advise you on the right product for your needs.

From covers for fan tray assemblies to large fan guards for large items of equipment, there is something available on the market to meet each and every need and requirement.

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Source by Johny Brown

Biomass Gasification and Syngas

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Biomass-based gasifiers, such as the BioMax units, produce electricity and thermal energy from woody waste including wood chips from hard and soft wood, sawdust pellets, coconut shells, nut shells or corncobs.

The units heat these fuels with about one-third of the oxygen necessary for complete combustion to produce a mixture of carbon dioxide and hydrogen, known as syngas. Biomass energy accounts for about 11% of the global primary energy supply, and it is estimated that about 2 billion people worldwide depend on biomass for their energy needs.

Wood gasification seems to be catching on as a viable technology for avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions. It has many great uses. Some years ago wood gas was seen as cheaper by all means, but charcoal gasifiers had the edge were so much easier to handle. There are many gasifiers that produce gas from wood and then burn the gas, leaving ash and charcoal.

Wood chips can be fed into gasification plant gasifiers and the gas produced is used to light the furnace in the chamber. Woody biomass plants can show economics which are very local and can provide a secure return on investment in many circumstances. Technologies range from boilers, to gasifiers, to pyrolyzers, to just plain wood stoves. Wood gas can be used to power cars with ordinary internal combustion engines if a wood gasifier is attached. This was quite popular during World War II in several European countries because the armies active in the war did not always have access to oil.

Performance parameters such as air factor, feeding point position and bed height are determined by running trials and looking for a maximum gasifier efficiency and gas heating value and a minimum tar content in the gas. Other parameters which can be optimized by using CSFB software are the pressure drop, the bubble diameter and the gas velocities in the bed

Syngas, produced in gasification process plants, can be used as a fuel to generate electricity or steam, or as a basic chemical building block for a multitude of uses. When mixed with air, sit can be used in gasoline or diesel engines with few modifications to the engine.

Syngas is a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide and it can be converted into fuels such as hydrogen, natural gas or ethanol. Syngas (which leaves the converter at a temperature of around 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit) is fed into a cooling system which generates steam. The gasification process converts feedstock such as coal, crude oil, petroleum-based materials or gases into marketable fuels and products.

Models range in size from 5-kW units for home use to 15-kW machines, enough to power a small business. The company is currently demonstrating six gasifiers in off-grid field applications. Modeling results are compared with the experimental results published in the literature. Predicted effects of bed temperature, equivalence ratio and fuel moisture content on main gaseous composition, tar and NH3 emissions generally agree with the literature data.

Syngas can be used for a multitude of uses. When mixed with air, it can be used in gasoline or diesel engines with few modifications to the engine.

The gasification process converts feedstock such as coal, crude oil, petroleum-based materials or gases into marketable fuels and products.

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Source by Steve Last

Getting the Most From Your HVAC Systems

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Does your HVAC system operate as efficiently as it could? Is your HVAC system compliant with health, safety and environmental regulations? Do you face continual maintenance issues with your HVAC system? In other words: is your HVAC system in good shape, or is it costing you a bundle for no good reason?

With any facility assessment, one of the first areas to check out is the HVAC. You need to determine how much time you have left on the system’s lifecycle. If your HVAC system is extremely old, it could be sucking up energy and wasting your money. It could also be causing indoor air quality issues that lead to problems like Sick Building Syndrome. Or, your old HVAC could be racking up big maintenance bills. If so, then you need to know what’s wrong so you can fix it.

Energy use is a good starting point because the opportunity for cost savings is significant. Lighting tops the list of the potential savings, but HVAC runs a close second. Did you know high-tech HVAC systems could save 30 percent to 40 percent on energy costs? That’s nothing to sneeze at. The return on investment on HVAC upgrades ranges from one to five years, depending on the system’s level of use. That’s well worth the money, considering HVAC systems can last 10 or more years, depending on usage and climate conditions.

Interestingly, the design of an HVAC system has major impacts on productivity and energy savings. If you don’t have good controls on your HVAC, then you are wasting tons of money. It could be that you are simultaneously heating and cooling different parts of the building at the same time. That’s counterproductive and puts a lot of strain on the HVAC.

According to the California Energy Commission, an HVAC system should be properly sized to provide correct air flow, and meet room-by-room calculated heating and cooling loads. It should also be installed so that the static air pressure drop across the handler is within manufacturer and design specifications to have the capacity to meet the calculated loads.

Beyond the proper design and installation, experts encourage regular HVAC maintenance to ensure the best operation. Air filters should be changed each month, for example, and HVACs also need to be properly charged with refrigerant and have proper burner operation and draft.

If you do not have an HVAC maintenance crew on site, be sure to contract with a local air conditioning maintenance company to do regular check ups. This will extend the life of your HVAC and save money on heating and cooling costs.

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Source by Jon Levine

How to Maintain an Overhead Projector

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An overhead projector is a product that is commonly used to do presentation or conference. In this case, you will see that the presence of this unit is really important to support you in doing your job very well. Thus, it is important for you to maintain it very well so you can keep the durability to help you in using it as the right investment for you. To help you in knowing more about the process of maintain, it is better for you to check this article out for your needs.

1. The first step you need to consider is to keep the cleanliness of your lens. By keeping the cleanliness, you will be able to make it reusable for your needs so you can take benefits from it. To clean, it is better for you to use compressed air for blowing dust off your lens. Also, you have to hold the can of air about 6 to 8 inches away from the lens.

2. The second step you must know when maintaining this unit is not to leave the light when this unit is not in use. The lifetime of the lamp ranges from 90 to 300 hours. In this case, it is important for you to save the use of the lamp so you will not cost more. You must know that the black white lamp is the longest and the shortest is color and hi-definition lamp. If you allow it to turn on for a long time, it means that you waste more energy.

3. The next step you must do is to cover the unit after using. By doing this activity, it will help you to keep the dust from the cooling system and settling in the lens so you can keep it very well.

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Source by Gregory W Ortiz

Advanced Polymer Repair Products – Save Time, Money, and Aggravation

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In today’s economy, industry, state, government agencies, and maintenance engineers everywhere are being forced to do more with less. With operating budgets well below average, facilities and organizations of all multitudes are no longer able to replace pieces of capital equipment, or undertake major structural rehabilitation projects. However, with technology advancing at an exponential rate there are alternate routes around having to replace valuable pieces of machinery, equipment, and structures. Advanced composite, coating, and rebuilding systems are beginning to have a strong presence in facility management and maintenance schedules worldwide. These advanced polymer repair products are cost effective, commercially proven, and often save organizations tens of thousands of dollars by reducing life cycle cost, increasing efficiency, decreasing down time, and providing longterm solutions.

Historically these polymer repair products are used in addressing concrete rehabilitation, water intrusion, erosion, corrosion, leaking pipes and roofs, impact, shock, chemical attack, online hydrostatic pressure leaks, and fluid flow related issues.

Examples:

• Leaking Elevator Pits

• Water Intrusion of basements and sub-basements

• Wheel chair transitions

• Pump coatings

• Leaking Pipes

• Shaft Repairs in place or on a lathe

• Broadcast floors

• Sealing of a wide variety of roofs from EPDM to Metal

• Industrial Floor Coatings for heavy wear and tear zones from kitchens to Air Force Hangers

• Containment Areas suffering from chemical attack

• Retro-fitting of Cooling towers to extend the life of the unit

• Tube Shell Heat Exchangers and corresponding End Bells

• Tanks

• Non-skid surfacing

These systems are used by organizations of a variety of sizes. From the YMCA, School Districts, Cities, Counties, Commercial Buildings and Structures, Refineries, Hospitals, Nuclear Power Plants all the way up to the United States Navy. These systems will be more expensive than the conventional over the counter repair method. However, when repairs are being made year after year, these systems pay off greatly in the back end. Often these companies will have no heart ache about coming in and educating you and your team about their products, and often this can be valuable to your team. Just remember that there are dozens of manufacturers of systems such as these. It pays off to do your homework before moving forward with a company.

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Source by Tim Murry

Home Tanning Beds

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These are the most popular and best selling home, non-commercial tanning beds that can be found on the market with prices ranging between $1500 to $5000.

ETS SunVision ZX30 Tanning Bed: This tanning bed features a computer-designed Bio-Tech Tunnel Design for consistency. It has 30, 100 watt lamps, and is built with heavy-duty extruded aluminum and steel mainframe with a DuraMax 2000 exterior. Other features include Quick Clip acrylic removal system, digital timer with built in hour meter, glossed aluminum reflectors, 7 foot tanning surface, staggered lamp design, and acrylic sheet. The product costs around $4500 to $5000.

Sunquest Pro 24RSP (120V) Tanning Bed: This Bio-Tech Tunnel Design tanning bed has 24 tanning lamps is designed with a steel mainframe, curved acrylic sheets, DuraMax 2000 exterior housing, Superflow internal cooling system and 20 minute session time. It features a control key lock, backup timer, and Quick Clip acrylic removal system; and requires a 20 Amp Circuit Breaker, 120 Volt Dedicated Circuit, and 20 Amp NEMA #5-20R Receptacle. The tanning bed costs around $1500 to $2000.

Supreme Tan Pearl 16 Plus Tanning Bed: This is one of the smaller and cheaper entry level tanning beds. It is 76 inch long, features 12 Philips Performance lamps, 4 integrated facial tanning lamps, dial timer, canopy with grids, a base reflector system, adjustable gas spring lifts, and a 30 minute tanning session, and costs around $1900.

SOLTECH 16: This tanning bed uses 16 High Powered Phillips 100 Watt tanning lamps and features frosted acrylics for even UV disbursement, 30 minute tanning session time, easy acrylic removal system, Internal fan cooling system, and a 30 minute on board timer. Optional components include a spring timer, front panel base body fan, DualSun Facials, frosted Acrylic, and a free starter Kit. SOLTECH 16 costs around $2000 to $3000.

Wolff Tanning Bed: This product is also manufactured with a Bio-Tech Tunnel Design with heavy-duty extruded aluminum and steel mainframe, with DuraMax 2000 exterior housing. It features 24 high-output 100-watt lamps, glossed aluminum, Quick Clip acrylic removal system, wide curved tanning surface, and acrylic sheets. The SolarMax IFT face tanner is an optional component. You can get this tanning bed for about $2500 to $3500.

Ruby Tanning Bed: The Ruby Tanning Bed comes with 24 lamps of only 120 volts. It has 6 face tan enhancing lamps and 8 arm tan enhancing lamps, and features a 30 minute tanning session, adjustable Gas spring lifts, acrylic click strips, canopy acrylic, matching base skirt, and a dial timer. The product costs somewhere between $2400 to $3900.

SOLSMART 20: This tanning bed uses 20 High Powered Phillips 100 Watt tanning lamps and features frosted acrylics for even UV disbursement, 20 minute tanning session time, easy acrylic removal system, Internal fan cooling system, and a 20 minute on board timer. Optional components include a spring timer, leg base, and free starter Kit. The standard color is silver but you can choose between silver/charcoal, silver/black, silver/blue, and silver/red. The SOLSMART 20 costs around $2000 to $3000.

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Source by George Royal

HVAC – Is Water Treatment Necessary?

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Drum-Kickers, Soap Salesmen…they have been called many things. Water Treatment specialists (probably the name they prefer) are everywhere. As a mechanical contractor, we have had many knock on our door. With most large commercial buildings and industrial facilities in Memphis utilizing water cooling/heating mechanical equipment, this industry is highly competitive, but is water treatment really necessary? In this edition of Mechanical Matters® I am going to answer that very question and discuss several other important facts about water treatment services.

In this edition I want to answer three questions regarding water treatment:

Exactly what is water treatment and is it necessary?

How does improper water treatment service effect mechanical equipment?

Are there energy savings with water treatment?

1. Exactly what is water treatment and is it necessary?

Water treatment describes a process used to make water more acceptable for a desired end-use. These can include use as drinking water, industrial processes, medical and many other uses.

The goal of all water treatment process is to remove existing components in the water, improving it for subsequent utilization. (Wikipedia.org)

In the mechanical industry water treatment is a method used to optimize most water-based mechanical and industrial processes, such as: heating, cooling, processing, cleaning, and rinsing, so that operating costs and risks are reduced.

Most water treatment programs include water softeners, inhibitors and other chemicals needed to ‘treat’ the water in order to reach the desired conditions for mechanical use and heat transfer. Products used to maintain proper water conditions are often fed automatically by sophisticated equipment directly into a chiller or boiler’s water. Water is used for both cooling and heating in large commercial building applications. In most industrial environments water is used for cooling production equipment or an ingredient to making a product. How the water is used will determine what type of treatment is necessary.

Most water treatment companies use test kits and chemical dispensing systems which have made the use of water treatment chemicals in chiller, boiler and cooling-tower systems much easier. But attention to details, such as how often systems are tested, is critical to system performance. The correct water treatment chemistry at the correct time is extraordinarily important because even minor problems can create major costs.

Last week I sat down to breakfast with Gary Reynolds and Bob Schubert of Garratt Callahan. They are water treatment ‘specialists’. Gary and I have worked together with several mutual customers. Their attention to detail, customer service and vast knowledge of water treatment is why many buildings in the Mid-South are in good hands with Garratt Callahan. In our meeting they provided me with some great information about the importance of water treatment, the effects of poor service and things to look for in choosing a service provider

2. How does poor or no service effect mechanical equipment?

Improper Water Treatment or no treatment at all will increase your energy consumption and operating cost while decreasing your mechanical equipment’s efficiencies and life expectancy. A well designed and implemented water treatment program is highly important to the operation of any steam boiler, centrifugal chiller and cooling tower. All three of the systems shown below utilize water for cooling and heating.

Poor water treatment lets water interact with the surfaces of pipes and vessels which contain it. Steam boilers can scale up or corrode, and these deposits will mean more fuel is needed to heat the same amount of water. Cooling towers can scale up and corrode, but left untreated, the warm, dirty water they can contain will encourage bacteria to grow, and Legionnaires’ Disease can be the fatal consequence. The condenser tubes within a chiller and other water cooling equipment can also scale up and corrode thus preventing good heat transfer. Increased energy consumption and poor cooling performance is common result in inefficient water treatment.

Water treatment can often be categorized as ‘low-tech’ and unglamorous. However, the right chemicals, proper chemical feed equipment, and a dedicated service provider is essential to your mechanical equipment and should be ‘treated’ with top priority.

3. Are there energy savings with water treatment?

Treatment Value: Expert water treatment can cut your water, energy, and maintenance costs substantially. Perhaps most important of all, it can save you the cost of fixing or replacing equipment that’s been damaged by inadequate water treatment – including the downtime and lost revenue usually associated with solving such problems.

The examples of water treatment ROI (Return of Investment) shown below show how very thin layers of deposited material from poorly treated water can drive up energy costs.

Scale

System: 1,000 ton chiller

Operation: 12 hours/day, 365 days/year

Cost of electricity: $0.10/kWh

Scale thickness: 1/32 inch

Elimination of 1/32 inch of scale saved $15,018 per year.

Biological Fouling

System: 1,000 ton chiller

Operation: 12 hours/day, 365 days/year

Cost of electricity: $0.10/kWh

Bio-film thickness: 1/1000 inch

Elimination of 1/1000 inch of bio-film saved $26,834 per year.

“As little as 3/16-inch of scale can cause a boiler system to use 38 percent more fuel. The most minuscule amount of dissolved oxygen in the water also means a system could be headed for corrosion problems. And even a thin layer of bacterial slime in chiller tubes can significantly affect heat-transfer efficiency.”

Wrap Up:

As mechanical contractors we are no strangers to the importance of water treatment. However, after researching and writing this article I can assure you that I am much more informed about the necessity and advantage to having a good water treatment program.

In this edition Mechanical Matters®, I discussed three important facts about chemical water treatment. First we learned the definition of water treatment and its use in the mechanical industry. Second, we learned that water treatment is definitely necessary, and without it your mechanical equipment will suffer. Last we learned how proper water treatment will save energy, and ultimately increase your bottom line.

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Source by Jimmy Veteto