Water treatment - Broomhall Brothers Mechanical Contractors

Water treatment basics

Water Treatment basics: The thermodynamic characteristics of water the ability to collect, hold, and transport heat and energy the comparatively ready availability of water and its relatively low cost make it ideal for comfort heating and cooling of buildings.

Boilers, heat exchangers, water heaters, water source heat pumps, and air conditioning systems are damaged and suffer severe loss of efficiency when heat transfer sufaces become fouled with the products of dissolved oxygen, calcium, and magnesium that come with Denver area water. Water is the a powerful solvent, as in the Grand Canyon or in caves when mixed with oxides the stalagmites and stalagtites Hot water boiler systems must be kept free of leaks elimiting fresh the water make up necessary to keep boiler pressure up. Large steam boilers require comctant treatment on the steam and condensate sides. Water treatment seeks to manage four main problem areas: scaling (scale acts as an inusulator inhibiting heat transfer, or in the case of cooling picking up the heat from water at low operational temperature differances. Space heating happens at temperatures of 140-180 degrees cooling water temeperatures are lower 45-48 degrees) corrionsion, microbiological, activity and disposal of residual wastewater.

Scaling occurs when the chemistry and temperature conditions are such that the dissolved mineral salts in the water (calcium and magnesium principoally in our Denver water) are caused to precipitate and form solid deposits. These can be mobile, like a fine silt, or can build up in layers on the metal surfaces of systems. Scale is a problem because as it insulates and heat exchange surfaces become less and less efficient as the scale thickens, increasing energy cost and causing uneven expansion and contraction of piping enevtually causing cracks. Scale will narrows pipe widths and therefore increase the energy used in pumping the water through the pipes. Corrsion occurs when the parent metal oxidises (as iron or calciulm oxides create rust, for example) and gradually the integrity of the system componets are compromised. The corrosion products can cause similar problems to scale, but corrosion can also lead to leaks (in threaded piping the area of the threads are thin and easily compromised), which in a pressurised system can lead to catastrophic failures.

Broomhall Brothers offers efficient, safe, and reliable water treatment systems. All of our products and waste residue may be discharged to the sanitary sewer system. Many older water treatment systems have molydenium as the active inhibitor, THIS RARE EARTH METAL MAY NOT BE FLUSHED TO THE SANITARY SYSTEM it must be recoverered and treated as a hazardous waste. Denver Water Department is capable to trace such discharges back to the property and the owers will be fined. Have your closed loop system checked to determine its contents There are still companies selling this knid of closed loop water treatment chemicals as it is still legal in states whose envornmental awareness is substandard and unwise. Buyer beware always have your technician supply you with the MSDS (Material Safety Sheets) and post them with your chemical treatment system.

Microbiological water treatment is an important part of a water treatement system. Microbes can thrive in untreated cooling water, which is warm and full of organic nutrients, as wet cooling towers are very efficient air scrubbers. Dust, flies, grass, fungal spores and so on collect in the water and create a sort of "microbial soup" if not treated regularily with biocides. Most outbreaks of the deadly Legionnaires' Disease have been traced to unmanaged cooling towers. Biocides are the most dangerous chemical found in multi family buildings, a eye wash station msut be installed adjacent to the water treatment system. These biocides will cause irreversable eye damage. Call Brohall Brothers Mechanical Contrators for your water treatment needs.