TREATMENTS AND FLUIDS
T raditionally, consultants are called upon to check system conditions, relying on sampling throughout the pre-commissioning cleaning process and once a water system is handed over. In Guardian’s opinion, this process has a number of flaws:
Sampling only represents a snap-shot in time It is open to interpretation
Results can take days, if not weeks, to return The focus is bacteria or corrosion products, which only demonstrates one part of the picture – the end result of poor water system conditions, rather than the cause.
Real-time monitoring checks a range of parameters, including pressure levels – which c an identify leaks, inhibitor levels, pH and, importantly, oxygen.
All corrosion stems from oxygen, whether it be microbial or not; oxygen causes corrosion and oxygen creates the right conditions for bacteria to begin growing.
B y keeping check of the elements that can lead to corrosion it can effectively be eliminated. However, If a water sample shows elevated iron or copper, then it is often a case of too little too late.
A part from preventing breakdown and expensive repairs, monitoring in this way contributes to improved sustainability. If works are carried out on a system, which leads to i nevitable disruption, or an abnormality is found in a sample, the knee-jerk reaction is to throw in m ore chemicals. Through monitoring after works h ave taken place, conditions can be checked to see how quickly base-line levels are achieved, so chemicals are only used where needed.
Having a real-time handle on all critical system p arameters will ensure that prompt and pre- e mptive treatment can be employed, usually at the hands of a building’s own maintenance team, without having to call in consultants.
Knock-on effects
By being sure of the condition of the water in a HVAC system, acr engineers can look to more sustainable means of construction. Thin wall carbon steel, for example, is lightweight and therefore easier to install and transport, arguably making it a ‘greener’ option than stainless steel – a material often chosen because it is corrosion resistant. With monitoring in place, oxygen ingress can be avoided, allowing carbon steel to be confidently specified.
C hoosing a non-corrosive pipework does not prevent corrosion. Rather, it simply diverts its damaging effects to other parts of the system – the copper, brass or mild steel components – which could lead to expensive repairs and system breakdown.
Another important knock-on effect is that by ensuring water conditions are at their peak and preventing repairs and breakdown, reliant HVAC e quipment will operate more efficiently, saving money on unnecessary energy expenditure and the use of back-up generators in the event of downtime.
Time for change
The way water systems are constructed and managed has remained unchanged for many years.
Unlike the rest of our buildings, which are managed by BMS, HVAC reliant on water is at the mercy of old fashioned and inaccurate methodology. It is time to shake things up to improve both sustainability and efficiency. Guardian Water Treatment is a certified
partner of Hevasure, which provides 24/7 remote monitoring throughout a water system’s life, in o rder to prevent corrosion and operational failure.
Dapuk
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