The Future of Water Conditioning
Water- borne deposits commonly known as foulants are loose, porous, insoluble materials suspended in water.
They include particulate matter scrubbed from air, migrated corrosion products, silt, clay, and sand suspended in make-up water, organic matter, biological matter, floc carry over from clarifiers etc.
Fouling can reduce heat transfer by interfering with flow of cooling water by plugging the exchanger tubes.
High flow rates ( 5 to 8 ft./sec ) can sweep away ordinary deposits, but low flows ( less than 2 ft./sec cause the suspended foulants to drop out and deposits .These low velocity conditions exist in shell-side cooling, compressor jackets, water boxes and cooling tower basins.