Water Treatment: An Important Step for Efficiency and Safety in Industrial Systems

Water has a vital importance in industrial processes. Water is used in steam boilers, cooling systems, drinking-water supply and the production line. That use is one of the items that affects efficiency directly. The quality and the structure of the water are among the most critical factors that determine the success of these processes. Water treatment, which comes in at this point, improves certain properties of the water. It lets the systems work in an efficient and safe way.

What is water treatment?

Water treatment is the process of removing or adjusting unwanted substances in the content of water (minerals, pollutants, organic compounds, and similar). This process lets the water be optimized for its purpose of use. Water used in industrial plants usually contains various pollutants and minerals. Treating the water is of great importance to raise the efficiency of the systems and to extend the life of the equipment.

Water treatment methods

1. Water softening One of the most common problems of industrial water is the hardness of the water. Hard water contains minerals such as calcium and magnesium. These minerals collect especially in steam boilers and in piping systems and lead to scaling. Scale deposits block heat transfer, lower efficiency, and can cause the equipment to fail. The water-softening process removes these minerals, reduces the hardness of the water, and lets the systems work in an efficient way. This process is usually done with ion-exchange resins.
2. Chemical feed As a part of the water-treatment process, chemical substances can be added to the water. These chemicals consist of oxygen scavengers, scale preventers and protectors. Oxygen scavengers stop oxygen that has mixed into the water from damaging metal surfaces, and so they reduce the corrosion risk. Scale-preventing substances stop minerals from collecting while the water evaporates, and they prevent scale formation. Disinfectants can also be used to clean biological waste in the system.
3. Filtration and ultrafiltration Physical pollutants in the water, rust, sand, sediment and other foreign substances, lower the quality of the water. These pollutants can be removed by filtration methods. Filtration systems, while they clean the water, let the systems work in a healthy way without changing the properties of the water. Ultrafiltration is a high-efficiency water-purification method that also cleans finer particles.
4. pH balancing The pH level of water is also important in industrial systems. Water that is too acidic or alkaline can damage the systems and can shorten the life of the equipment. During water treatment, the pH level can be adjusted according to the need. This gets ahead of acidic or alkaline reactions and stops the metal surfaces in the system from being damaged.

Benefits of water treatment in the industrial system

Water treatment does not only raise the quality of the water. It also raises efficiency in industrial plants and provides long-term cost savings. Here are the main benefits of water treatment:

• Energy efficiency: Softened water and regularly treated water let the systems work in an efficient way. For example, preventing scale deposits that would form in steam boilers helps heat transfer be more efficient and helps less energy be consumed.
• Equipment protection and long life: Water treatment reduces corrosion and wear, and it extends the life of the systems. This reduces maintenance and repair expenses.
• Low maintenance costs: Treated water prevents blockages and failures in the systems, and this reduces the need for regular maintenance.
• Solutions that are friendly to the environment: Water treatment is an effective method to reduce environmental effects. Keeping pollutant wastes under control and using water efficiently increases sustainability.

Water treatment and sustainability

Industrial water treatment does not provide only economic benefits. It is also of great importance for environmental sustainability. Today, when water sources are limited, managing water correctly, providing savings, and reusing water are of great importance. Water-treatment systems let water be used efficiently and let wastes be brought to a minimum. This contributes directly to the reduction of environmental effects.

Water treatment products and solutions

Cemkimsan, by offering water-treatment chemicals and water-treatment programs, raises efficiency in industrial systems and prevents problems that come from water. Cemkimsan, by using suitable protection chemicals, develops solutions specific to the systems, improves the quality of the water, and lets the systems work efficiently. In this way both energy consumption falls and maintenance costs fall, and the systems work for a long life and in an efficient way.

In addition, Cemkimsan’s water-treatment solutions minimize environmental effects. Efficient use of industrial water and its recovery again help reduce water consumption and help reach sustainability targets. Modern water-treatment techniques let the cleanliness and the quality of the water be monitored continuously, and they get ahead of possible failures and blockages. This lets the plants work in a safer way and without interruption.

The professional services that Cemkimsan offers raise energy efficiency. Plants then consume less energy and make less carbon emission. This does not only lower costs. It also supports operating practices that are friendly to the environment.

Some water treatment products that Cemkimsan Kimya developed and that our factories produce:

Cefopol 1080: Multifunction boiler-water treatment chemical.

Cemolin 1080: NSF-approved steam-boiler treatment chemical suitable for use in food production.

C-SCALANT 2005: A product that protects membranes. It prevents clogging of the membranes or a fall in capacity, and it extends the useful service life

C-SCALANT 1085: A product that protects membranes. It prevents clogging of the membranes or a fall in capacity, and it extends the useful service life. Use in drinking-water production plants is suitable. It is NSF certified.

CK 229: A phosphonate-based treatment chemical used for scale and corrosion control in open and semi-open cooling towers.

C BIOCIDE 886: Biocide designed for microorganism control in industrial process water in open cooling towers.

CK-42: Corrosion inhibitor for closed-loop heating and cooling systems.

CK-13: Corrosion inhibitor for closed-loop heating and cooling systems.

Hakan ÇOBAN

Chemical engineer

Water treatment consultant

Source:

Boyce, M. E., & L. D. Williams. (2016). Water Treatment for Industrial Processes. Springer.

http://dspace.yildiz.edu.tr/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1/10398/0042247.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Chamber of Chemical Engineers of TMMOB, Water Handbook

Cemkimsan Kimya lecture notes