Per: Francisco das Chagas Silva Neto (Veolia - Water Technologies & SOlUTIONS ), Ana Lídia Tomaz de Melo (VEOLIA - WATER TECHNOLOGIES & SOLUTIONS ), Augusto Luis Marucci (VEOLIA - WATER TECHNOLOGIES & SOLUTIONS )
Abstract:
Cooling towers are essential heat exchange equipment for steel plants and most industrial processes. Strict quality control of the cooling water is indispensable to maintain the efficiency and integrity of the equipment using it. Among the various parameters that determine the performance of the chemical treatment of a cooling tower, microbiological control is among the main ones, as when impaired, it can cause deposition and/or fouling, corrosion and uncontrolled microbiological proliferation. Therefore, a reduction in process performance, as well as possible operational stoppage for cleaning and decontamination of the system or replacement of equipment and piping, may be caused. Due to the need to optimize the microbiological control of the cooling tower of the ArcelorMittal Pecém (AMPE) Power Plant (CTE), Veolia carried out a 46-day test with the oxidizing biocide Spectrus OX1276TM (Activated Isocyanuric Acid) and evaluated the effects on Chlorides , Free Chlorine, Deep Slice and pH of cooling water. Given the results, the proposed microbiological control technology proved to be not only operationally, but also financially feasible, being validated and implemented in the tower's chemical treatment program, replacing Sodium Hypochlorite