Some Cooling Water Product Formulations

Some examples of the different types of formulations and chemical programs are discussed in this section. These are basic formulations and only reveal the primary active inhibitors, rounded up to the nearest whole percentage. 

Remember, it is not particularly difficult to produce a workable formulation, but it is a far more difficult job to modify and control cooling water chemistry and apply an appropriate program on-site in order to obtain the maximum operational benefit in a cost-effective manner. Water management is a service business  

The chromate programs that remain in use around the world tend to be based primarily on a zinc/chromate mix, with the ratio of CrC 4 Zn being on the order of 6 to 8 1 and a chromate reserve that varies from 10 to 25 ppm, depending on circumstances. To this mix is added polyphosphate or phos-phonate or polyacrylate, or various combinations of these inhibitors. If low or ultralow chrome programs are employed, the ratio of CrC 4 Zn is typically 1 1 and the chromate reserve is from 3 to 8 ppm. The level of zinc (and other possible inhibitors) is correspondingly raised to compensate for the low chrome. 

There are perhaps almost as many formulations for chromate programs available as there are water treatment service companies, and some subjectivity may be involved in their selection. Apart from purely cosmetic changes, there are, however, chromate programs designed for every quality of water and circumstance. 

A typical standard formulation for a chromate product that may be used, for example, in a large coastal petrochemical facility is described here. 

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For any cooling water program, the performance of an inhibitor treatment, in controlling some or all of the potential waterside problems likely to be experienced under any proposed operating conditions, is dependent on the design of the formulation and the effectiveness of the subsequent product application and control. 

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