Most of the industrial processes in which we operate require cooling water to ensure optimal performance. The systems responsible for this important service are known as cooling circuits.
Water is the most widely used industrial "refrigerant" due to its availability, low cost, and portability. In addition to having an impressive specific heat capacity, it remains in liquid form over a wide range of temperatures and is not harmful to the environment.
However, if not treated correctly, water can also have significant negative impacts both on the life of the equipment (utilities), due to corrosion, fouling (inorganic fouling) and microbiological growth, and on the correct functioning of the equipment itself with the possibility of a drastic reduction in the efficiency of heat transfer (with a consequent increase in energy costs) or total unscheduled shutdown of the system (costs of loss of production).
