GENERAL FAQs
-
Will treating my system with your product require
filtration?
The answer to this question depends on your specific
application, the condition of your system at the
time of installation, the chemistry of the water in
your area and the amount of water savings desired.
While filtration is advantageous in the overall
operation of your system, it is not essential to
scale and bacteria control. To provide
maximum bacteria control, we recommend side stream
filtration be used to eliminate the extra solids
produced by higher than normal concentration of
minerals in the cooling tower. Using the SBC, in
place of chemicals, allows operation at higher
cycles of concentration which results in water
savings due to less blow down. A thorough
water analysis is conducted by GWS prior to installation in order to understand the
specific water chemistry in your location. GWS
partners with firms that specialize in filtration
for those cases where filtration is essential or
preferred.
-
What size unit(s)
will we need?
There
are many factors that will determine the proper size
for thorough treatment including, but not limited
to, total system water volume, flow rate, the number
of towers / effects / tools / basins involved in the
system, water quality, etc. While we prefer to
treat full flows in closed and open loops, side
stream treatment can sometimes be used at a lower
cost. Please contact us for more details.
-
What kinds of connections are required when plumbing
the SBC into my system?
We offer both flanged
and slip ends with Straub couplings to facilitate
installation. Any mechanical or plumbing contractor
can install the system. We can arrange for the
installation if you wish.
-
Is the system truly
maintenance free?
The SBC creates an
efficient and proprietary series of electronic
signals, powered by integral circuitry. SBC
circuitry includes a revolutionary AutoSeekTM
function which, upon startup, will sense its
immediate surroundings and optimize signal output
and frequency for your environment. Because the
unit utilizes no moving parts, it is mechanically
sound. No routine maintenance is required for the
SBC. A conductivity based automatic bleed system
is required to properly maximize your water and
energy savings. As any experienced facilities
manager will tell you, however, it will be important
to regularly check your water pH and Conductivity to
assure proper operation of the total treatment
system. To this end, a handheld pH and conductivity
meter are important to the overall health of water
cooling systems in general. Don’t worry: we’ll help
you analyze your system’s operating conditions and
clarify the opportunities to improve your existing
system’s performance.
-
What is the payback
period on an SBC?
Generally 12 to 24
months. For starters, the cost of chemicals is
eliminated. Energy savings generated from increased
heat transfer efficiency due to elimination of
biofilm and scale can conservatively range from 5%
to 10% or more in some cases. Less operator time is
required to keep your cooling loops online because
you eliminate all the chemical handling and operator
attention to keep these systems functional. How do you measure
the cost of premature pump failures or regular acid
cleanings? Do you quantify lost productivity due to
system shutdowns? Normally you can operate at
higher cycles of concentration with the SBC
resulting in water savings. We may even be able to
help you reduce sewer discharge fees.
-
Can I really use the
SBC chemical free?
Yes . Chemical
injection is not required when operating with SBC.
Long term lay up of equipment may require a biocide
or corrosion inhibitor if the system is not drained.
-
I’m an engineer and
want to specify your system into my new industrial /
commercial facility. Can I do that?
Absolutely. New systems
usually mean clean start up conditions. We would
still like to understand your application and
analyze a water sample to ensure you receive the
best results. Please contact us for more
information.
-
What are the power requirements for the system?
All of our units use
very low amounts of power. The SBC operates on less
than 100 watts of power (about the same as a
standard light bulb). Because our system uses
resonance to maximize signal strength, we can
achieve better results than competing products while
using less energy.
-
What are the optimum
conditions for treatment?
A water analysis will
help to clarify optimum treatment conditions.
Recirculation systems provide optimum results
because the more times the water passes through the
SBC, the better. We will work with you to
understand your operating conditions in order to
properly design the best system.
-
Will the SBC get rid
of scale?
We guarantee the system
will eliminate the formation of new scale. In many
cases, however, treated water will actually loosen
existing scale deposits thereby slowly cleaning the
system.
-
Does the SBC prevent
corrosion?
Unlike chemical control,
calcium carbonate precipitation is desired when
using SBC. This precipitation results in
bulk solution crystal growth and not scale
deposition on the metal surfaces. By allowing the water to
concentrate to higher levels, the pH of the water increases
resulting in a less corrosive environment.
In addition, the SBC
will control corrosion indirectly by providing a
cleaner operating environment. Biofilm is
eliminated along with biologically induced
corrosion. As a result, there is no need to add
corrosive biocides to the system. Similarly,
calcium carbonate scale is controlled to prevent
under-deposit corrosion. The SBC will maintain good
corrosion rates as measured by current industry
standards.
-
Will biofilm be
controlled with the SBC?
Biofilm is controlled by use of the SBC. In most cases the
degree of control exceeds that of using standard
chemical biocides. We guarantee that the total
microbiological
heterotrophic plate count will not exceed
the Cooling Technology Institute’s recommendation of
10,000 cfu/ml for good protection against Legionella.
-
Why is a small amount of scale or biofilm a problem
in my system?
Scale and biofilm
drastically affect the amount of heat transfer in
your system. Even a thin layer of biofilm invisible
to the human eye can act as an insulator in the
system forcing your cooling system to work
overtime or less efficiently to do its job. The net result is often
higher energy bills.
-
How does electronic
water treatment work?
-
What happens if the system shuts down?
The SBC is designed to
run continually from startup. A dry relay contact
is provided to allow a remote indication of a problem
if the SBC were to lose power or have an internal
fault. The cooling system should never be allowed
to continue to run without the SBC providing water
treatment. For this reason we highly recommend that
you take advantage of the dry contact provided in
the unit and connect it to your alarm system or
interlock it with the cooling tower control system
to prevent system operation without water
treatment. The SBC will go through the AutoSeek™
program automatically when power is restored.
Operation of the SBC without water flow through the
reaction chamber will not damage the SBC.
-
Does GWS offer a
warranty with their system?
Yes.
If the system does not perform to our written
performance specification, GWS will refund 100% of
the purchase price. A 5 year material and
workmanship warranty is provided (100% for the first
two years and prorated for years three through 5).
