New Chemical-Free Cooling Tower/Condenser Water System Released
A.W. Chesterton Company plans to release a chemical-free breakthrough in cooling tower and condenser water treatment systems. The VRTX (Vortex) System eliminates the need for chemical treatment in cooling towers and related systems.
Cooling towers use water to remove heat from large manufacturing and processing facilities. By design and use, they are one of the largest users of water and the source of a major portion of industrial wastewater.
VRTX uses a unique patented technology that mechanically removes scale deposits, algae and slime from the water. Traditionally, to eliminate scale build-up, most cooling towers throughout industry use chemicals that are considered increasingly hazardous to the environment and adversely affect wastewater treatment facilities.
The A. W. Chesterton Company, based in Stoneham, MA, specializes in the production of sealing devices, specialty pumps and maintenance chemicals. Chesterton plans to launch its new VRTX Technologies Division in San Antonio, TX to manufacture, market and service the patented VRTX System.
"The EPA continues to place restrictions on the use of chemicals in cooling towers," said Robert Kelsey, vice president/general manager of VRTX Technologies. "With the Chesterton VRTX System, we've achieved a chemical-free solution in cooling tower treatment and can offer a viable cost effective alternative to conventional methods of chemical treatment while dramatically reducing water consumption and discharge (no "blow-down" or sewage and disposal issues)."
Besides attacking scale build-up, Kelsey said benefits include corrosion reduction, decreased maintenance and energy costs, and improved operating efficiency. Based on its "predictable, reliable, and consistent" benefits, the VRTX System was recently named Product of the Year by Plant Engineering magazine.
The VRTX System contains a vacuum lens inside the chamber that strips out carbon dioxide and other dissolved gases, thereby accelerating the formation of non-sticking calcium carbonate. This, combined with the high shear forces in the chamber, alters the chemical state of dissolved calcium forming calcium carbonate, which then precipitates out.
The removal of gases combines with the increased pH to control corrosion. The water to be treated is pumped directly from the holding basin. Nothing is added to the water and no toxic materials or gases are released, Kelsey said.
During the past several years, the VRTX System has been used at numerous cooling tower/condenser installations as beta test sites. "The pay back is tremendous with no chemicals to purchase, far less water used and energy and maintenance attention savings. Further, in some states, municipal water authorities reimburse companies up to 50% of the purchase price of water savings devices, such as the VRTX System," he said.
Richmond Cold Storage, a Virginia-based company that uses six VRTX Systems. "VRTX has been cost-effective for us," said Dick Dowdell, Richmond Cold Storage's vice president of engineering. "We have lowered our water consumption and sewer costs, reduced our maintenance expense on the condensers and lowered our power expenditure on refrigeration. Very importantly, we've completely eliminated chemical treatment of the water. Companies with cooling towers and condensers should take a look at this remarkable system."
For more information on VRTX Technologies, call 210-661-8800, or email vortex@chesterton.com.
Edited by April C. Murelio
editor@poweronline.com