AIChE Central Florida September 2018 Dinner Meeting 

Tom Nix

Senior Staff Consultant

ChemTreat Inc.

Abstract: Copper alloys are utilized extensively for heat exchangers including surface condensers where maximized heat transfer is desired as well as resistance to scaling and biofouling with greatly improved corrosion resistance over mild steel. Today, new power plants are being built with titanium and austenitic alloy exchangers especially where grey water (tertiary wastewater) or saline waters are in use for plant make-up.

Corrosion became more of a problem for the fleet of copper alloy exchangers with the elimination of heavy metal chrome / zinc cooling water treatment in the 1970’s and resulting increase in chlorination to control biogrowth resulting from the newer phosphorous based and organic cooling water programs.

Azoles have been found to be an effective way to protect copper alloy heat exchangers.  Commonly used azoles have low material costs, but also have performance limitations, especially in chlorination applications.  ChemTreat introduced its HST (Halogen Sable Triazole) to enhance performance in chlorinated industrial systems.