Industrial Descaling & Cleaning Chemicals

Antiscalants and descalants for industry

It is important to keep systems clean to maintain process efficiencies. In general, this means keeping water treatment systems free from scale but also includes the use of specialty cleaning products including pre-commission cleaners (included with closed circuit products).

Scale can build up on surfaces as dissolved salts (typically of calcium and magnesium) precipitate out of solution. This “reverse solubility” occurs as the water is heated and so scale is a common problem in boilers, heat exchangers and pipework. Dispersant chemicals are used which have two functions, namely to react with any residual hardness present in the incoming feed water and to prevent scale precipitating onto the boiler surface. Phosphate and chelate treatments are typically used. Acid descalers are also appropriate for use for certain applications and metal types.

Sludge conditioners, which are often organic polymers, are used to minimise the adherence of suspended solids onto heat transfer surfaces. The polymers combine with precipitates resulting in the formation of particles that may be removed by blowdown.

The use of cleaning products in plant where there is a build up of, for example, biofilm, corrosion deposits, or general soiling will help to keep plant running smoothly and efficiently. The pre-commission cleaning of hot water heating and chilled systems has become more important over recent years due to the equipment used being more susceptible to blockages at strainers, control valves and small bore heat exchangers.

System contaminants such as mill-scale, jointing compounds and fabricating debris need to be removed by chemical cleaning and high velocity flushing, which will then allow the on-going water treatment regime to work effectively in preventing corrosion and microbiological fouling. Older systems that have accumulated deposits due to lack of the correct water treatment can be cleaned by a similar method.

Descalants

We would not recommend the use of any of the below acid based solutions when descaling sensitive metals such as as aluminium and any galvanised metals. Please contact our technical department for specialist advice in this regard.