01/97 DGM SECTION 15182 1 OF 4

HVAC - WATER TREATMENT OF CONDENSER

AND CHILLED WATER SYSTEMS
DADE COUNTY AVIATION DEPARTMENT DESIGN GUIDELINES MANUAL
DIVISION 15 - MECHANICAL DATE: 01/97
SECTION 15182 - HVAC-WATER TREATMENT OF CONDENSER AND CHILLED WATER SYSTEMS
1. CONDENSER WATER SYSTEMS
a. Specify equipment, pipe connections, piping, chemicals and Contractor service to treat
condenser water to minimize corrosion, scale, and biological growth in all parts of the system
for one year.
b. Corrosion control shall be maintained and documented by tests every 30 days while the
Condenser Water System is in operation. These Corrosion monitoring tests shall utilize a
preweighted mild steel test coupon immersed in the recirculating Condenser Water. The
Coupon shall be installed in a one (1) inch PVC test coupon manifold having a 5-10 gpm flow
rate. Each test period shall be for a 30 day duration. Twelve (12) test studies shall thus be
done each year, each for a 30 day period. The Contractor shall perform the required Test
Coupon studies and report the corrosion rates found. It is required that corrosion shall be
maintained at below 2.0 mpy (mils per year) on each 30 day test. Corrosion shall not be in the
form of pitting attack.
Since biological growths impact upon the corrosion rates of mild steel test coupons, especially
in the form of pitting attack, the test coupon monitoring program will also serve to corroborate
control of biological growths are within acceptable limits. Additional field test measurements
by means of Easicult test kit should be performed periodically as an aid to maintain
continuously acceptable biological counts. Contractor shall document that the biological
count the recirculating condenser water is maintained below 200,000 colonial per millimeter.
Tests shall be made every 45 days by Field Easicult test procedure.
c. The following equipment shall be furnished and installed by the Contractor under this section:
(1) The control system shall be housed in a corrosion resistant NEMA 12X fiberglass
enclosure with a viewing window in the door and a padlocking hasp.
(2) The unit shall provide an analog display of the cooling water conductivity and shall
have a front panel selectable 0-2000 and 0-5000 umho/cm dual scale.
(3) A flow switch shall be mounted on the enclosure along with the sensor housing. The
sensor shall be pre-wired and shall include automatic temperature compensation and
shall be readily removable for cleaning by a quick disconnect that requires no tools.
The flow switch shall provide a visual indication of loss of water flow to the sensor and
shall prevent chemical feeding upon loss of water flow to sensor.
(4) A water meter of appropriate size shall be specified for installation in the cooling tower
makeup line. The water meter shall be field programmable to provide a pulse to the
inhibitor pump that is proportional to the makeup water flow rate. The water meter
shall also totalize the flow. The controller shall have a selector switch on the front
panel that permits control of the inhibitor pump by either pulsing from the water meter,
ON-OFF control from the conductivity controller or control by a repeat cycle 30 minute
percentage timer.
(5) The controller shall have front panel calibration adjustment and shall have adjustable
high and low conductivity alarms in addition to the front panel set point adjustment.
01/97 DGM SECTION 15182 2 OF 4
HVAC - WATER TREATMENT OF CONDENSER
AND CHILLED WATER SYSTEMS
(6) A 7-Day biocide timer shall be housed in the controller and shall be programmable
to turn the biocide pump ON and OFF at an adjustable feed frequency and duration.
Inhibitor feed and bleed-off is automatically stopped during the biocide feeding and
for all adjustable length of time after biocide feeding.
(7) An electrically operated solenoid valve of appropriate size shall be supplied for
installation in the bleed-off line and shall be wired to the controller by the installing
Contractor.
(8) A pre-wired, pre-plumbed panel shall be specified onto which the controllers shall be
mounted along with the inhibitor and biocide pump monitors. The biocide pump
discharge line shall be a line strainer and sampling valve pre-plumbed into the
monitoring line.
(9) The Piping Contractor shall provide 3/4" connection in the recirculating line for the
controller monitoring line and for the inhibitor pump chemical feed line. A bleed-off
line shall also be installed at the location and size specified by the water treatment
service company.
d. Inhibitor Feed Pump: One (1) positive displacement chemical feed pump shall be specified
for the inhibitor feed. Both stroke length and stroke frequency shall be adjustable. The pump
shall be capable of selectively being externally pulsed by the water meter. The pump shall
have the appropriate output capacity, pressure rating and materials of construction for the
application. The pump shall feed directly from the storage tank of inhibitor and discharge into
the cooling water recirculation line ahead of the condenser with a corporation stop and
injection assembly at the injection point. Specify polyprel pump seal rings.
e. Inhibitor Storage Tank(s): 50 gallon polyethylene storage tank with cover and with a low level
alarm shall be specified. The number of tanks shall be as required for the particular
application.
f. Biocide Feed Pumps: One (1) positive displacement biocide feed pump of appropriate size
shall be specified to slug feed the required dosage to the cooling water system within one (1)
hour or less. The pump shall have both stroke length and stroke frequency adjustment.
Pump shall be specified with polyprel seal rings.
g. Biocide Storage Tank: Polyethylene biocide tank shall be specified. The tank shall be
specified with a low level alarm and a cover for mounting the alarm on the tank. The number
of tanks shall be as required for the particular application.
2. CONDENSER WATER SYSTEM - WATER TREATMENT CHEMICALS
a. The cooling water inhibitor and scale prevention agent shall be a phosphorate-based
treatment. Copper corrosion inhibitor components and deposit controlling polymers shall be
included in the formulation. The chemical treatment shall be supplied in liquid form.
b. Algae and slime controlling agent shall be specified for the control of algae and slime
accumulations in the cooling tower system. The microbicide shall be supplied in liquid form.
c. All empty shipping containers shall be immediately removed from the job site by the Water
Treatment Contractor at his own expense.
d. The use of chemicals containing chromates is not permitted.
01/97 DGM SECTION 15182 3 OF 4
HVAC - WATER TREATMENT OF CONDENSER
AND CHILLED WATER SYSTEMS
3. CLOSED CHILLED WATER SYSTEM - CHEMICAL FEEDING AND CONTROL EQUIPMENT
a. Control Systems: One (1) control system shall be specified for the chilled water closed
system. The controller shall continuously monitor the conductivity of the closed system water
and shall automatically add additional protective treatment as needed to maintain the desired
treatment level. The system shall include the following features:
(1) The system shall be housed in NEMA 1 enclosure with viewing window in the door.
(2) The monitor/controller shall provide an analog display of the conductivity level and
shall have a 0-5000 umho/cm scale.
(3) A 3/4" monitoring line shall be installed around the recirculating pump by the piping
contractor.
(4) The controller for the chilled water system shall include an alarm to indicate excessive
water loss.
b. Inhibitor Feed Pumps: A positive displacement chemical feed pump shall be specified for
each closed system. Both the stroke length and stroke frequency shall be adjustable. The
pumps shall be of appropriate output capacity, pressure rating and materials of construction
for adding to the chemical treatment.
4. WATER TREATMENT SERVICES REQUIRED
a. Contractor shall begin water treatment program when system first begins to operate on a
regular basis.
b. Make weekly chemical analysis of water at the beginning until water stabilizes. Bi-monthly
analysis required thereafter. Submit a copy of each chemical analysis and a report of every
service call and chemical adjustment made to the Chief of Maintenance, Dade County Aviation
Department. Results shall be in the mail within five business days from date of sampling.
c. Adjust chemicals as required to control scale, corrosion and biological growth. Removing
scale by quick clean acid will not be allowed.
d. Provide additional corrosion test coupons plus costs of analysis should original coupon
indicate corrosion.
e. Other services to be included in basic construction contract for first year:
(1) Provide space to store chemicals (DCAD to provide).
(2) Remove heads of condensers for inspection and flush-out or brush-out
sedimentation.
(3) Hire independent testing laboratory to analyze the corrosion test coupons on a
quarterly basis.
(4) Clean cooling tower, minimum of 2 times per year.
f. The field service representative shall be supervised by a graduate chemist or chemical
01/97 DGM SECTION 15182 4 OF 4
HVAC - WATER TREATMENT OF CONDENSER
AND CHILLED WATER SYSTEMS
engineer of a University whose chemistry department is accredited by the American Chemical
Society.
g. The chemical company must maintain a fully equipped water analysis laboratory in either
Dade, Broward or Palm Beach county.
h. The laboratory must be staffed by a full-time qualified water treatment chemist.
i. Delivery of chemicals must be completed within four (4) days of the order.
j. Additional testing by laboratory personnel will provide results within seventy-two (72) hours for
samples requiring more than ordinary field testing.
k. Emergency repair capability of chemical feed and control equipment shall be locally available
by the chemical supplier.
5. APPROVED MANUFACTURERS
a. Betz
b. Ecolochem
c. Mitco
d. Mogul
e. Olin
6. CHILLED WATER SYSTEMS
a. New systems not connected to central chiller plants shall be equipped with pot feeders. The
Contractor shall maintain anti-scale and corrosion chemical content in system of specified
concentration for one year.
b. New systems being connected to an existing central chiller plant will not require pot feeders.
A compatible chemical to that being currently used (equal to Ecolochem No. 670, a Borate-
nitrite corrosion inhibitor), shall be delivered to the central chiller plant in the amount of one
gallon of chemical for each 100 gallons of water in the system. The feeding of the chemical
to the system will be performed under a separate contract. Include the following statement
in the specifications: "The new piping on this project will have a volume of _______ gallons
of chilled water."
c. Chemicals shall not destroy pump seals or damage any part of the system and shall be
acceptable by controlling authorities.
d. Secure chemicals analysis of the treated chilled water within two (2) weeks of the initial charge
and in the 12th month to prove that the water is free of all damaging contaminants.
e. Written reports of all tests and services shall be submitted to the DCAD Maintenance and
Engineering Division.
f. Quarterly chemical analysis by independent test laboratory shall be made to provide system
is being properly maintained.
END OF SECTION