92-14: Evaluation of Alternatives to Gaseous Chrlorine for Cooling Water

Recent environmental, safety, and disclosure concerns when gaseous chlorine is used and stored on-site for microbiological control have forced many cooling systems to consider alternative oxidative micro-biocides. This paper shares field experiences and results in general industrial and process contaminated systems using viable (hypochlorite, bromide, chlorine dioxide) oxidative technologies, providing criteria to determine the best approach for future operation of cooling water systems in the absence of gaseous chlorine. Aspects include system cleanliness, heat transfer coefficients, pressure charges, system metallurgy corrosion, environmental, discharge, employee exposure and community protection are evaluated to aid in finding a viable alternative to gaseous chlorine.