Closed heating and cooling systems are essential for the efficient operation of HVAC plants. However, these complex systems are often neglected, leading to costly downtime, replacement and litigation.
When things go wrong, traditional methods of testing and treatment are often impractical. Access may be limited to outside of working hours and there’s a risk of treatment destabilising the system.
This leaves Facilities Managers in a precarious position, having inherited a system that is suffering from mismanagement, poor design or installation, or with little knowledge or understanding of effective maintenance or treatment options.
HVAC systems are vital to healthy buildings, providing controlled heating and cooling and maintaining suitable indoor air quality.
Regular or continuous monitoring of the condition of closed-circuit water systems contributes to occupant wellbeing, operational performance, improved energy efficiency and sustainability and prolonged life of critical plant.
Frequent testing throughout the life of a closed-circuit water system, including low temperature hot water heating systems, heat pump and chilled water systems, and condenser water circuits, is recommended under BSRIA’s BG50/2013: Water Treatment for Closed Heating and Cooling Systems which sets out industry best-practice advice about effective monitoring, maintenance and management.
At Guardian, we take an alternative approach to closed-circuit water system health checks, using the latest continuous monitoring technology and water treatment techniques to put FMs back in control and provide a greater understanding of closed-circuit water systems and the corrosion process over time.
Our intelligent maintenance and real-time monitoring package, BG50i, provides an efficient and instantaneous alternative to sampling and corrosion coupons. Our innovative corrosion monitoring technology can be installed on site for a fixed period – anywhere from two weeks to several months.
With a true picture of system condition and instantaneous access to critical data, FMs can ensure the system is brought back to a stable condition as quickly as possible and conditions are monitored to mitigate the risks of initial treatment.
Throughout the course of the health check, key parameters are checked every 15 minutes and sent directly to FMs. This ensures the root causes of corrosion are swiftly identified and resolved.
In the past, laboratory sampling and corrosion coupons were the only option available to FMs wanting to check closed-circuit water systems health. These methods can take weeks or months to produce results, are prone to misinterpretation and, most importantly, fail to identify dissolved oxygen – the precursor to almost all types of corrosion.
By comparison, Hevasure’s innovative technology provides instantaneous readings of key parameters, including dissolved oxygen, pH, pressure, inhibitor levels, corrosion rates. This enables FMs to develop site-specific water treatment programmes that tackle the root cause of corrosion, optimising energy usage, minimising maintenance costs preventing off-plan call outs and extending the life of valuable assets.
The following case study provides a direct comparison between Guardian’s continuous monitoring approach and traditional corrosion coupons and sampling:
Case Study: Building no. 6 – 24/7 monitoring vs sampling and corrosion coupons
Click here for more information about Guardian’s innovative approach to closed circuit water system monitoring and treatment.