Open evaporative cooling towers act as massive air scrubbers, pulling dirt, airborne dust, pollen, and sand into plant cooling water loops. Over time, suspended solids accumulate inside heat exchangers and chillers, forming insulating scale layers that spike energy consumption and cause costly thermal shutdowns.
Why Side-Stream Filtration is Key
Filtering 100% of full cooling tower flow requires massive, expensive vessels. Side-Stream Filtration continuously diverts 5% to 15% of total basin flow through a dedicated filter housing array. Within 24 to 48 hours, the entire volume of cooling water circulates through the filtration system, maintaining suspended solids below critical thresholds.
Major Benefits of Side-Stream Filtration Systems
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Prevents Heat Exchanger Fouling: Keeps chiller tubes clean, preserving optimal heat transfer efficiency and lowering compressor energy bills.
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Reduces Chemical Dosing Costs: Removing organic solids reduces the demand for biocides and dispersant chemicals.
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Inhibits Legionella & Bio-growth: Sediment beds provide ideal breeding grounds for bacteria; removing silt deprives biological organisms of shelter.
Preferred Equipment Configurations
High-capacity Bag Filter Vessels or Multi-Cartridge Stainless Steel Housings equipped with quick-opening lids are ideal for managing heavy cooling tower sediment loads with minimal routine maintenance.