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Due to the lack of management of equipment, the limescale will reduce heat exchanger efficiency, energy consumption and maintenance costs, and even equipment damage and other risks.
The relationship between limescale generate and cooling time
Conclusion: The thickness of scale increases with cooling time.
The effect of limescale on power consumption
To learn about energy consumption situation through limescale increase and fuel consumption, cooling capacity, total energy consumption data statistics.
| Limescale affect power consumption | |||
| Thickness of limescale (mm) | Fuel consumption (%) | Cooling capacity (%) | Electrical power consumption (%) |
| 0.2mm | Increase 6% | Decrease 95% | Increase 7%~17% |
| 0.4mm | Increase 15% | Decrease 84% | Increase 16%~26% |
| 0.6mm | Increase 25% | Decrease 76% | Increase 23%~34% |
| 0.8mm | Increase 32% | Decrease 72% | Increase 31%~41% |
| Reference: China Trchnical Consultants, Inc | |||
Conclusion: With this table, we can know the power consumption is positively correlated with the limescale thickness. In other words, the power consumption increases with thickness of limescale.
The effect of limescale on heat exchange
The effect of limescale on heat exchange efficiency was studied by using the data of limescale thickness, heat exchange efficiency and cooling power consumption.
| Limescale affect heat exchange | |||
| Thickness of limescale (mm) | Heat exchange level (BTU/ft^2/F) | Heat transfer consumption (%) | Electrical power consumption (%) |
| 0 | 92.77 | 0 | 0 |
| 0.3mm | 73.68 | 21% | 10% |
| 0.6mm | 61.12 | 34% | 20% |
| 0.9mm | 52.20 | 44% | 31% |
| 1.2mm | 45.60 | 56% | 42% |
| 1.6mm | 39.52 | 67% | 53% |
| Reference: Phillip Kote Clean System Approach to Air Conditioning Heating Piping Air Conditioning Journal | |||
Conclusion: With this table, we can learn the heat exchange efficiency is negatively correlated with the limescale thickness. That is mean the heat exchange efficiency decreases with the increase of limescale thickness.
Open cooling circuit with closed cooling circuit’s power consumption comparison
Open cooling circuit (open circuit cooling tower) : one-off limescale cleaning operate.
Closed cooling circuit (closed cooling tower) : restrict the concentration of impurities in the water so that scale does not occur.
Conclusion: Now, we know that limescale thickness is increase with time. Through the picture below, we can know that although open cooling circuit does limescale cleaning regularly to revive cooling performance temporarily. This way still cause power consumption increase every year.
Closed cooling circuit uses can restrict the rise in impurities concentration to prevent limescale, and remain operate efficiency stably.(To know Principle of closed circuit cooling tower)
