Biofilm Control Program (BCP™) cooling water treatment chemicals clean your cooling water systems and keep them clean
AMSA BCP™ chemistry along with a biocide will help you control biofouling. BCP™ products, based on well-known DTEA II™, are effective dispersants, penetrating aids and cleaners for controlling organic deposits. They can be used in two modes: (1) clean-up of fouled systems and (2) prevention of fouling from occurring in clean systems.
Do you have a biofouling problem?
If your cooling water process has any of the following issues, you might have a biofouling problem that requires treatment to improve performance and service life of your cooling system
Visual evidence of biofouling
Scale embedded in biofilm on fill |
Biofilm on a heat exchanger tube sheet |
Microbially induced corrosion (MIC) |
Dirty foam during cleaning |
Diagnostic test results
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High Petrifilm counts |
Dipslides 105 CFU/mL or higher |
Other evidence of biofouling
High ATP test values. ATP testing is fast relative to Petrifilms and dipslides, and thus very convenient. High ATP values for the bulk circulating water correspond with high bacterial counts, but the ATP values are only relative numbers and do not give an actual bacterial count like dipslides. ATP testing is most informative to track release of biofilm from surfaces into the bulk water after using a cleaner/dispersant like DTEA II™ and other BCP™ chemistries. ATP values will spike in the recirculating water during cleaning operations as large quantities of biofilm are released. After successive treatments with DTEA II, the spikes in ATP values will decrease and level off indicating low levels of biofilm deposits remaining in the system.
Presence of SRB. Sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) are anaerobic microorganisms which proliferate in oxygen-free zones in natural and industrial environments. The presence of SRB in an industrial system’s aerobic recirculating water is an indicator of anaerobic conditions, possibly in heavy biofouling deposits and/or deadlegs in the system.
Suspended solids. Suspended solids released after treatment with a dispersant, such as DTEA II, can indicate the presence of biofouling. After successive treatments with DTEA II, the amount of suspended solids will decrease and level off indicating low levels of biofilm deposits remaining.
Loss on ignition. Analysis of deposit samples may indicate a significant amount of “loss on ignition” which is attributed to organic carbon-based deposits (biofouling).
Poor heat transfer as indicated by reduced heat exchanger efficiency.
High levels of metals in your bulk water. High amounts of corrosion products as measured by metals analysis in water samples may indicate high amounts of microbially induced corrosion from biofouling.
If you have any of these signs, you might have a biofouling problem.
Controlling Biofilm
Cooling systems with inadequate biofouling control generally have problems with poor heat transfer efficiency, under-deposit corrosion, and Legionella bacteria control. Generally water treatment programs rely on oxidizing and non-oxidizing biocides to control biofouling.
Biocides alone do not get the job done.
Effective cooling water systems require a Biofilm Control Program.
Treatment Methods and Dosages for BCP™ 1015 series chemistry (DTEA II™)
Cleanup and Maintenance
Clean it Up!
Slug Dose: 50 – 100 ppm BCP™ 1015
- Dose each day or until system performance measurements and visual inspection show satisfactory removal of organic deposits and system clean-up.
Super Slug Dose – Clean-up of heavily fouled systems: 100 ppm BCP™ 1015
- Dose at high concentration dose (100 ppm) of BCP™ 1015 at 1 – 4 hour intervals (depending on system size) to penetrate and disperse organic deposits from the surfaces
- At appropriate intervals, initiate an enhanced/manual blow down to remove released organic deposits & non-organic deposits from the system
- Repeat dose and enhanced/manual blow down cycle as needed
Keep it Clean!
Maintenance – Slug Dose: 25 – 65 ppm BCP™ 1015
- Dose 1 to 3 times per week
- Optimize the amount (ppm) and frequency of dosing by monitoring your system water quality measurements and setting the dosage to keep the system clean.
Regular use of BCP™ 1015 along with a traditional scale/corrosion/biocide treatment program will keep your system clean, and help you achieve an effective Biofilm Control Program.
Also see BCP™ 1000 Series – Biofilm Control Program Application Guide for BCP™ 1015 dosing guidelines
