Symptoms and Self-Check

First, identify the type of scale and its location to determine the cleaning method. If scaling recurs, cleaning only addresses the immediate issue; the water treatment strategy must be adjusted accordingly.

Scaling manifests as reduced heat transfer with normal flow, while clogging causes increased pressure drop and reduced flow; both often occur simultaneously.

Common causes include fouling of the heat exchange surface, insufficient water flow, or reduced cooling tower efficiency. Inspect the water circuit section by section.

Fouling is a common cause, but it could also be due to vacuum system leaks, reduced ejector efficiency, or elevated cooling water temperature.

Fouling in aftercoolers and oil coolers directly raises exhaust gas temperature, a common cause of high-temperature alarms in summer.

Primarily composed of calcium carbonate scale and deposits formed by wet-dry cycles, often accompanied by algal slime.

Fouling reduces the flow cross-section, but so can valve throttling, filter clogging, or reduced pump efficiency.

An increase in terminal temperature difference usually indicates rising thermal resistance on the heat exchange surface, which may be caused by fouling, slime buildup, or insufficient flow.

Scaling increases system resistance, requiring the pump to deliver higher head and potentially raising current; however, valve and impeller issues can also cause this.

Scale rate was not controlled. Cleaning only removed existing deposits; investigate water makeup quality, concentration ratio, and chemical dosing to identify the root cause.

Determine whether the cloudiness is caused by bubbles, suspended particles, or algae/bacterial growth. Temporary cloudiness can be monitored; persistent cloudiness requires investigation.

Odors and slime are typically caused by bacterial and algal growth, as well as organic buildup. These issues commonly occur in systems with high water temperatures, high cycles of concentration, or inadequate disinfection.