CURE Chemicals in Renewables and Power
QUATERNARY COMPOUND CONQUERS CRUSTACEANS
Gulf Power Station solved debilitating macro-fouling challenge with Gradiant's innovative quaternary compound, leading to an ongoing clean operation and equipment, zero shutdowns, >20X ROI, and 25% reduced electrical consumption.
Fast Facts
Location: Gulf Region
End User: Power Generation
Application: Cooling System
Solution: Once Through Cooling
Industry: Renewables & Power
Feedwater Source: Seawater
CURE Chemical: Biocide
The Challenge
A Gulf Region Power Station grappled with a persistent macrofouling issue in its cooling system. Invasive aquatic species were causing substantial blockages and impairments, diminishing flow in the intake systems and efficiencies in downstream heat exchangers. Previous attempts to address the problem involved an increase in chlorine dosages. However, this approach risked compromising system performance and breaching the strict 0.2 ppm discharge limit. The electro-chlorinators struggled to meet demand without substantial system upgrades.
The Solution
Gradiant stepped in with a nuanced solution, leveraging a more effective strategy that would bypass the species’ natural chemoreceptors, evolved to sense chlorine and other toxins to prevent intake. Developing a dual program of chlorine and a specialized quaternary compound, developed with unique characteristics undetectable to the species, proved an efficient alternative. Gradiant optimized the dosage rate and frequency, ensuring the systematic elimination of macrofouling.
The Benefits
After six months of implementation, thorough visual inspections of cooling water pumps revealed a significant improvement. Pump internals were found to be clean, devoid of any macrofouling that had previously plagued the system. This not only enhanced cooling system efficiency and reliability but also eliminated the need for unplanned shutdowns for cleaning. Even during planned maintenance, the time required for cleanings dramatically decreased, resulting in substantial labor savings and a reduction in safety hazards associated with high-pressure equipment and diver interventions.
Impact Stats
>3 YEARS
of uninterrupted operation
ZERO
unscheduled shutdowns
>20 X
return on investment, (factoring in time and labor savings, safety hazard removal, and more)
25%
reduction in electricity consumption for intake pumps, surpassing industry averages.
