When scale is present in the chiller condenser tubes, the systems compressor works harder, drawing extra current. This increases energy costs, affects system longevity and prevents the equipment from achieving optimum efficiency. 

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When water is heated or evaporated, solid matter called scale is left behind. This scale can affect the efficiency of water cooled systems and the overall life of the equipment. Scale can also form thick deposits on heat transfer areas, reducing water flow, decreasing heat transfer and cause high head pressure. Aside from increasing energy costs, the extra demand placed on the compressor can affect equipment lifetime and prevent the compressor from achieving optimum capacity. Only 1/8" of scale can effect capacity by 20-25%.

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The outdoor portion of a chilled water system is a cooling tower is a designed to heat from the water the so that it can be recirculated. Since chillers use about 5 times the energy of the cooling tower, more attention is usually paid to the chiller. Chiller efficiency is reduced if the design chiller condenser water temperature cannot be supplied. For Every 1°F the condenser water supply temperature rises above design, chiller efficiency is reduced by 2%. To compound the problem, accumulated tower debris delivered to the to the chiller with the condenser water contributes to condenser fouling, which further reduces chiller efficiency. The hot water is typically sprayed across a large media or surface area. A fan at the top of the cooling tower draws air up through the tower to cool the water flowing over the fill media. "Fill" is the medium used in cooling towers to increase the surface area and is an essential components in the evaporative heat rejection process.