Process Critical Closed Loop

Water Treatment for Process-Critical Closed Loops

Maximise the operational efficiency of your process-critical systems with our safe, efficient, easy-to-use solution for these integrated closed loops.

Our offerings for process-critical closed loops (PCCL) help you properly control temperature, increasing equipment throughput and efficiency while reducing downtime and total cost of operation (TCO).

What are Process-Critical Closed Loops (PCCL)?

  • PCCL are systems, typically with small volumes of water (e.g., 5-600 litres), used to cool key processes
  • Although the water volumes are small, their role is vital in regulating the temperature of these pieces of equipment
  • Without proper temperature control, PCCL processes can’t function effectively. In some cases, the systems must be shutdown or can only operate at reduced throughput and efficiency, increasing total cost of operation (TCO)

Equipment with PCCL may have some or all of the following characteristics:

  • Performs a precise job
  • Made for high performance and high reliability
  • Has a relatively low tolerance for temperature variation
  • Generates heat that must be dissipated for the equipment to work properly

Examples of equipment with PCCL include: metal 3D printers, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) machines, laser cutting tools, semiconductor tools & testers, and supercomputers, among others.

Laser cutter cutting circles out of metal sheet.

Laser Cutting Tools

light, manufacturing, MRI, scan, hospital

MRI Machines

light, manufacturing, MRI, scan, hospital

Metal 3D Printers

Learn More About Water Treatment 
for Process-Critical Closed Loops

Nalco Water brochure with image of interior of hard drive.

Brochure

Learn more about process-critical closed loops

Download Brochure
light, manufacturing, data, microelectronics

Enhancing Productivity in the Microelectronics Industry

A semiconductor producer and a testing equipment manufacturer saved more than $700 million per year with a programme for process-critical closed loops from Nalco Water.

Learn More

Why is proper treatment critical for these loops?

Four water-related problems are most common in these types of systems:

  • Scale
  • Microbiological growth
  • Corrosion
  • Fouling

These issues can result in reduced efficiency, increased downtime risk and loss of production throughput. When poor water treatment quality is the issue, customer or production personnel dissatisfaction can occur with the equipment. This can lead to diminished equipment sales or additional warranty-related support costs. 

Products such as deionized (DI) water, ethylene glycol and glycol-based additives are commonly used to dissipate heat in PCCL equipment. However, assessments show traditional options may not successfully mitigate all four potential issues. The Nalco Water PCCL programme efficiently addresses all of these water-related problems, while achieving optimal heating transferring capacity.

Close up image of metal machinery with rusted, damaged parts.

Without effective water treatment

Close up of clean, un-rusted metal machinery.

After implementing a water treatment programme from Nalco Water

Nalco Water Approaches PCCLs with Your Success in Mind

Nalco Water works with you and your design engineers to examine existing and potential designs. Often, water-related challenges can be avoided with careful consideration in this phase.

Nalco Water works with you at your manufacturing site, ensuring PCCLs are kept free and clear from microbio fouling, scale and corrosion as they’re built, avoiding in-transit water-related issues.

Once certified for shipment, our Build Clean protocols provide you and your customer with confidence that the unit is ready for installation and start-up when it reaches its final destination.

The treatment protocol developed by you and your Nalco Water team will be designed to maximise uptime, provide for environmental and regulatory compliance and ease of end-customer application.


How does Nalco Water support PCCL Systems?

Consulting Analytical Support

  • To determine causes of water-related challenges your customers may be experiencing
  • Solutions might be metallurgical, treatment, operational or a combination
Two Ecolab experts in industrial room, filled with pipes and equipment, training.

Training

  • For your service and field engineers, so they can convey the impact of these programmes to your customers
  • Develop case studies with you to accentuate the competitive advantage your products can offer when paired with a Nalco Water programme
  • Properly deploy and implement water treatment programmes 
Ecolab expert in laboratory setting with lab coat and protective eyewear, mixing chemicals.

Customized Treatment

  • Customized treatment chemistry for your PCCL systems

How can you show a return on your investment
with Nalco Water?

light, manufacturing, data, heat exchanger, closed loop, aluminum

We can work with you to measure improved customer satisfaction, reductions in downtime and/or warranty claims and improvement in results. Potential areas of return include:

  • Reduced risk of customer production losses due to insufficient cooling
  • Reduced risk of production curtailment or quality loss
  • Higher customer satisfaction due to higher system uptime
  • Enhanced reputation for reliability
  • New, recurring revenue and profit streams from treated water solution sales