Corrosion control strategies highlighted for closed cooling water systems

Closed cooling systems commonly circulate high-purity water, but corrosion can still occur when oxygen enters the system through makeup water, expansion tanks, or leaking seals. Dissolved oxygen drives electrochemical reactions that lead to metal oxidation and rust formation in common system materials such as carbon steel and copper alloys.

To control corrosion, facilities often rely on chemical inhibitors such as nitrite or molybdate to create protective films on metal surfaces, while azoles are used to protect copper alloys. Maintaining proper pH—often in a mildly alkaline range—is also critical for inhibitor performance.

Additional practices include sidestream filtration to remove corrosion products and periodic monitoring of inhibitor levels and water chemistry. Together, these measures help maintain heat exchanger performance and reduce the risk of failures that could disrupt industrial operations.

The article referenced in this story originally ran as Corrosion control in closed cooling water systems on Processing Magazine, an EndeavorB2B partner site.