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Tech Tip June 1997

Process Water for Molding:


With summer fast approaching the temperatures increasing, concerns turn to the water systems. I have written previous articles on cooling rates and capacities but lets just list some basic concerns.

Spare pump / pumps;
Do you have your system plumbed so that should you lose the primary pump, that by the switch of a few valves you are now using the back up pump? Or you do have that spare motor and pump in the maintenance area and it just bolts in. If in fact, you are like a lot of shops, you may not even have the spare pump.

Water Treatment;
How is the water? Growing the green stuff or funky looking? With the raise in temperature, especially on towers we may have to adjust various chemicals and additives we put into the system. We can achieve better cooling with less particulate floating in them, especially true when we start blocking off some of those small bubblers.

Condensation;
Please watch the buildup of condensation on the waterlines, molds and pipes. How many times have we all tried to solve for splay, or moisture, and it turned out to be water that was dripping off the pipes running in the ceiling.

Cycle time increases;
If this happens to you in the coming months, it might be time to audit the system and evaluate the alternatives to making it more efficient.

I know these are real concerns when I walk into plants and pardon my directness and sense of humor, but folks its the little things that get us and the small details always seem to grow. Have a great summer and thanks to all of you for the opportunity to contribute to the Spearhead.



Thanks for the time.

Steven L Silvey
Sr. Technical Service
General Polymers