Water is needed not only for people and other living beings for normal life. It is used for other purposes. It is used in industry in the production of various products, as well as for the normal functioning of some equipment. Of course, for these purposes it is not necessary to use purified or drinking water.
What it is?
Process water is hydrogen oxide (a binary compound of H 2 O) taken from any source and used in industry. Simply put, this is ordinary water, but not for drinking. In addition, particles of organic origin may be present in its composition.
Although, unlike drinking, there is no GOST for industrial water, it should still be of proper quality and have all the necessary characteristics that the customer presents. Clients in this case are various enterprises. They can use water for any purpose: for the production of finished products, in the technological process, and also as the main component for the operation of machine units and other equipment. For example, it is used in any complex hydraulic systems, machine drives, etc.
Technical water characteristics
No less high requirements are imposed on industrial quality than on drinking water. Technical characteristics determine its functionality and ability to be used in various fields of activity. Of the main parameters that receive the most attention, the following can be emphasized:
- Structure. Basically, these include various acids (for example, carbon dioxide), ammonia, nitrates and nitrites, oxygen, as well as iron, sulfates, etc. For some purposes, it is also necessary that the technical water undergo a bacterial check.
- The presence of particles of mineral and organic origin. Depending on the purpose, suspended solids may or may not be present in the water. This indicator is determined by technical standards specified in the relevant state standard.
- Sediment. The composition of water should not have a dry residue. If it is present in large quantities, then this indicates a low quality. Such process water cannot be used in steam boilers and other similar equipment.
- Rigidity. One of the most important technical specifications. Many enterprises refuse to use water if it does not meet the stringency standards. Some manufacturers even artificially raise or lower this indicator to the proper level. After all, otherwise you will have to abandon the use of such water.
- Color. Not all industrial enterprises pay due attention to this parameter, but there are some. For example, high-quality paper manufacturers use only “clean” water.
- Smell. Companies that care about the final product use water without pungent and unpleasant odors. After all, as you know, this will affect the quality of the product, and hence its value.
- Oxidation. Many enterprises pay attention to this characteristic. After all, the higher the oxidizability of water, the greater the chance that it will foam during heating or damage products.
- Hydrogen indicator. According to the norms, it must be at least 5.5 pH.
- Temperature. Depending on the destination, the water may be cold or hot. In addition, some enterprises apply it at approximately room temperature.
Consumers
Typically, such water is used in three areas of industry:
- As the main working component. The consumers of this group include: TPPs, nuclear power plants, TPPs and other enterprises using heating and cooling systems. For such customers, delivery of industrial water is carried out without suspended solids, since the life of specific communications will depend on this.
- In the process. In other words, water from such consumers is used not only to create a product, but also as the main component that affects its quality. Clients are many engineering companies, representatives of the electronics industry , etc.
- For the production of finished products. Consumers in this category include enterprises engaged in the manufacture of cleaning products for automobiles, pharmaceutical and cosmetic factories, etc. In this case, process water must be of high quality and have excellent characteristics. It should not contain precipitation, particles of mineral and organic origin.
As can be seen from the above, each consumer has his own requirements for water parameters. That is why there are several types of it:
- Distilled.
- Clean.
- Water for special purposes.
Distilled
Such water must necessarily meet all the requirements that are prescribed in GOST 6709-72, as well as in other regulatory documents. You can get it in special distillation apparatuses. It is intended for the analysis of chemical reagents, as well as for the preparation of solutions based on them.
The main characteristic of such process water is its electrical conductivity. Based on this indicator, other quantities are determined. For example, electrical resistance, the value of which must be known when conducting research with liquid chemicals.
"Pure water
It's hard to imagine, but there is one! Its composition does not include salts or any other undesirable particles. But this does not mean that such industrial water is potable. It is used in microelectronics, for example, for growing crystals.
Special Purpose Water
It is used almost everywhere: in steam boilers, aquariums for fish, as well as in electroplating.
The treatment of special-purpose industrial water depends on the area in which it is used. For example, some enterprises require that its composition be necessarily ionic particles. For others, on the contrary, their absence is necessary.
In addition, to achieve some goals, water with a high concentration of organic substances (mineral) is required. Most often it is used in physiotherapy and balneology.