Dit post was submitted by AQ Group.
The water and industrial sectors are facing increasing pressure to improve efficiency in energy use, water consumption and overall system performance. Installations are expected to operate more reliably, while requirements related to sustainability and regulations continue to grow. This calls for a different approach to how technical systems are managed and maintained.
Within cooling systems, such as condensers and cooling towers, fouling is still often an underestimated factor in system performance. Not because it immediately leads to failures, but because it gradually causes deviations in performance. Systems operate outside their optimal range, resulting in higher energy consumption and less predictable behaviour.
As a result, the focus is shifting from reactive maintenance to actively managing system performance. In this context, not only energy plays a role, but also water quality and the prevention of unwanted build-up of fouling and biofilm, particularly in cooling towers.
Within AQ water, we see this development reflected in market demand. Where the focus was previously on executing cleaning activities, attention is now increasingly directed towards determining the right timing and the most effective approach. Maintenance is becoming an integral part of the overall management of water and energy systems.
By carrying out targeted and periodic cleaning, deviations can be minimized and systems can continue to operate closer to their design performance. This contributes to more stable operation, better control over energy consumption and improved management of water quality.
The sector is therefore moving towards a more integrated approach, where maintenance, water management and energy efficiency are becoming increasingly interconnected.
