Although it is indicated in the previous article that the water conditioning process started with starch, following with the inclusion of chemists into the work, it was found that scaling (scale, lime layer), and calcium, magnesium salts, and silica has precipitated with heat effect. The structure produced by calcium and magnesium salts is called hardness, and after replacing it with sodium salts, soft water is obtained by removing the hardness.

It was seen that it creates a mild water but does not stick to the phosphate salts and the clot, and it can be thrown from the boilers, especially through blow off, phosphate-based conditioning has been applied for decades. With the occurrence of the famous oil crisis in the 1970s, the energy costs, which were close to being free until that day, required to keep an eye on the steam boiler blow-off.

It does not create a boiler load like inorganic phosphate salts in the conditioning made with organic phosphate compounds (organophosphates) found in these rows, forming less and less adhering mud, they quickly replaced phosphates because they were able to disperse the sludge, work at higher water concentrations and be more stable. The start of organic conditioning caused 5 to 12% of improvements in steam costs.  Organophosphates cannot be used only in high-pressure boilers due to deterioration in their thermal stability. The usage of dispersants with the organophosphates has started in that period and continues today.

With the development of the industry, the requirement of cooling of various machines has also been come up. In the beginning, open cooling systems were installed where water was thrown after cooling. But in cases where water sources are limited, cooling towers and semi-open cooling systems were invented and it was observed that scale formation in these systems also interrupts cooling. There is a history of chemicals in cooling water similar to steam boilers. In our time, phosphonates, dispersants, biocides, and cooling waters are conditioned, where the blow-off is determined by “saturation.”

Open chillers are still used in thermal or nuclear power plants, where they have a very high capacity of cooling needs, and therefore, these facilities are located nearby the large rivers or seaside.