Field data
LAX Terminal 5 iron removal study
HydroFlux studied iron capture in an operating chilled water system over 10 months. The report includes filter comparisons, field observations and test limits.
In short
01 / System context
Ferrous fouling in the HVAC systems
The field report describes iron deposits affecting chilled water equipment at LAX. The project tested magnetic treatment with filtration to capture iron-rich material.
HydroFlux prepared the report. It provides field evidence, not independent certification or a guarantee of performance at another site.
02 / Executive summary
Key results
- Lower sampled iron
- 87%
- June–December 2024: 3.9 to 0.51 ppm
- Captured mass
- +9.1%
- Selected aggregated tests
- Field study
- 10 mo
- LAX Terminal 5
03 / Field observations
Filter capture and iron readings
The report describes a bag filter saturated with iron-rich material. Side-stream flow was not measured in that first phase.
Customer records separately show the dated iron readings here. The June reading came after the first bracelet installation, so it is not a pre-installation baseline.
- June 25, 2024
- 3.9 ppm
- December 10 and 17, 2024
- 0.51 ppm
04 / Test 02
Two-filter treated vs control
A field comparison used flow totalization and weighed filters on treated and comparison streams with unequal placement and flow conditions.
| Metric | Treated | Control |
|---|---|---|
| Total flow | 2,082,882 gal | 2,159,924 gal |
| Captured material | 912 g | 867 g |
| Grams per 1,000 gal | 0.4379 g | 0.4014 g |
The report selected its best-performing tests for this comparison. The 9.1% figure compares captured material per volume filtered; it is not a single-pass removal rate or a filter-life result.
05 / Limitations
Limits and trial planning
Planning your trial
- Agree on success measures before testing
- Use comparable flow and filter placement where practical
- Measure flow and captured material consistently
- Record cleaning, filter service and other operating changes
Measure results at your site
Agree on a baseline, useful comparisons and success measures before a trial.