Bridger Scientific specializes in the quantification of fouling which impedes heat transfer performance. Our flagship product, the DATS (Deposit Accumulation Testing System) was developed and evolves with this objective in mind. Biofilms and mineral scale accumulation on heat transfer surfaces cost industry millions of dollars annually in lost production and reduced energy efficiency. Various chemical, mechanical, operational, and non-traditional methods are applied in an attempt to control industrial fouling with varying levels of success. Numerous environmental regulations impose further constraints on the solutions that may be applied and their ultimate effectiveness. Our DATS, and the related equipment we manufacture and sell, are used to evaluate the effectiveness of various strategies so that the process can be economically optimized for your situation.

PC Software for the DATS 3 is now available!
Software for the DATS 3 fouling monitor has (finally) been written to directly capture data from serial port communications. The new software will assist customers who have been using the MS Hyperterminal Windows application for DATS 3 logging

Ownership change – August 2005, David Schlottenmier entered into agreement with John Garey to purchase a majority ownership of Bridger Scientific. Mr. Schlottenmier was a long time employee of Bridger Scientific starting in 1989. more...

ProDATS Design Evolves – The ProDATS probe and sidestream configuration continue to evolve. The device was developed under a Navy/SBIR contract to monitor shipboard heat exchanger fouling.

Mission Statement

Our business is to design and build instrumentation to objectively quantify the deleterious effects of fouling in industrial, commercial and electric utility equipment. We believe there are numerous mutually beneficial opportunities in the world today for our technology. Industry will benefit from improved efficiency, reduced material costs (fuel) and reduced operating cost (unscheduled shutdowns), regulators will benefit by enhanced compliance and improved documentation, and finally the public will benefit from reduced chemical discharge and improved control.

At present our equipment is primarily used to monitor the thermal performance degradation in industrial heat exchangers on a side stream flow.
We have developed and tested numerous systems and methods related to our primary technology which await commercialization. Join our mailing list or visit frequently to learn about these products as they become available. If you have a special need or assistance with research in our field, please contact us. We are always interested in discussing new opportunities and sharing ideas and opinions.

As a small business, we maintain the flexibility and initiative to customize and modify our products to suit your needs. Our primary fields or experience, interest and application are:

Side stream instruments for thermal performance monitoring.

Our DATS, high temperature and high pressure versions
Alternative fluid monitoring for heat transfer degradation with time
Tube coating tests – polymers, ceramics, ablative - for thermal and hydraulic performance
Thermal performance monitoring of industrial equipment and related instrumentation (on equipment)

Physical inspection of tube sheet surfaces, photo documentation and reporting
Flow measurement via mechanical, ultrasonic, magnetic technologies
Temperature measurement including stratified thermal discharge
Heat flux and thermal power measurement – localized or gross calculations
Instrumentation to optimize cooling water fouling control via chemical feed (biocides and scales inhibitors)

Data interpretation, calculation and documentation
Monitor performance of chemical treatment programs independently and objectively

Use of remote, automated data logging on various instrumentation
Our products and technology are commonly used by all of the following industries:

Electric power utilities using cooling water derived from the ocean, river, well or reclaimed waste
Petroleum refineries – aqueous cooling of petrochemicals from crude to finish goods
Chemical process plants – aqueous cooling of process at various stages
Metal refining/smelting, mini mills – cooling of crucibles, dies and fume handling equipment
Mining – pipelines, acid leach processes, thermal processes
HVAC chillers/cooling towers – compression and absorption refrigeration processes
Industrial process
Breweries/distillation – biofouling of intermediate stages
Ship board / ocean going vessel – sea chest, power plant and refrigeration/cooling system fouling
Desalination (thermal and reverse osmosis)
Paper and paper pulp processing