All you need to know about boiler feed water treatment plant

Boiler feed water treatment is important and necessary due to the importance of boilers in many industries. Providing a water treatment plant with a reverse osmosis system is the best way to maintain its quality and extend its life.

The importance of providing a boiler feed water treatment plant

Boiler feed water treatment plants remove many contaminants, such as iron, silica, sodium, and chlorides. It also solves the problem of water hardness or hardness. The basic process removes suspended matter prior to reverse osmosis (dissolved solids reduction). The reverse osmosis pretreatment usually consists of coagulation, flocculation, filtering, sand filtration, etc. Essentially 100% of the suspended particles should be removed in the pretreatment. Reverse osmosis removes about +99% of the salts and dissolved solids in water.

Benefits of boiler feed water treatment

• Protect steam boilers from calcification and corrosion if left unattended.
• Prevent limescale from dangerously weakening machines.
• There will be no need to use additional fuel to heat the same amount of water due to the increased thermal resistance.
• Dirty, poor-quality water can become a breeding ground for bacteria, which are a public health hazard.
• Remove dissolved oxygen and maintain boiler water at an appropriate degree of acidity. Whereas, in low-pressure boilers, corrosion occurs due to dissolved oxygen and hyperacidity or alkalinity.
• Improve efficiency, extend reactor life, and make operations more efficient and safe.

What is boiler feed water treatment?

Boiler feed water treatment is a type of industrial water treatment that focuses on removing and chemically modifying substances capable of causing damage to a boiler or boiler. Different types of treatment are used at different locations in order to avoid limescale, corrosion, or mixing of steam with water mist (foaming).

External treatment of boiler feed water sources focuses on removing impurities before they reach the boiler. The internal treatment focuses on reducing the solubility of water inside the boiler, as well as keeping impurities in harmless forms before they can be removed from the boiler using high-pressure blowing.

Reverse osmosis technology has proven unparalleled effectiveness in boiler feed water treatment plants, you can learn more about it here.

Steam boiler malfunctions and their causes

First, mechanical failures

1. The water level in the side statement bottle is not clear, due to the accumulation of salts on the bottle.
2. Water level gauges give incorrect signals. This happens either because of the presence of salts in the buoy or a hole and water entering it, so it must be changed.
3. The boiler feed water pump is not giving the required pressure due to the pump gasket being damaged or the impeller being damaged.
4. Steam leakage into the boiler cleaning holes.
5. Decreased efficiency of the steam boiler due to the use of non-chemically treated feed water, low temperature of the feed water or the presence of blockages in the flame tubes preventing the passage of combustion gases.

Second: electrical faults

• A malfunction of the lighter (burner) occurs for several reasons, including:

1. The presence of fire products on the internal parts and the lack of cleanliness.
2. The fuel filter is not clean.
3. Double fuel pump pressure.
4. The spark plug is damaged because the spark electrodes are not clean
5. The fuel inlet safety valve damaged

• A malfunction in the electrical panel of the boiler or an increase in the pressure of the water supply pumps.
• A malfunction in the pressure stat sensors.

Steam boiler maintenance

First, the maintenance method

1. The boiler feed water must be properly treated, which is important to extend the life of the boiler and ensure safe operation.
2. The temperature of the feed water should be close to the temperature of the furnace, preferably above 20°C.
3. The low water level cutting device should be checked, maintained, and cleaned regularly. The water level controller is cleaned at least once a month and the water level gauge is flushed at least once a day. The water level should be cleared at a higher water level; After cleaning the water level should not be lower than the minimum safe water level.
4. It is necessary to carry out the process of draining sewage regularly, at least once daily (per shift). After draining the sewage, check the sewage valve leakage due to the impact of dirt; If so, it should be excluded.
5. When the furnace is closed without maintaining the steam pressure, the boiler steam space will generate negative pressure and retain air. Therefore, the total vapor valve must be opened first when the combustion is raised again.
6. After the ash is accumulated in the pipe, it will lead to an increase in the exhaust gas temperature, which will reduce the boiler efficiency and increase fuel consumption. Therefore, the front and rear door covers should be opened regularly to remove or empty ash from the pipe.

Second: shutdown maintenance and anti-corrosion

1. After the boiler is closed, maintenance must be carried out to prevent corrosion inside the boiler.
2. Short-term maintenance. A wet maintenance method can be adopted; after the furnace is turned off, the furnace water is filled and the air is completely emptied.
3. Long-term maintenance. A dry maintenance method can be used, that is, drain the furnace water after turning off the furnace, open the lower hand hole, blow the water into the bowl, put the desiccant into the lower hand hole, can be replaced regularly, can start the monthly inspection and replace once, can be done once One every three months. However, it should be noted that all desiccant must be removed before activating the kettle.

Third: Monitoring and maintenance

1. During boiler operation the equipment is checked hourly, focusing on the operation of the boiler safety components and circulation equipment.
2. The project cycle of inspection, testing, and regular operation of boiler equipment and loading on site are specified as codes.
3. Operation personnel fills in the records in time according to the inspection.
4. The site should always be kept clean, with no debris, dirt build-up, water or grease.