Boiler feed water is specially treated water used for steam generation in power plants or other facilities. During treatment, care must be taken to remove substances responsible for corrosion or the formation of solid precipitates, such as scale, within the systems. ATN is at your side with all its expertise when planning treatment systems for boiler feed water.
In general, water that is continuously fed into a system to generate steam is referred to as feed water or boiler feed water. Large quantities of boiler feed water are required in steam power plants, for example. A steam boiler and the associated generation of steam are also required for various process engineering operations or for driving steam turbines or steam engines. The operation of such systems requires specially treated feed water from which components that are detrimental to the operation of a boiler or the corresponding system have been removed. These harmful substances include, for example, alkaline earth metals. At higher temperatures, these components can deposit on heating surfaces. They form an insulating layer and prevent heat transfer. As a result, parts of the system can overheat. Furthermore, various gases dissolved in the water, such as hydrocarbons, lead to corrosion. The following components can interfere with boiler operation and are often responsible for malfunctions: salts or alkaline earth metals, metals dissolved in the water, silicic acid (SiO2), gases such as O and CO, suspended solids, emulsified oil particles.
There are several reasons why the quality requirements for boiler feed water are so high. Among other things, the materials used in the systems depend on the necessary quality of the feed water. Naturally, operating conditions such as prevailing temperatures or pressure ratios also play a significant role. Especially at higher temperatures or unfavorable pressure conditions, the content of electrolytes should be as low as possible to counteract corrosion. In many systems, it is also crucial to keep electrical conductivity as low as possible. Values significantly below 1 µS/cm are often required. Electrical conductivity is also one of the main reasons why the oxygen content in the systems must be kept as low as possible. Of course, the pH value is also a very important factor for system operation. ATN supports you in the professional implementation of water treatment systems for the production of high-quality boiler feed water.
Often, several treatment processes must be applied simultaneously to obtain pure boiler feed water. The most frequently used methods include the following:
conventional filtration and/or membrane processes, desalination using ion exchange, reverse osmosis with softening, electrodeionization (EDI).
Filtration and Membrane Processes
Special pressure filters can be used to remove impurities such as iron, manganese compounds, or carbonic acid from water. As a rule, the filter materials used in these closed systems are selected based on the properties of the feed water. The corresponding pressure filters are usually relatively small and can be equipped with automatic venting upon request.
Ion Exchange
Ultrapure water for industrial applications very often passes through special ion exchangers. These are systems developed specifically for their respective fields of application, some of which achieve quite high volume flows. They allow ions dissolved in materials to be replaced by other ions of the same charge. They are filled with a special material or equipped with a membrane. Ion exchangers are particularly frequently used for the desalination or decalcification of water intended for industrial use.
Reverse Osmosis
Reverse osmosis systems are a water treatment process that works with semi-permeable membranes to filter heavy metals or other pollutants out of the water. Another variation of this process involves the use of electric or magnetic fields for water softening.
Electrodeionization
This is an electrochemical process in which ions and ionizing substances are removed from the water. Strictly speaking, it is a combination of ion exchange and electrodialysis. Electrodeionization takes place in the EDI module. In this module, water passes through various chambers with electric fields, where individual ions migrate due to their charge. This method offers several advantages: continuous desalination of water can take place using only electric current. No chemicals are required. Furthermore, it is a very economical process characterized by low power and water consumption. As a rule, this is the final purification stage for producing ultrapure water, which is required in various sectors such as the pharmaceutical or semiconductor industries.
With the help of the ATN specialist team, you can professionally implement a wide range of industrial water purification tasks. We offer cross-industry services and solutions for water treatment: from consulting and planning to the construction of the necessary systems, research and development, and service and maintenance. When fulfilling customer requirements, we can always draw on the advantages of our diverse collaborations with specialized partner companies. This enables us to design customized water treatment systems for you that are specifically tailored to your areas of application. It is very important to us to offer you opportunities for the economic success of your investments through professional consulting, planning, and the cost-effective implementation of your goals. Thanks to various processes such as electrodeionization, reverse osmosis, and, not least, conventional filtration methods, we—and therefore you—have every option available to produce boiler feed water cost-effectively and efficiently. Benefit from our many years of experience in this field. We would be happy to take the time for a personal consultation and look forward to your inquiry.
Our team of specialists looks forward to answering your questions.
Phone: +49 7044 - 91584-0
Fax: +49 7044 - 91584-99
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