Phosphate
Phosphate
Phosphate
Boiler water is the liquid phase of steam within a boiler. The term may also be applied to raw
water intended for use in boilers, treated boiler feedwater, steam condensate being returned to a
boiler, or boiler blowdown being removed from a boiler.
Contents
1 Early practice
2 Boiler water treatment
3 Within the boiler
o 3.1 Oxygen Scavengers
o 3.2 Coagulation
o 3.3 Phosphates
o 3.4 Chelants
4 Feedwater
5 Make-up water
6 See also
7 Sources
8 Notes
Early practice
Boiler feed water pump
Impurities in water will leave solid deposits as steam evaporates. These solid deposits thermally
insulate heat exchange surfaces initially decreasing the rate of steam generation, and potentially
causing boiler metals to reach failure temperatures. [1] Boiler explosions were not uncommon until
surviving boiler operators learned how to periodically clean their boilers. Some solids could be
removed by cooling the boiler so differential thermal expansion caused brittle crystalline solids
to crack and flake off metal boiler surfaces. Other solids were removed by acid washing or
mechanical scouring.[2] Various rates of boiler blowdown could reduce the frequency of cleaning,
but efficient operation and maintenance of individual boilers was determined by trial and error
until chemists devised means of measuring and adjusting water quality to minimize cleaning
requirements.
At the elevated temperatures and pressures within a boiler, water exhibits different physical and
chemical properties than those observed at room temperature and atmospheric pressure.
Chemicals may be added to maintain pH levels minimizing water solubility of boiler materials
while allowing efficient action of other chemicals added to prevent foaming, to consume oxygen
before it corrodes the boiler, to precipitate dissolved solids before they form scale on steam-
generating surfaces, and to remove those precipitates from the vicinity of the steam-generating
surfaces.[5]
Oxygen Scavengers
Sodium sulphite or hydrazine may be used to maintain reducing conditions within the boiler. [6]
Sulphite is less desirable in boilers operating at pressures above 1,000 pounds per square inch
(6,900 kPa);[7] because sulfates formed by combination with oxygen may form sulfate scale or
decompose into corrosive sulfur dioxide or hydrogen sulfide at elevated temperatures. [8] Excess
hydrazine may evaporate with steam to provide corrosion protection by neutralizing carbon
dioxide in the steam condensate system;[9] but it may also decompose into ammonia which will
attack copper alloys. Products based on filming amines such as Helamin may be preferred for
corrosion protection of condensate systems with copper alloys.[8]
Coagulation
Boilers operating at pressures less than 200 pounds per square inch (1,400 kPa)[10] may use
unsoftened feedwater with the addition of sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide to maintain
alkaline conditions to precipitate calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide and magnesium
silicate. Hard water treated this way causes a fairly high concentration of suspended solid
particles within the boiler to serve as precipitation nuclei preventing later deposition of calcium
sulfate scale. Natural organic materials like starches, tannins and lignins may be added to control
crystal growth and disperse precipitates. [11] The soft sludge of precipitates and organic materials
accumulates in quiescent portions of the boiler to be removed during bottom blowdown.[8]
Phosphates
Coordinated control of pH and phosphates attempts to limit caustic corrosion occurring from
concentrations of hydroxyl ions under porous scale on steam generating surfaces within the
boiler. High pressure boilers using demineralized water are most vulnerable to caustic corrosion.
Hydrolysis of trisodium phosphate is a pH buffer in equilibrium with disodium phosphate and
sodium hydroxide.[13]
Chelants
Feedwater
Main article: Boiler feedwater
Many large boilers including those used in thermal power stations recycle condensed steam for
re-use within the boiler. Steam condensate is distilled water, but it may contain dissolved gases.
A deaerator is often used to convert condensate to feedwater by removing potentially damaging
gases including oxygen, carbon dioxide, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide.[15] Inclusion of a
polisher (an Ion exchange vessel) helps to maintain water purity, and in particular protect the
boiler from a condenser tube leak.
Make-up water
All boilers lose some water in steam leaks; and some is intentionally wasted as boiler blowdown
to remove impurities accumulating within the boiler. [16] Steam locomotives and boilers
generating steam for use in direct contact with contaminating materials may not recycle
condensed steam. Replacement water is required to continue steam production. Make-up water is
initially treated to remove floating and suspended materials. [17] Hard water intended for low-
pressure boilers may be softened by substituting sodium[18] for divalent cations of dissolved
calcium and magnesium most likely to cause carbonate and sulfate scale.[19] High-pressure
boilers typically require water demineralized by distillation or ion-exchange.[20]