Boiler Feed Water Treatment Solutions

Importance of ion exchange in boiler feed water treatment

Ions in boiler feed water, especially calcium and magnesium ions, are the main components of scale formation. The formation of scale not only reduces the thermal efficiency of the boiler, but also may lead to boiler pipe blockage, corrosion, and even cause serious accidents such as explosions. Therefore, boiler feed water treatment is the key link to ensure the safe operation of the boiler.

As an efficient water treatment method, ion exchange technology plays a vital role in boiler feed water treatment. Through ion exchange, hardness ions such as calcium and magnesium ions, as well as some other anions in the water can be effectively removed, thus preventing the formation of scale and protecting the boiler equipment.

Principle of Ion Exchange

Ion exchange is the process of removing ions from water by using ion exchange resin. Ion exchange resin is a solid polymer compound that is insoluble in water and contains movable ions within it. When hard water passes through the ion exchange resin, the calcium and magnesium ions in the water are replaced by sodium ions on the resin, thus achieving the purpose of softening.

 

Boilers receive feed water consisting of varying proportions of recovered condensate (return water) and fresh water that has been purified to varying degrees (make-up water).

 

High purity feed water is required to ensure the proper operation of industrial steam generation systems to produce high quality steam and transport heat throughout a facility.

 

Boiler feed water treatment is essential for both high and low pressure boilers. Removal of organics, suspended solids, dissolved minerals and dissolved gases is critical to prevent scaling and fouling, which can lead to boiler and downstream equipment failure, plant downtime and expensive maintenance costs.

 

Specific treatment processes vary depending on the requirements of the boiler and the quality or chemistry of the feed and make-up water. Comcess offers comprehensive solutions to your boiler feedwater challenges that can achieve your desired quality levels, resulting in optimised water usage, reduced equipment corrosion and boiler downtime, and ultimately lower operating costs.