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Bacteria/Algea Control

Bacteria/Algae Control

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Bacteria/Algae:

1) Inhibits water flow in extreme growth areas

2) Insulates heat transfer equipment

3) Corrodes metal surfaces

Videos:

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Biofilm

Water Testing -

Bacteria/Algae Control -

Biofilm

3:48

Inline Biofim sensor

Water Testing -

Bacteria/Algae Control -

Inline Digital Sensor

3:56

MIC

Water Testing -

Bacteria/Algae Control -

MIC - Microbially

Influenced Corrosion

9:31

MIC in Chiller

Water Testing -

Bacteria/Algae Control -

MIC in Chiller

1:11

MIC in Fire Supression

Water Testing -

Bacteria/Algae Control -

MIC in Fire Sprinklers

1:42

Caustic Embrittlement

Caustic Attack

Caustic gouging

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Caustic attack on boilers is due to extremely high pH (>12.9 ). It can take two forms: caustic gouging or caustic cracking, also called caustic embrittlement

Caustic cracking usually occurs where stress has been placed on the steel, such as tube's rolled ends or the bent section of a water tube.

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Caustic Cracking

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Video:

Stress Corrosion Cracking

Water Testing -

Caustic Embrittlement -

Caustic Cracking

5:42

Carryover

Carryover Control

Videos:

Carrover Videos

Carryover, also known as priming, is when boiler water droplets travel with steam into the steam lines and in generally caused by the following:

1) High TDS Surface tension increases and bubbles stabilize.  Foaming occurs.  Bubble level rises beyond boiler control design.  Some bubbles escape with the steam.

2) High Demand Swing.  Excessively large swings in demand causes pressure in boiler to drop.  To compensate, bubble size increases and water level rises.  Swell occurs as bubble layer raises above boiler control design.  Some bubbles may then escape with steam.

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Mechanical Controls

Automatic

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Inline Conductivity Probe

Motorized valve

Controller

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Surface Blowdown

Manual Surface Blowdown Valve

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Separators and Scrubbers

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Risers

Downcomers

Risers

TDS Control

Water Testing -

Carryover Control -

TDS Control

1:46

Swell

Water Testing -

Carryover Control -

Swell

When pressure drops and temperature stays the same, the volume has to increase.

Therefore, the bubbles swell.

2:18

P x V = T

Combined Gas Law

Fe Corrosion Detection

Fe Corrosion Detection

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Fe Cor. Videos

Dissolved Carbon Dioxide (CO   ) gas in water is not corrosive . However, it breaks down and forms carbonic acid (H  CO  ), which is corrosive for mild steel up to pH 8.3 .  Condensate pH levels should be kept above this limit if using neutralizing amines.  This corrosion can be detected in the condensate via iron titration kits.  If this dissolved iron makes it back to the boiler, iron scale may form on boiler tubes.  Iron scale acts as an insulator, affecting heat transfer ability, reducing efficiency.

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Videos:

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Corrosion Coupon

Water Testing -

Fe Corrosion Detection -

Corrosion Coupon 

3:52

Can be easily added to cooling water lines and steam lines.

Corrosion Microcell

1:36

Water Testing -

Fe Corrosion Detection -

Corrosion Microcell

Coupon Analysis

1:36

Water Testing -

Fe Corrosion Detection -

Corrosion Coupon Analysis

DI/RO Makeup Water

3:20

Water Testing -

Fe Corrosion Detection -

DI/RO Makeup Water

DI = Deionized  RO = Reverse Osmosis

By removing carbonates from makeup water, Carbon Dioxide is greatly reduced in condensate.

Freeze Control

Freeze Control

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Why do pipes burst?

2:23

Water Testing -

Freeze Control -

Why Do Pipes Burst?

Freezing Tips

10:03

Water Testing -

Freeze Control -

Tips to keep pipes from 

freezing

Heat Trace

1:47

Water Testing -

Freeze Control -

Heat Trace

Metal Passivation

Metal Passivation

The creation of a relatively inert protective layer (usually an oxide) on metal surfaces.

Stainless Steel

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Zn as a Passivator

Galvanized Cooling Tower

10:27

Water Testing -

Metal Passivation -

Passivation and White Rust

Oxygen Corrosion

Oxygen Corrosion

Water + Iron + Heat = Instant rust

IF  there is oxygen in the water. 

Oxygen needs to be removed from water before it gets to the boiler:

 1) By raising the temperature

    a) Steam Boilers: Deaerator

    b) Hydronic Boilers:  Makeup Water Mixing Tanks (allows water to raise to room temp before using)

 2) Adding an oxygen scavenger

    a) High Pressure Boiler: DEHA

    b) All others: Sulfite

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(Including hydronic boilers if unit uses significant amount of makeup water or system contains non-oxygen barrier tubing)

Videos

Carryover: Steam Drum

Water Testing -

Carryover Control -

Steam Drum

1:26

Gas vs Water Temp.

Water Testing -

Oxygen Corrosion -

Gas Solubility vs Temperature

3:14

Sol. vs Pressure

Water Testing -

Oxygen Corrosion -

Gas Solubility vs Pressure

0:36

Ultrasonic Degassing

Water Testing -

Oxygen Corrosion -

Ultrasonic Degassing

1:46

Not presently used in boiler systems.

See Also: 

Ultrasonic degas of beverage

Water Testing -

Oxygen Corrosion -

Ultrasonic Degas of Beverage

0:36

Scale Prevention

Scale Prevention

Temporary Hardness = Carbonate Hardness

Generally, an increase in water temperature causes an increase in the solubility of most salts.

HOWEVER, this is just the opposite for  Ca(CHO3)2 and Mg(CHO3)2, which become less soluble as temperature increases.  They 'fall out of' (or precipitate out of) solution and become scale deposits on the hottest part of the boiler: the tubes.

This is referred to as Temporary Hardness because boiling the water removes it.

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Scale P Vidoes

Permanent Hardness

Permanent hardness cannot be "boiled out".  It must be chemically treated and filtered or mechanically removed via Ion Exchangers.  It consist of CaCl2, MgCl2 (Chlorides), CaSO4 and MgSO4 (Sulfates).  

Videos

Temp vs Perman. Hardness

Water Testing -

Scale Prevention -

Temporary vs Permanent

Hardness

4:21

Soft vs Hard Water with Soap

Water Testing -

Scale Prevention -

Soft & Hard Water vs Soap

3:30

Making Hard Water Soft

Water Testing -

Scale Prevention -

Making Hard Water Soft

4:18

Pickling and Passivation

1:41

Water Testing -

Metal Passivation -

Pickling and Passivation

Carbonic Acid

Carbonic Acid Control
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Dissolved Carbon Dioxide (CO   ) gas in water is not corrosive . However, it breaks down and forms carbonic acid (H  CO  ), which is corrosive for mild steel up to pH 8.3 .  Condensate pH levels should be kept above this limit if using neutralizing amines.  Amines boil, condense and travel along with water neutralizing carbonic acid in condensate.  To avoid wasting chemical during blowdowns, amines are typically injected directly into steam lines instead of feedwater.

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 Most common neutralizing amines: 

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