Boiler control and systems

June 2008 Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration

As steam forms it leaves behind impurities and dissolved solids in the boiler water that will concentrate unless regular blow-down procedures are followed. The total dissolved solids (TDS) in the boiler must be controlled accurately. High TDS will result in carry-over of boiler water and impurities causing problems with production and plant. Low TDS, due to excessive blow-down, will lead to unnecessary fuel and water treatment costs. An extensive range of boiler controls and systems is available from Spirax Sarco, from completely new boiler-house plants to simple blow-down valve replacements.

Features and operation

The feedwater tank is often the source of high heat losses and on-going maintenance. The Spirax Sarco feed-tank is an atmospheric de-aerator with an incorporated flash condenser that brings together the cold make-up, condensate return and flash recovery. Flash steam is condensed whilst heating and de-aerating the cold make-up. Flash steam recovery has two advantages:

* Heat is recovered.

* The amount of required chemical addition is reduced.

Under certain conditions it may be more economical to pass the blow-down directly to a flash vessel without using a heat exchanger. Spirax Sarco can provide a range of alternative solutions to heat recovery.

To ensure that a boiler is operating at the desired concentration of TDS sample testing is necessary. A stainless steel sample cooler allows the operator to do this safely and accurately without the risk of steam flash-off. A version with hygienic coupling is also available.

An integral conductivity meter enables checking of boiler and feedwater TDS levels and calibration of control instrumentation. It can also be used to check the condition of TDS probes.

For more information contact Bobbie Brooke-Taylor, Spirax Sarco, +27 (0)11 230 1300, info@za.spiraxsarco.com, www.spiraxsarco.com

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