1. Boilers - Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions for Boiler Water Treatment:
Why do I have to chemically treat my boiler?
1) To prevent boiler scale
2) To minimize corrosion to the feedwater and steam & condensate system
3) Improve boiler efficiency.
What is boiler scale?
The most common scale is white in appearance and is from calcium carbonate that has
precipitated from hard feedwater. Hard water contains calcium and magnesium and are minerals
that are hard to wash. Silica scale is brittle and has a glass appearance. The most common scale
is white in appearance and is from calcium carbonate that has precipitated from hard feedwater.
Hard water contains calcium and magnesium and are minerals that are hard to wash. Silica scale
is brittle and has a glass appearance.
Why is my feedwater tank leaking?
If your tank is leaking is it has been improperly treated for years. Make sure your sulfite is fed to
the feedwater tank and that it is being feed though an injection quill that reaches near the center
of the tank.
Why did my feedwater pump fail due to excessive corrosion?
If your feedwater pump has experience excessive corrosion and/or failure it is most likely from
inadequate amount of sulfite being fed to the feedwater tank. Make sure your sulfite is fed to the
feedwater tank and that it is being feed though an injection quill that reaches near the center of
the tank.
What tests should I perform on my condensate system?
Monitor:
1) Insoluble and soluble iron
2) Condensate pH (7.5-8.5 for most systems)at the furthest point from your Commercial Gas
Engineer and possibly at multiple locations if your system is large.
3) Condensate corrosion coupons.
Why is my condensate pipes leaking or excessively corroding?
Corrosion occurs from carbonic acid and oxygen pitting. Carbonic acid occurs from CO2 which
is a breakdown molecule of the carbonate alkalinity condensing from water to form H2CO3.
Oxygen pitting occurs as steam condenses and the vacuum created pulls air into the condensate
system.
