Boilers can be complicated systems to maintain. It seems easy enough that water heats to steam, and that steam provides power. For such a seemingly simplistic operation, care and maintenance can be anything but simple. Proper boiler treatment can prevent or correct a multitude of hazardous and costly situations.
Corrosion can occur in many key areas of a boiler. It can shorten the life of a boiler, or at the least, increase the costs associated with maintaining a boiler. Corrosion can form in feed water heaters, deaerators, superheater tubes and economizers, among other places. Corrosion is commonly caused by the presence of dissolved gases and low PH.
As debilitating as it can be to boiler operation, corrosion is preventable. In order to effectively prevent or control corrosion, a boiler treatment regimen should include maintenance of pH level as well as alkalinity. Together with proper operation, the right boiler treatment chemicals can ward off dangerous corrosion in the critical components of a boiler.
It is common for some amount of oxygen to enter a boiler from the feed water. However, too much oxygen in the boiler will cause a dangerous and costly type of corrosion. Boiler treatment chemicals include compounds that contain an opposite charge to oxygen, which prevents harmful oxidation in key boiler components.
Scale of minerals such as calcium carbonate, calcium silicate and calcium sulphate can form on any boiler surface upon which water comes in contact. Scale deposits can impede heat transfer which results in higher energy costs. Boiler treatment chemicals work to reduce scale deposits and prevent future incidents.
Boiler treatment is a key consideration for building owners and maintenance professionals. With proper operation and care, you will extend the life of your boiler and reduce repairs. We invite you to read more about boiler treatment by EnduroSolv® and learn how solids provide a safer and more cost effective solution.