Boiler water – Feed water standard
Shell Boiler water and Feedwater quality requirement
1. Scope
This part of this European Standard applies to all shell boilers as defined in EN
12953-1 which are heated by combustion of one or more fuels or by hot gases for the
generation of steam and/or hot water
2. Standard reference
They are based on long-term experience in practice and on the minimum
requirements, blinding in terms of safety technology, given in EN 12953 part 10 for the
reduction of :
Corrosion risks
Sludge elimination
Formation of deposits
3. Term and definitions
For the purpose of this part of this European Standard, the terms and definitions
given in EN 1295301:2002 and the following definitions apply:
3.1. Direct conductivity : Direct measured conductivity of water
3.2. Acid conductivity : Conductivity of water measured in the hydrogen ion
concentration from continuously flow through downstream of a strongly acidic cation
exchanger
3.3. Make up water : Water which compensates for losses of water and
steam from the system
3.4. Feedwater : Mixture of returned condensate and/or make up water
supplied to the boiler inlet
3.5. Demineralized feedwater : Water with an electrolyte content according
to an acid conductivity of <0.2 mS/cm and a silica content (SiO2) < 0.02 mg/l
3.6. Boiler water : Water within a natural or assisted circulation boiler
3.7. Attemperator spray water : Water for injection to control steam
temperature
Boiler water – Feed water standard
4. Requirements
4.1. Table 1 : Requirement for the feedwater
Shell boilers
Working gauge pressure ≤ 20 Shell boilers
bar Working gauge pressure
6)
and quick steam generators >20 bar
all pressure levels
colorless, clear, free from un-dissolved substances and foam-
General requirement [-]
builders
1)
pH at 25 °C [-] > 9.2
5)
direct electrical conductivity at 25 °C ≤ 5% of boiler water limit value
[µS/cm] < 500
for quick steam generators ---
as low-salt as poss.
KS 8,2 (p value) [mmol/l] 0.1 - 0.7 0.1- 0.5
2)
Earth alkalies [mmol/l] < 0.01
2)
(Total hardness) [° d] < 0.05
4)
Oxygen (O2) [mg/l] < 0.05 < 0.02
4)
Oxygen binders see legend
[mg/l]
6)
for quick steam generators (Na2SO3) 5 -10 ---
Iron, total (Fe) [mg/l] < 0.3 < 0.1
Copper, total (Cu) [mg/l] < 0.05 < 0.03
Oil, fat [mg/l] <1
KMnO4 consumption [mg/l] < 10
Silica (SiO2) ≤ 5 % of boiler water limit value
[mg/l]
for quick steam generators --- ---
Boiler water – Feed water standard
4.2. Table 2: Requirement for the boilerwater
Note
The oxygen in the feed water must be reduced primarily using physical
processes, e.g. thermal pressure deaeration, to the described limit values. Because in
practical operation, partly through frequent down times, start up and run down processes
etc. and with partial deaeration systems, compliance with the limit value is not guaranteed
using deaeration alone, an oxygen binder should be added. Non-volatile sodium sulphite,
for example, has proved effective-there are no hygienic / toxicological restructions Addition
to the feed water should be carried out in such a way that the limit values for the boiler
water are maintained. The need for this and the choice of a suitable dosing agent must be
decided in each individual case.
In addition to the electrical conductivity, the silicon dioxide content (SiO2)
and the pH are important parameters, and their maximum values must not be exceeded in
the boiler. If one of these values is reached because of thickening in the boiler before the
maximum conductivity value, this is then decisive for desalting. Because the desalting is
regulated via a conductivity measurement, the corresponding conductivity value at which
one of the named parameters reaches its permitted maximum value replaces the
conductivity limit value shown in table 2. The values given in table 2 are the maximum
permitted conductivity values. For some plants in which the conductivity is incorporated into
Boiler water – Feed water standard
the safety chain, when these value are reached (at the latest), the firing is switched off and
locked, i.e. the conductivity to regulated is to be set with a sufficient distance from the limit
value . If unusually pure steam is needed, it may be under some circumstances that the
maximum conductivity values in the boiler water need to be lowered for this special case.
5. Test of water and steam sampling
To ensure the appropriate chemical conditions prevail, Quality parameters shall
be checked on a continuous and/or periodical basis. Which recommend to checked at least
every 72 hours ( Note: By using reliable continuous recording analyzers the frequency of manual checks of
the water quality cab be reduced)
The feedwater, boilerwater and Attemperator spray water in steam boilers and
the boiler water in hot water boilers shall be checked for the relevant parameters such as
pH, direct conductivity, acid conductivity, hardness and oxygen of oxygen scavenger.
The sampling of water and steam from the boiler system shall be performed in
accordance with ISO 5667-1 and the preparation and handing of samples in accordance
with ISO 5667-3.
Sampling points:
Feedwater from the inlet valve to boiler
Boiler water from a downcomer or from a continuous surface blow down
line.
Make up water downstream of the makeup water treatment plant or
storage tanks.
Condensate at outlet of the condenser, if any : otherwise the condensate
shall be sampled at a point as near to the feed tank as possible.