Any facility that utilizes hot water or steam needs to maintain a boiler or heater in order to feed its heating system or steaming system. As the name implies, a boiler’s purpose is to heat water so that it can be used for hot water systems or streamlines throughout the building, or facility. It can be used for HVAC heating or used to produce work such as running machinery. Because a boiler is connected to a water line, it is important to maintain proper water treatment so that the boiler system remains in good working order.
What Is Boiler Water Treatment?
Boiler water treatment is a process of purifying and improving the quality of the water that is used by a boiler system. The combustion process within a boiler relies heavily on the clarity and quality of the water so that it can perform the tasks that it was created for: producing high-quality steam, protecting against corrosion and performing continuous heat exchange. When the water that a boiler uses is not treated, the entire system can suffer from poor efficiency and permanent damage to equipment that shortens the boiler’s life and may also create a dangerous situation where they could explode due to superheating
Needs Attention Externally And Internally
Whether a boiler needs both external and internal attention depends upon the size and purpose that the boiler serves. If a boiler must handle a greater volume of water than it can hold, external water treatment is necessary to ensure that water is purified on its way to the boiler instead of only when it is inside. Smaller boilers with only moderate water pressure may be able to successfully treat only water within the boiler. To determine which type of treatment your boiler system will need, speak to a professional water treatment expert.
Why Boiler Water Treatment Is Important
Boiler water treatment is critical to ensure that the machinery functions properly for as long as possible. When impurities exist in the boiler water, they can foul the system and create lasting damage that will shorten the life of the equipment and reduce its efficacy, which translates to higher bills for the same performance. Dissolved salts in the water create scaling, and other contaminants and products within the water will attack the machinery if not removed by external or internal boiler treatment.
Reduce Decomposing Of Boiler Tubes
The dissolved salts in water will collect on surfaces when the water is evaporated as part of the boiler’s regular function. These salts block some of the transfer of heat from the boiler, which reduces the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the system. In addition, any boiler tubes that fill with scaling will narrow as a result, reducing flow and contributing to pressure drops. Tubes that are full of scaling will need to be replaced, which costs both time and money.
In addition, if a boiler is using water with low pH or dissolved oxygen, the water will directly attack any steel equipment that makes up the boiler. Over time, this will result in pits or even holes and thinning forming in the boiler tubes, which may cause them to rupture and compromise the entire system.
Keep The Turbine Efficiency
If steam is used to drive equipment such as turbines, when impurities in the water are not removed before they reach the boiler, they can be carried by steam to the turbine blades. There, they form deposits that reduce efficiency and cause vibrations, which are not only loud and jarring for people nearby but also contribute to turbine failure over time. As the turbine blades erode, they will not perform their job as well, leading to a further reduction in efficiency.
Reduce Overheating
When impure water is converted to steam, its impurities are transferred across all of the surfaces of the boiler system. This generates scale and other deposits, through which the boiler’s normal heat does not pass as effectively. Because the heat must penetrate the layer of deposits before it can be transferred out of the boiler, systems that have not undergone water treatment tend to experience an increase in overheating. Using purified water in boilers ensures that no deposits or scaling form so that the boiler can continue with its regular heat exchange uninhibited.
Talk To The Boiler Water Treatment Pros
Whether you have just installed a new boiler and want to begin proper maintenance right away or you believe that your boiler is suffering from untreated water, be sure to reach out to experts who can offer personalized guidance on your boiler system. The skilled professionals at Tower Water set the standard in water treatment and would be happy to meet with you to discuss the details of your individual system. Reach out to schedule an appointment so that you can keep your boiler functioning for years to come.