14 Nov Publication of the technical paper named “Water treatment program on Steam – Water Cycles with previous corrosion phenomena on feedwater stream lines” in Industria Química technical magazine.
*Originally published as “Programa de tratamiento del agua en ciclos de agua-vapor de alta presión con episodios de corrosión en alimentación a generador”
The implementation of a program of improvements in the water treatment of a steam-water cycle of a paper industry located in southern Europe, derived from exhaustive technical advice, allowed correcting the trends observed in the system, clearly affected by flow-accelerated corrosion (FAC) phenomena. Levels of iron transported to the generator and cationic conductivity of superheated steam decreased drastically as a consequence of the actions taken after assessing the facility.
Adiquímica presents in this technical paper part of the advice provided with the aim of redirecting the operation of a water steam cycle at 70 bar of steam generation pressure to stable conditions.
The following are among the main conclusions of the study: The technical audit and inspections carried out at the installation of the present case study -a water steam cycle with a steam generation pressure of 70 bar- revealed inappropriate operating conditions in the system. The negative effects of a bad design of the water treatment of the cycle affect the transport of iron to the generator, the development of flow-accelerated corrosion phenomena at points operating at lower temperature and high turbulence, precipitation in the form of scales on heat exchange surfaces and the increase in cationic conductivity in superheated steam.
The implementation of improvements derived from the technical audit carried out by ADIQUIMICA allowed redirecting the operation of the water steam cycle from the very beginning.
– By minimizing the transport of iron to the steam generator. Intrusion of iron into the generator may lead to the deposition of oxides on heat transfer surfaces, thus reducing the thermal flow and, in some particular cases, to the development of differential aeration corrosion problems.
– By allowing operation in values recommended by the main international entities, regarding the critical parameters of the installation.