MechChem Africa January-February 2025

Boiler water treatment to ensure effective heat transfer Poor boiler water treatment is the primary cause of poor boiler performance. Chris Paterson, MD of Associated Energy Services (AES), and operations director, Ray Lund present the case for paying more attention. N ot all water is created equal and there is a lot more to water treatment than ensuring that it appears clean, says Chris going into a boiler has two direct impacts: the first on the life of the boiler and the second on its heat transfer capacity and efficiency, which both affect overall energy plant management.

properties. Hardness levels – how much calcium and magnesium is in the water – and total dissolved solids (TDS) need to be considered. When using borehole water, the iron and silica content need to be checked. Furthermore, boiler water should be thor oughly tested over time to see what is in it and to check the variability of the various contaminants, so that one can design and install appropriate treatment equipment and technology,” Paterson advises. According to Lund, the quality of water

Paterson, managing director of special ist operations and maintenance service provider to the steam and boiler sector, Associated Energy Services (AES). Yet, this is where many companies are tempted to cut costs. Because correctly treated boiler water is integral to preventative maintenance and essential to ensuring boiler safety, effective operation and energy efficiency, this is one of the first and most critical issues that AES addresses when taking over the operations and maintenance of a client’s boilers and energy plant. Poor infrastructure has reduced mu nicipal water quality, while the increased cost of municipal water has persuaded many companies to switch to alternative sources, such as borehole water and stored rainwater. This is creating a whole new set of challenges, says AES Operations Director Ray Lund. “Each of these streams has different

Corrosive water damages internal boiler surfaces, Lund explains: “It can cause pitting of the surface material. This often results in boilers either having to be downgraded to operate at lower pressures because the material has been compromised, and the boiler may eventually have to be scrapped.”

Plants with very high TDS levels might require the installation of a reverse osmosis (RO) plant, which can be a very effective energy-saver, as it requires fewer blow-downs of the boiler to clean it out.

Correctly treated boiler water is integral to preventative maintenance and essential to ensuring boiler safety, effective operation and energy efficiency.

12 ¦ MechChem Africa • January-February 2025