boiler

[Fred Scheer]

HI:
A friend of me asked me a couble question about
a low pressure (15 PSI) steam generating boiler.

What are brewers to on preventive maintenance
and what are the water chemicals added to water; or in boiler direct?

Txs

[tariq khan]

Boiler maintenance

My maintenance program for my boiler was set-up by a local company. I have a timer set for twice a day which doses my boiler with a salt solution, I check the boiler water regularly for phosphate, sulfite, available and total alkalinity, and I blow the boiler down every working day.


Tariq (Big Ridge Brewery, Surrey, B.C.)

[Fred Scheer]

boiler

thank you

what are the spec's you are looking for; and what
are you doing to correct?

[Fred Scheer]

boiler

HI:
A friend of me asked me a couble question about
a low pressure (15 PSI) steam generating boiler.

What are brewers to on preventive maintenance
and what are the water chemicals added to water; or in boiler direct?

Txs

More help on the subject will be greatfully appreciated

[beertje46]

Fred,

We use a system installed by our treatment chemical supplier. I set the system up to feed softened water (currently set for 11 grains) to the condensate tank to avoid thermal shock when topping up the boiler. The pulse water meter reads the softened make-up water flow and drives the Electronic Pulse Timer which in turn signals the Pulsatrol Chemical Feed Pump to send the oxygen scavenger treatment into the make-up water @ the boiler infeed. Below is the list of parts/costs:

Pulsatrol Chemical Feed Pump (6gpd) $405.00
Electronic Pulse Timer
$315.00
¾” Pulse Water Meter $293.00

The pulse timer/pulse meter is worth the extra $ over a standard timer only based system in chemical savings alone. Very short ROI.

The last piece is a hand-held digital Conductivity meter which we use daily to test the water during blow down.

The numbers you should shoot for, all PPM:
Conductivity 3000 - 5000 (5000 better)
Total Alkalinity 300 - 700
So3 30 - 60

Hope this helps.


(Alene says hello and get back to work)

[Fred Scheer]

txs

hey, txs for the info

[tariq khan]

boiler

I've been told to aim for a P.H. of 10, Sulfite 30-60ppm, Phosphate 60-80ppm,
Available alkalinity 400-475ppm, Total alkalinity 600-750ppm...I use a boiler water test kit.................To get those figures I can adjust the pump to dose more or less chemicals until I get close to the desired ranges...............

Cheers..

Tariq (Big Ridge Brewery Surrey,B.C.)

[Fred Scheer]

boiler

Txs for the response

[cpelz]

Hi Fred-

We have a Rite 1.8 MBTU/hr low pressure boiler. We worked with the local CH2O rep to set up our treatment and testing program. Our feed water is untreated (it's pretty low mineral content with some temporary hardness.)

We test on at least a weekly basis and treat with:

An oxygen scavenger (sulfite) to prevent corrosion within the boiler. This is checked with a sulfite test which we try to keep within 20-40 ppm. This is the only chemical we add on a regular basis and I've recently set up a feed pump and timer for a daily dose rather than a weekly slug. Keeps the sulfite level more constant.

A synthetic organic dispersant. This keeps the sediment in suspension better and quiets the boil, preventing foaming and consequent carryover of corrosive boiler water into the condensate system. This is tested for with a p-alkalinity test, the results of which we try to keep within 400-800 ppm.

The final chemical we add contains amines. These boil out with the steam and keep the condensate pH up and prevent corrosion in the return system. We test the condensate pH and aim for the 7.5-8.5 pH range

The final test we do is a chloride test which reflects the mineral content of the boiler water and the need for blowdown. < 70 ppm decrease blowdown; > 100 ppm increase it.

That's about the extent of preventative maintenance. Other than that it's keeping an eye on things and waiting for something to go wrong...something always does. Steam traps fail, check valves fail, PRV valves fail, water pressure regulators fail; all gradually and all with interesting effects on boiler operation.