Water testing for steam boilers.

Bende Bessko

I work for an apartment management company in Pittsburgh,PA and I am in charge of the steam boilers. I test the water once a week for pH, conductivity, & nitrate, (I treat the water with an oxygen scavenger chemical), for the boiler water and pH & conductivity for the condensate water. I'm trying to find the proper levels for these readings. I also want to find the amount of water I need to blowdown my boilers if my conductivity is too high. Is there a simple calculation for that? The company I buy my chems are CLUELESS!!!! I am trying to find a different one that can sell the chems and consult me, but this seems to be very difficult. So, in the meantime, I'm trying to find this info on my own. I've searched all over the internet, but I just find different parameters.
We have water-tube and fire-tube boilers, one pipe and two pipe systems. We run our boilers from 1-3 psig, depending on the size of the building. Does anyone have knowledge in this field? Can anyone recommend a certain chemical for treating the water, or even better a company that is knowledgeable? I need help!!!!

Steamhead

I avoid using chemicals

unless there's a proven need for them.

Dan covers this subject in his book "The Lost Art of Steam Heating". If you don't have a copy you can get one on the Books and More page of this site.

My friend Noel Murdough had some interesting experiences with boiler water treatment when he managed a college campus full of Vapor systems. You there, Noel? This gentleman needs your wisdom.

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[Deleted User]

try these folks,

i'd like to hear about Noels adventures with this also.
http://www.rhomarwater.com/

Bende Bessko

Chems

Steamhead,

I got the book on order!
I just took over the boilers recently but apparently before the chems we were losing a lot tubes, especially in the fire-tube boilers. We have a couple of 1920's 6 million BTU boilers that were the majority of the problem. But we just put a couple of new boilers in and those old ones just serve as back ups. The new boilers recommend a water treatment program.

Bende Bessko

thanks

Thanks!

I'll give it a shot.

Steamhead

One of the things you will find

in the book, is that inadequate air venting can alter the pH of the boiler water, turning it into a mild acid. Of course, inadequate venting also wastes fuel.

Tell us more about your systems. Also, where are you located? I'm sure the Find a Professional page of this site has some good steam people near you.

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LKE

specifications for boiler water

This information is found in Kent's Mechanical Engineer's Handbook. Boiler Water. sodium phosphate. With residual hardness in the make-up, 50 to 100 parts per million expressed as disodium phosphate. Alkalininty. Between 100 to 250 parts per million depending on silicates which also are present. The higher alkalinity is preferred when silicate concentration is 100 to 200 parts per million. Chlorides. Not over 500 parts per million expressed as chlorine. Preferably as low as possible. pH Value. Not less than 10.5 preferably 11.0 Oil. none. Total Solids. not over 1700 parts per million. Internal Water Treatment consists mainly of maintaining desirable concentrations of chemicals in the boiler water. Chemicals to be added and concentrations to be maintained vary with the nature of feedwater and results of operation. The usual agents for inhibiting scale formation are sodium carbonate ,sodium phosphate, and sodium aluminate. Sodium hydroxide, tannates , and various prepared compounds are viewed with disfavor from both practical and economic standpoints. Sodium phosphate is used principally to precipitate calcium entering with the feedwater.The common forms of sodium phosphate are trisodium phosphate, disodium phosphate, monosodium phosphate, sodium metaphosphate.The reaction of trisodium phosphate with calcium carbonate forms the insoluble calcium phosphate and sodium carbonate which will promote desirable alkalinaty and inhibiat formation of calcium sulfate scale. From 70 to 90% of the sodium carbonate will hydrolyze to form sodium hydroxide.Only a small amount of phosphate need be maintained in boiler water to inhibit scale.The hardess and amount of feedwater added would determine if additions are periodically needed.