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Old ways for removing/preventing boiler scale
Mike T., Swampeast MO
Member Posts: 6,928
Happened upon this while searching for an ingredient (soap lees) for cleaning marble.
PREVENTING AND REMOVING BOILER INCRUSTATIONS.
The following substances have been used, with more or less success, in preventing and removing the incrustations which are formed by using hard water:--
Krause's Anti-incrustation Powder for Steam Boilers.
Powdered charcoal, sal soda, alum, each 1 lb.; sawdust, 8 lbs. Mix. Most of the secret incrustation powders sold are but modifications of this.
Potatoes.
By using about 1-60th of potatoes to the weight of water in a boiler, scale will be prevented, but not removed. Their action is mechanical; they coat the calcareous particles in the water, and prevent them from adhering to the metal.
Extract of Oak Bark.
A mixture has been used of 12 parts of chloride of sodium, 2 1/2 parts of caustic soda, 1/8 extract of oak bark, 1/2 of potash, for the boilers of stationary and locomotive engines. The principal agent in this case appears to be the tannin or the extract of oak bark.
Pieces of Oak Wood
Suspended in the boiler and renewed monthly prevent all deposit; even from water containing a large quantity of lime. The action depends principally upon the tannic acid.
Sawdust.
Mahogany and oak sawdust has been used to prevent and remove scale; but care must be exercised not to allow it to choke up pipes leading to and from the boiler. Catechu contains tannic acid, and has also been used satisfactorily for boilers. A very small quantity of free tannic acid will attack the iron; therefore, a very limited quantity of these substances should be employed.
Slippery-Elm Bark.
This article has also been used with some success in preventing and removing incrustations.
Soda.
The carbonate of soda has the sanction of Professors Kuhlman and Fresenius, of Germany Grace Calvert, of England, and others. It is satisfactorily employed for the purpose.
Tin Salt.
The chloride of tin is equal to the muriate of ammonia, and is similar in its action in preventing scale.
Extract Of Tobacco, and Spent Tanner's Bark
Have been employed with some degree of satisfaction. The sulphate, not the carbonate of lime, is the chief agent in forming incrustations. By frequent blowing off, incrustations from carbonate of lime in water will be greatly prevented.
Ammonia.
The muriate of ammonia softens old incrustations. Its action is chemical; it decomposes the scale. About 2 oz. placed in a boiler, twice per week, have kept it clean, without attacking the metal.
Fatty Oils.
It is stated that oils and tallow in a boiler prevent incrustations. A mixture, composed of 3 parts of black-lead, and 18 parts of tallow, applied hot, in coating the interior of a boiler, has been found to prevent scale. It should be applied every few weeks.
Molasses.
About 13 lbs. of molasses, fed occasionally into a boiler of 8-horse power, has prevented incrustations for 6 months.
Some REALLY cool stuff at this site!
http://www.mspong.org/cyclopedia/chemical.html
PREVENTING AND REMOVING BOILER INCRUSTATIONS.
The following substances have been used, with more or less success, in preventing and removing the incrustations which are formed by using hard water:--
Krause's Anti-incrustation Powder for Steam Boilers.
Powdered charcoal, sal soda, alum, each 1 lb.; sawdust, 8 lbs. Mix. Most of the secret incrustation powders sold are but modifications of this.
Potatoes.
By using about 1-60th of potatoes to the weight of water in a boiler, scale will be prevented, but not removed. Their action is mechanical; they coat the calcareous particles in the water, and prevent them from adhering to the metal.
Extract of Oak Bark.
A mixture has been used of 12 parts of chloride of sodium, 2 1/2 parts of caustic soda, 1/8 extract of oak bark, 1/2 of potash, for the boilers of stationary and locomotive engines. The principal agent in this case appears to be the tannin or the extract of oak bark.
Pieces of Oak Wood
Suspended in the boiler and renewed monthly prevent all deposit; even from water containing a large quantity of lime. The action depends principally upon the tannic acid.
Sawdust.
Mahogany and oak sawdust has been used to prevent and remove scale; but care must be exercised not to allow it to choke up pipes leading to and from the boiler. Catechu contains tannic acid, and has also been used satisfactorily for boilers. A very small quantity of free tannic acid will attack the iron; therefore, a very limited quantity of these substances should be employed.
Slippery-Elm Bark.
This article has also been used with some success in preventing and removing incrustations.
Soda.
The carbonate of soda has the sanction of Professors Kuhlman and Fresenius, of Germany Grace Calvert, of England, and others. It is satisfactorily employed for the purpose.
Tin Salt.
The chloride of tin is equal to the muriate of ammonia, and is similar in its action in preventing scale.
Extract Of Tobacco, and Spent Tanner's Bark
Have been employed with some degree of satisfaction. The sulphate, not the carbonate of lime, is the chief agent in forming incrustations. By frequent blowing off, incrustations from carbonate of lime in water will be greatly prevented.
Ammonia.
The muriate of ammonia softens old incrustations. Its action is chemical; it decomposes the scale. About 2 oz. placed in a boiler, twice per week, have kept it clean, without attacking the metal.
Fatty Oils.
It is stated that oils and tallow in a boiler prevent incrustations. A mixture, composed of 3 parts of black-lead, and 18 parts of tallow, applied hot, in coating the interior of a boiler, has been found to prevent scale. It should be applied every few weeks.
Molasses.
About 13 lbs. of molasses, fed occasionally into a boiler of 8-horse power, has prevented incrustations for 6 months.
Some REALLY cool stuff at this site!
http://www.mspong.org/cyclopedia/chemical.html
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