Steam question

Glen

is correct. Steam is passed over several trays of chipped product, (cedar, yew, pine, sage, etc)which extracts several oils. the condensate is then processed in a large still - cooling the condensate and seperating the oils. Amazingly simple - yet any chemical transferance is to be avoided. Cooling water could be recycled to the feed water tank or live steam could be injected into the tank. Either method seems do able -

Glen

water treatment -

Have had water analysis completed, very low iron, low TDS, and low calcium levels. pH is 7.7. This is for process steam where the steam is used once (essential oil extraction plant) - Bryan F850 boiler. Water is filtered but not treated. Some treatment may be necessary - but client wishes to know if treatment chemicals are transferred into the live steam? Any ideas or supporting studies on this? Quality of steam drastically effects quality of oil produced.

Anna Conda

In an application like that, filming amines cannot be used as part of the treatment program - these carry with the steam and deposit in the pipes, and will also deposit on the product. If the product must conform to food-grade specifications, then treatment options are more limited and will include organics like tannins to cause precipitation. If you treat the boiler as food-grade, then you can be more sure of clean steam leaving the boiler, as the chemicals used in the food industry should be left behind in the boiler, only steam leaving. Hope this helps a little.
Ah, I assumed (bad Anna!) that filtering included softening, if the water is hard enough to warrent it (anything over 10 ppm is) Filtering and softening are the primary defenses; chemical treatments mop up anything left behind, not meant to be relied on solely.

Jerry_15

There is no chemical treatment that you could find that could ever satisfy this client. If your water is that hard, treat it on the way in, sounds like you already have, and if you must, shut it down for a day every 3 mos, or 6 mos, or yearly, and de-lime the boiler. Why argue, or spend endless time explaining, to a good customer. You may not even have a problem with your filters in place. Tell them what they want to hear, and don't muddy the waters. "You'll always have clean filtered water; boiler maintenance is my responsibility. Not to worry".

Glen

food grade -

product is essential. These folks receive an insane amount of dollars for their products - cleanliness is mandadory and it is my inclination to delime as required and leave chemical treatment alone. Mineralization of the water is very low - de lime every 6 months might be ok. Filter right now is just for particulates - but may need to add carbon filter as well. thanks for your comments.

George_10

Possible answers to your problem

We service many food processing plants with steam systems in our industrial division. Give Dwight Hedgpeth a call and maybe we can help you. 800-543-5975

Jerry_15

There you go. Bet they'd jump if you could take out the chlorine and floride too. There's some pretty fancy filters out there. You might wind up with close to distilled water, and never have to touch the boiler, just service the filters once a month or so. Sounds like a nice install and service contract to me. And happy customers spread the word. Course you could always put in a still, which could be kept running during off hours for other applications Good luck

Glen

shoot me an email -

my off the wall address is aspennorth@hotmail.com. Once we establish contact - I will flip over to our office address.

Christian Egli_2

Then extract the essential feedwater likewise

Consider a heated feedwater tank as a way to save the boiler and prolong de-scaling period. You inject steam in the feedwater bringing it to near boiling point thus de-aerating and dropping most dissolved solids in the tank. Just like the feedwater heaters and the de-aerators power plants use.

This could be a simple substitute for treatment since chemicals do not seem acceptable to this customer.

Glen

precipitation -

starts at about 140 F - does it not? Feed water tank/storage is now a HDPE tank rated at 200 deg F. So a small coil - powered by the boiler could work. Or an electric immersion heater has possibilities. A target temp of 180 or so is not unreasonable - even though this boiler prides itself on "no shock with very low temp feed water" - I am a little more cautious in the long term.

Mad Doctor Q

water treatment

I concur with anna conda (love that name), amines will leave with the steam. Raising the feedwater temperature up to 180 degrees will cut down on the excess oxygen that loves a boiler's metal, but will also help in using less of whatever oxygen scavenging chemical you are using. If I'm understanding that the one time use of steam means you are dumping the condensate, then you are using a lot of make-up water and may think about bringing up the PH between 8 and 10, so you do not dip below 7 and operate slightly acidic between treatments. You might look into magnetic conditioning of boiler water. I have seen good results with low pressure commercial applications and they have work well, less chemicals needed such as the tannins or nitrilotiacetic acid, less pitting and oxygen damage metal surfaces. One company whose product worked very well was named Bon Aqua, I think from my last communication they are still located in nevada. Hope any of this helps. Q.