Oxygenated treatment
Oxygenated treatment (OT) is a technique used to reduce corrosion in a boiler and its associated feedwater system in flow-through boilers.
With oxygenated treatment, oxygen is injected into the feedwater to keep the oxygen level between 30-50 ppb. "Common injection points are just after the condensate polisher and again at the deaerator outlet." [1] This forms a thicker protective layer of hematite (Fe2O3) on top of the magnetite. This is a denser, flatter film (vs. the undulation scale with OT) so that there is less resistance to water flow compared to AVT.[2] Also, OT reduces the risk of flow-accelerated corrosion.[3]
When OT is used, conductivity after cation exchange (CACE) at the economiser inlet must be maintained below 0.15μS/cm [4] this can be achieved by the use of a condensate polisher.[5]
Comparison of AVT to OT
| Characteristic | All-Volatile Treatment (Reducing) | All-Volatile Treatment (Oxidizing) | Oxygenated Treatment (Neutral Water Treatment) | Oxygenated Treatment (Combined Water Treatment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feedwater system piping | ferrus or mixed metallurgy (e.g. copper feedwater train) | all-ferrous metallurgy | all-ferrous metallurgy | all-ferrous metallurgy |
| Dissolved oxygen level | < 10 ppb | 1 to 10 ppb | 30-50 ppb (drum), 30-150 (supercritical) | 30-50 ppb (drum), 30-150 (supercritical) |
| Chemicals added | a reducing agent (such as hydrazine), ammonia to raise pH | ammonia to raise pH | an oxidizing agent (such as hydrogen peroxide or oxygen) | an oxidizing agent, ammonia to raise pH |
| pH[6] | 9.0-9.3 | 9.2-9.6 | 9.2-9.6 | 8.0-8.5 (once-through), 9.0-9.4 (drum) |
| Top layer composition | magnetite (Fe3O4) on steel piping, cuprous oxide (Cu2O) on copper piping | hematite (Fe2O3) forms on top of the porous magnetite (Fe3O4)[7] | ferric oxide hydrate (FeOOH) or hematite (Fe2O3) forms over the porous magnetite | ferric oxide hydrate (FeOOH) or hematite (Fe2O3) forms over the porous magnetite |
| Advantages | Can be used with mixed metallurgy piping | More protection against FAC than AVT(R), minimizes orifice founling [8] | Less flow resistance, lower dissolved feedwater iron concentrations, FeOOH film is more stable, reduced boiler cleaning frequency | - |
| Disadvantages | Increased risk of FAC, a deaerator is required, more frequent chemical cleaning is required, hazardous chemicals (hydrazine) are used. | A deaerator is required. | Air leakage is more serious. Two-phase FAC can be a concern. | Condensate polishers are required. |
See also
- Heat recovery steam generator (HRSG)
- Flow-accelerated corrosion (FAC)
- Oxygen scavenger
- All volatile treatment (AVT)
References
- ^ Brad Buecker, "Flow-Accelerated Corrosion: A Critical Issue Revisited", 2007, Power Engineering, http://www.power-eng.com/articles/print/volume-111/issue-7/features/flow-accelerated-corrosion-a-critical-issue-revisited.html
- ^ Mitsuhiro Yamagishi, Masamichi Miyajima, "Evaluation of Oxygenated Water Treatment" 14th International Conference on the Properties of Water and Steam in Kyoto, August 29-September 3, 2004
- ^ Daniels, D., "HRSG Failure Mechanisms - Waterside," Proceedings of the 22nd Annual Electric Utility Chemistry Workshop, Champaign, Illinois, May 7–9, 2002.
- ^ IAPWS Technical Guidance Document: "Volatile treatments for the steam-water circuits of fossil and combined cycle/HRSG power plants (July 2010) http://www.iapws.org/techguide/Volatile.html"
- ^ Frank Gabrielli and Horst Schwevers, "Design Factors and Water Chemistry Practices - Supercritical Power Cycles" PREPRINT-ICPWS XV Berlin, September 8–11, 2008
- ^ Sharat Kumar and S.K. Gupta "Feed Water Treatment Optimization for Controlling Flow Accelerated Corrosion (FAC)" http://www.infraline.com/power/presentations/others/ntpc/n_50_fac_sharatkumar_chem.pdf
- ^ Frank Gabrielli and Horst Schwevers, "Design Factors and Water Chemistry Practices - Supercritical Power Cycles" PREPRINT-ICPWS XV Berlin, September 8–11, 2008, Page 10
- ^ Frank Gabrielli and Horst Schwevers, "Design Factors and Water Chemistry Practices - Supercritical Power Cycles" PREPRINT-ICPWS XV Berlin, September 8–11, 2008, Page 10