Why do enterprises keep being reminded to carry out water quality online monitoring? The main purpose is to ensure that water quality meets the discharge and usage standards. Take boiler water as an example: if the parameters in the water do not conform to the standards during production and use, it can have a notable impact on the operation of industrial boilers. The effects can be analyzed from the following points:
- Alkalinity
Boiler water needs to maintain a certain level of alkalinity, because it can react with hardness and help control scale formation on the heating surface. However, if the alkalinity is too high, it can affect steam quality and cause alkaline corrosion. Therefore, staff need to keep the alkalinity below the upper limit and prevent it from exceeding the standard.
- Hardness
As mentioned above, alkalinity reacts with hardness, which means hardness also exists in boiler water. The higher the hardness, the more prone the boiler is to scaling. To prevent scale formation, the hardness content in the water must be properly controlled. An online hardness analyzer for water can be used for detection, and once the data exceeds the standard, appropriate measures should be taken in a timely manner.
- Iron Content
If the iron content in boiler water does not meet the standard, the higher the iron content, the more likely iron oxide scale will form on high-temperature heating surfaces. In addition, corrosion in metal feed-water tanks or feed-water pipes can lead to elevated iron ions. Therefore, staff should carry out rust prevention and corrosion protection work, and if high iron content has already occurred, measures should also be taken to address it.
- Oil Content
Although natural water generally does not contain oil, so oil testing may not be required as routine, the possibility of water source oil contamination cannot be ruled out. In such cases, it is necessary to check whether the oil content conforms to the standard, so as to prevent steam contamination and oil scale formation.
- Phosphate Content
Controlling the phosphate content in boiler water and eliminating residual hardness can help avoid scaling and reduce corrosion.
The above only covers part of the potential effects, but it is clear that water quality monitoring plays a significant role in boiler operation. Carrying out proper treatment of boiler makeup water, together with regular testing and supervision, helps ensure boiler water quality conforms to national standards and enables the boiler to operate safely.
