Why Condition Your Boiler Water?

A boiler is used for generating steam. It does this byThese scales are very damaging to the boiler
heatingwater to its boiling point, after which steambecause theyinterfere with the heat transfer and can
will evaporatefrom it.lead to overheatingand eventually, boiler rupture.
When you boil a kettle of water, you will shut offSoft water is water that contains very little calcium
the fireor electric power when the water comes to aormagnesium salts. They are used to feed the boilers.
boil.However,they tend to be acidic in nature.
No so with a steam boiler. Generation of steam is aAcidic water tends to corrode. This is not good for
continuousprocess. Once a boiler is generating steam,the boiler.
it may take quitea long while before it is stopped.Corrosion can weaken the boiler.
When steam is evaporatedfrom the water, newBy treating the boiler water with chemicals, we can
water has to be added in to replace thewater givencontrolthe acidity of the water as well as the
out.softness of the water.
As more and more steam is evaporated, the waterThis will solve the problem with scales and corrosion,
becomes moreand more concentrated with salts andbut itis not the ultimate cure-all.
other impurities. If youuse your kettle for a longThe boiler water will continue to become more and
while, you will see some chalkydeposits inside it.moreconcentrated as the steam evaporates. The
The fresh water supplied to replenish those lostnext step to takeis to remove the concentrated
throughevaporation cannot be pure and free fromwater and replenish it withfresh, soft water.
salts. Even minutequantities of salt in the water willThe process of removing the concentrated water is
eventually become soconcentrated as to form scalescalledblow-down.
or deposits. The deposits areusually calcium orFolks, close your ears!
magnesium salts.Until next time...