Boiler Water Treatment Services

Scale is a deposit made of materials like calcium, silica and iron. It appears when these impurities precipitate out of the water, then concentrate and harden onto the boiler’s heat transfer surfaces.

Scale can pose various risks and issues for boilers, including:

Reduced efficiency: Scale deposits are particularly good at insulating. They reduce how well heat transfers to the water, making your boiler less efficient.
Fuel and energy wastage: When heat transfer efficiency is reduced, more heat exits the stack rather than converting into steam. That means the boiler must burn more fuel to produce the desired amount of steam. This high fuel usage creates more greenhouse gas emissions and raises fuel, operating and maintenance costs.
Overheating: Scale can slough off the sides and interrupt water flow in the tubes, causing overheating or failure. Boiler deposits are natural insulators, making metal temperatures far higher in a dirty boiler than in a clean one. Higher metal temperatures increase the risk of tube overheating and failure.

Corrosion can come from several sources. However, it often occurs from a reaction between certain chemicals in the air or water and the boiler’s metal. These elements can cause pits and wear in the metal, eating away at the inner mechanisms. Other sources include:

Acidity in the water
Scale that traps corrosive sodium salts against the metal

Corrosion in boilers can be classified in one of two ways — general and pitting. General corrosion spreads over the entire surface of a metal component. Pitting typically causes more damage due to a heavier concentration of corrosion in a smaller area. It often results in a more rapid penetration of corrosion that can lead to total part failure.

Corrosion can cause the following issues in boiler systems:

Decreased efficiency: Corrosion can eat through the metal and create holes. These holes lead to leakage, warranting a machine shutdown for repair or causing the system to fail. This can set back your operations, reducing efficiency and productivity.
Shorter life span: Corrosion will progress over time without proper boiler treatment. Reduced efficiency will continue aggravating the system until it shuts down, ultimately shaving a few years off its service life.
Higher costs: Corrosion can cause excessive repair and replacement costs for damaged parts. Pitted tubes and other components typically warrant full replacements instead of repairs. This level of damage requires facilities to shut down their operations, affecting productivity. The more repairs increase and efficiency decreases, the more profits a facility will lose over time.

Both scale and corrosion spell trouble for an industrial boiler system. To keep your boiler corrosion- and scale-free, you’ll need the right water treatment equipment and chemicals. Chardon has the equipment, products and expertise to protect your boiler and other vital components of your steam system.

The two primary concerns for steam boilers are scale and corrosion. Scale deposits act as insulators when forming on boiler tubes, causing warping, uneven heat distribution and energy wastage. Corrosion can cause oxygen pitting, steam trap failure and leaking condensate lines.

Any of these problems can result in failed inspections and costly repairs. Chardon’s full-service treatment program will protect the boiler and all areas of your steam system, maximizing efficiency and equipment life.

This table indicates the relationship between scale thickness on boiler tubes and the percentage of fuel wasted. Scale is the leading factor contributing to efficiency loss in your steam boiler operation. Insufficient chemical treatment can cause scale deposits and substantially increase fuel costs.

Request a free evaluation of your boiler system and discover the potential savings you could be missing out on.