Power Plant Chemistry

Boiler preservation
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Post-Treatment Efficiency Improvement

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Safety Stator cooling system

Inventory MgMt

Water
Its is one of the most abundant but least understood chemical.
Pure water is colorless, tasteless and odorless. It has the ability to dissolve to some degree every substance occurring on earth crust and in the atmosphere.

Water

contd..

Hence, water is called as Universal solvent Because of that, water will contain impurities.

Sources of Raw water

1.

Meteoric water : Rain water / snow/ hail: 2. Surface Water : River, lakes, ponds. 3. Ground Water : Wells, Springs, 4. Sea water .

Sources of Raw water

contd..

The mineral composition of sea water varies from 7.5g/l(Baltic sea) to 43 g/l (Red Sea) The composition of sea water: Nacl : 83.67 % MgCl2 : 8.50 % MgSO4 : 3.60 % CaSO4 : 4.20 % KCl : 0.03%

Impurities in Raw Water

These are of three main types 1. Suspended solids 2. Dissolved solids 3. Dissolved gases

Impurities in Raw Water

Suspended solids : These are
colloidal systems consisting of aggregated molecules, the particle size ranging from 1 to 100 mu; such as starch, glues and minerals such as Si02, Al(OH)3, Fe(OH)3 and organic substances (humins and fulvic acid).

Impurities in Raw Water

Dissolved solids: These are substances
completely dissolved in water and present as separate molecules or ions. The water can not be distinguished from absolutely pure water , except by taste or by chemical analysis . Contains many gases eg. O2, N2 ,CO2, H2S and others, soluble salts of Sodium , potassium, calcium, ammonium, magnesium, aluminium, iron, manganese etc.

Impurities in Raw Water

Dissolved solids contd

Industrial Sewage pollutes water with salts of heavy metals ( Cu, Pb, Mg) and various organic substances such as phenols, formaldehyde etc.

Impurities in Raw Water

Suspended solids: These are

particles of sand, clay, and organic matter These types of impurities get settled on standing.

Impurities in Raw Water

Biological Contaminations
Water bodies are polluted with organic matter of plant and animal origin indicated by BOD and COD.

Impurities in Raw Water

Planktons: Plants and animals which
remains suspended in water

Benthos : Plants and animals which

remains at bottom.

Impurities in Raw Water

Turbidity Imparts unsightly appearance to water. Deposits in water lines, process equipments. Interferes with most process uses.

Impurities in Raw Water -Turbidity

contd.

Means of treatment :

1. Coagulation 2. Settling 3. Filteration

Impurities in Raw Water contd.

Hardness
Chemical nature- Calcium and Magnesium salts expressed as CaCO3 Difficulty caused : Chief source of scale in heat exchange equipments, Boilers, pipelines. Forms curds with soap, interferes with dyeing

Impurities in Raw Water: Hardness

contd

Means of Treatments Softening Demineralisation

Impurities in Raw Water contd..

Alkalinity : Chemical nature Bicarbonate( HCO3) Carbonate ( CO3) Hydrate ( OH)

-

all expressed as CaCO3

Impurities in Raw Water :

Alkalinity
contd..

Difficulty Caused Foaming and carrying over of solids with steam Embrittlement of boiler steel CO2 from carbonate and biocarbonate causes corrosion in condensate lines

Impurities in Raw Water :

Alkalinity
contd..

Means of Treatments
Lime and lime soda softening Acid treatment Hydrogen Zeolite softening Demineralisation Dealkalisation by anion exchange

Impurities in Raw Water contd..

Free Mineral Acidity

Chemical nature-

H2SO4, HCl etc. expressed as CaCO3

Impurities in Raw Water Free Mineral Acidity contd Difficulty Caused Corrosion Means of Treatments Neutralisation with alkalies

Impurities in Raw Water contd..

Carbon dioxide
Chemical nature CO2 Difficulty Caused - Corrosion in water lines and particularly in steam and condensate lines.

Impurities in Raw Water

Carbon dioxide contd.. Means of Treatments Aeration De-aeration Neutralisation with alkalies

Impurities in Raw Water contd..

Chemical nature - Hydrogen ion

PH

concentration defined as

Difficulty Caused - PH varies according

to acidic or alkaline solids in water. Most natural water have a PH of 6.0-8.0
+) H = log 1/(H P

Impurities in Raw Water

contd..

PH

Means of Treatments PH can be increased by alkalies and decreased by acids.

Impurities in Raw Water contd..

SULFATE (SULPFATE)
Chemical nature - SO4 - Difficulty Caused Adds to the solid
content of water. Combines with Calcium to form Calcium Sulfate scale

Means of Treatments Demineralisation

Impurities in Raw Water contd..

Chloride
Chemical nature - Cl Difficulty Caused Adds to the solid
content and increases corrosive character of water

Means of Treatments Demineralisation

Impurities in Raw Water contd..

Nitrate
Chemical nature - (NO3) Difficulty Caused Adds to the solid
content. High concentration cause mathemo-globinemia in infants .

Means of Treatments Demineralisation

Impurities in Raw Water contd..

Floride
Chemical nature - F Difficulty Caused :Cause mottled
enamel in teeth. Not usually significant industrially.

Means of Treatments
Adsorption with Mag. Hydroxide, calcium phosphate or bone black. Alum Coagulation

Impurities in Raw Water contd..

Sodium
Chemical nature - Na+ Difficulty Caused : Adds to the solid content. When combined with OH - , causes corrosion in boilers under certain conditions Means of Treatments Demineralisation

Impurities in Raw Water contd..

Silica
Chemical nature - SiO2 Difficulty Caused : Scale in boilers and cooling waters
systems , Insoluble turbine blade deposits

Means of Treatments Demineralisation Adsorption by highly basic anion resins

Impurities in Raw Water contd..

Iron
Chemical nature Fe ++ (Ferrous)

Fe ++ + (Ferric)
Difficulty Caused : Discolors water on
precipitation , Source of deposits in water lines, boilers etc. Interferes with dying, tanning, paper making etc.

Impurities in Raw Water : Iron

Means of Treatments

contd..

Aeration. Coagulation and filtration Lime softening Cation exchange Surface active agents for iron retention

Impurities in Raw Water contd..

Manganese
Chemical nature - Mn ++ Difficulty Caused : Discolors water on
precipitation , Source of deposits in water lines, boilers etc. Interferes with dying, tanning, paper making etc. Means of Treatments : Same as Iron

Impurities in Raw Water contd..

Aluminium

Chemical nature - : Al +++ Difficulty Caused : Usually present as a

result of floc carry over from clarifier. Can cause deposits in cooling systems and contribute to boiler scales

Means of Treatments : Improved clarifier and filter operation

Impurities in Raw Water contd..

Oxygen

Chemical nature - : O2 Difficulty Caused : Corrosion of water

lines, Heat exchange equipments, boilers , return lines, etc. Means of Treatments : De-aeration, Sodium sulfate, corrosion inhibitors

Impurities in Raw Water contd..

Hydrogen Sulfide
Chemical nature - : H2S Difficulty Caused : Cause of rotten
egg odor, Corrosion. Means of Treatments : Aeration,

Chlorination, Highly basic ion exchange

Impurities in Raw Water contd..

Ammonia
Chemical nature - : NH3 Difficulty Caused : Corrosion of
copper and zinc alloys. Means of Treatments : Cation

exchange, De-aeration, Chlorination,

Impurities in Raw Water contd..

Dissolved solids

Chemical nature - : None Difficulty Caused : It is measure of

total amount of dissolved matter : causes foaming in boilers.

Means of Treatments : lime softening, Demineralisation

Impurities in Raw Water contd..

Suspended solids
Chemical nature - : None Difficulty Caused : It is measure of undissolved matter : causes deposits in heat exchange equipments, boilers, water lines etc.

Means of Treatments : Subsidence, Filtration usually preceded by coagulation and settling.

Impurities in Raw Water contd..

Total solids
Chemical nature - : None Difficulty Caused : It is sum of
dissolved and suspended solids.

Means of Treatments : same as

dissolved and suspended solids