Background
A longstanding client of WTS, a waste management facility located in Northern Queensland, operates a boiler that provides steam to an autoclave for clinical and pharmaceutical sanitisation purposes. Boilers need chemical treatment to prevent scale ensure corrosion is minimised across the boiler and steam system.
The boiler system comprises a gas-fuelled, firetube boiler supplying steam to a large autoclave and a boiler feedwater tank. Condensate return was minimal and the boiler feedwater is town water with no pre-treatment, therefore scaling was a concern.
The purity of the steam supplied to the autoclave is an important factor, as is the integrity of the steam pipework and the autoclave itself.
WTS solution
Over the last twenty years, WTS has had various levels of involvement in the client’s water infrastructure. Our experts worked closely with the client to ensure the optimum performance of the boiler system.
Initially WTS carried out a thorough site survey and identified a number of issues, in particular:
- Poor blowdown control
- Low pH in the steam causing corrosion
Our team applied a tried and tested four-phase continuous improvement process using scientific methodology and real-world results to drive the choice of solutions and optimise the application for efficacy and efficiency.
- Formulated a boiler treatment product specifically for the conditions of the client’s system to minimise both corrosion and deposition within the boiler itself.
- Suggested a more appropriate method to manage the blowdown from the boiler.
- Implemented a corrosion inhibitor for the steam / condensate system to minimise the corrosion that was occurring
- As part of the continuous improvement process, modified the boiler treatment product to ensure optimal conditions within the boiler water.
The treatment operates effectively across a wide pH range and is easily managed through continuous low-dose application, accommodating variations in process conditions such as temperature and flow.
Results and Benefits
- Reduced scale and corrosion. Site condition is excellent due to minimal corrosion or deposition as a result of WTS’s ongoing monitoring and proactive approach to treatment programme management.
- Productivity. Properly controlled boiler water chemistry means fewer unplanned shutdowns.
- Confidence. WTS has an intimate knowledge of the plant’s history and characteristics, ensuring the water treatment solutions are effective and cost-efficient.
- Demonstrated success. WTS has maintained a strong working relationship with the client for nearly 20 years, consistently delivering performance-driven results that highlight the value of WTS’s solution expertise for the client.
