Steam Condensate Treatment

Steam condensate treatment features & benefits

Veolia’s long history of research and development combined with a deep industry knowledge has led to creating a vast portfolio of steam condensate treatment technologies uniquely positioned to answer all steam systems’ unique needs and challenges. The Steamate series offers key benefits to customers, such as:

• Superior protection of critical heat transfer equipment, reduced maintenance costs and increased system reliability and availability.
• Energy and water conservation by preventing corrosion and leaks in steam condensate systems. • High stability products designed for high pressure and super-critical boilers
• Products certified FDA 21CFR173.310 where steam may contact food is used for HVAC humidification or sterilization applications.
• Maintain cleaner, more efficient boiler heat transfer surfaces by minimizing the return of corrosion products with condensate.

Condensate Modeling System* (CMS)

Veolia’s leadership in amine behavior research has led to developing an advanced, real-world, computer-based condensate modeling system that realistically reproduces the complex behavior and interactions of neutralizing amines and carbon dioxide in different pressurized conditions, in even the most sophisticated boiler systems.

Condensate modeling features & benefits

The CMS simulation program goes beyond conventional methods of boiler condensate modeling and treatment optimization by using state-of-the-art computer graphical interface, an equation solver technique, and more sophisticated methods for calculating chemical distribution to provide the following benefits:

• Accurately reflects observed treatment performance
• Deliver optimal, cost-effective treatment and increase in troubleshooting productivity
• Develops more effective amine products and application programs
• Predicts methods for system-wide performance improvements

What is steam condensate?

Water exists in the vapor or steam phase when its temperature is raised at (or above) its saturation temperature, also known as its boiling point. When it reaches that temperature, the water in the boiler evaporates. It is then said to be “saturated steam.” If more heat is supplied to it, it is said to be “superheated steam” (i.e., above saturation). That steam then travels through the system, and its heat content is depleted based on the process it is used for and other losses. When the steam loses enough heat for its temperature to go below its saturation temperature, it will revert to its liquid phase. The water formed by steam condensation is the condensate. It is typically free of dissolved solids as those do not leave the boiler when the steam is generated. Only dissolved can normally vent out with the steam.

What are the types of condensate treatment chemicals?

Steam condensate treatment chemicals include neutralizing amines, filming amines, and oxygen scavenger-metal passivators. Neutralizing amines are the predominant technology and are volatile organic bases that readily enter the steam phased and distribute throughout the system.

What are neutralizing amines?

Neutralizing amines are used to neutralize the acid (H⁺) generated by the dissolution of carbon dioxide or other acidic process contaminants in the condensate. These amines hydrolyze when added to water and generate the hydroxide ions (OH^-) required for neutralization. By regulating the neutralizing amine feed rate, the condensate pH can be elevated within the desired range based on piping metallurgy. Many amines are used for condensate acid neutralization and pH elevation. The ability of any amine to protect a system effectively depends on the neutralizing capacity, recycling rate and recovery rate, basicity, distribution ration, and thermal stability of the amine.

What are filming amines?

Filming amines protect against oxygen and carbon dioxide corrosion by laying a very thin amine film barrier on metal surfaces. During the period of initial film formation, old, loosely adherent corrosion products are lifted off the metal surface due to the surfactant properties of the amine. The metal is cleaned of oxides, which normally cling very tightly and can build up over long periods. Excessive initial filming amine treatment of old, untreated or poorly treated condensate systems can cause large amounts of irons oxide to be sloughed off, plugging traps and return lines. Therefore, treatment must be increased gradually for old systems.

What is oxygen scavenging and metal passivation?

Where oxygen invades the condensate system, corrosion of iron and copper-bearing components can be overcome through proper pH control and the use of an oxygen scavenger. While many oxygen scavengers can be used to control oxygen in the feedwater system, most of them or not volatile and cannot offer the same level of protection in condensate systems. DEHA is one of the very few oxygen scavengers that are volatile and can offer system-wide protection. On top of being an oxygen scavenger, it also has strong iron passivating properties, meaning that it converts the typical hematite (Fe2O₃) form of iron to magnetite (Fe₃O₄), increasing its stability and reducing its predisposition to oxygen attack.