Basic Question Looking for member experiences
Basic Question Looking for member experiences
(OP)
We have a small Electric boiler at our facility. It is used to produce "clean" steam for sterilization of some piping and a couple small production machines. It is fed with RODI water with conductivities less than 1.00 microS/cm. We have always cleaned it with a citric acid based cleaner. This boiler is cold flushed daily before start-up. We test the steam condensate regularly for a number of things including total organic carbon. Despite hours of flushing, the citric acid causes a major upset in the TOC readings, and results in all sorts of hair pulling and teeth gnashing after every regular cleaning. Being responsible for this equipment, my department has increased the cleaning interval a couple times already, and are about to propose an even greater interval(we have never seen a trace of scale in 3 years). We have also discussed cleaning with a mineral acid. I am just curious if others here have dealt with a similar situation, and if so how you have handled it.





RE: Basic Question Looking for member experiences
RE: Basic Question Looking for member experiences
RE: Basic Question Looking for member experiences
RE: Basic Question Looking for member experiences
the suggestion to them is to find a mild soap or chemical based comparable with the acid as to clear the rems after "polishing it with acid"
and only a suitable knowledgeable chemical person or company can probably help them.
one question is to them to post the problem: just going crazy about the after chem cleaning is not a question. it got to be a water level system problem; pump overfilling or not filling; power disconnecting or not. what type of water level are they using noow.
that can help troubleshooting the problem.
genblr
RE: Basic Question Looking for member experiences
It seems pretty clear that in this case they are unnecessarily creating a problem.
RE: Basic Question Looking for member experiences
Then I would probably clean it with dense phase CO2 instead of acid. This stuff is starting to be used in all sorts of applications from dry cleaning clothing to replacing carbon tetra chloride for decreasing. It requires some skill to use, but seems to be incredibly effective.
David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering
"Belief" is the acceptance of an hypotheses in the absence of data.
"Prejudice" is having an opinion not supported by the preponderance of the data.
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RE: Basic Question Looking for member experiences