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Scale and Sludge

This document discusses scale and sludge formation in boilers. It defines sludge as soft, loose precipitates that can be easily scraped off, formed from more soluble substances at cooler portions of the boiler. Scale is described as hard deposits that firmly stick to boiler surfaces and are difficult to remove. The document outlines several methods of scale and sludge formation and prevention, including water treatment methods like phosphate conditioning, carbonate conditioning, and use of sodium aluminate or EDTA to form soluble complexes that inhibit precipitation. Frequent blow-down operation can also help remove loose sludge deposits.

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Utsav Chovatia
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8K views

Scale and Sludge

This document discusses scale and sludge formation in boilers. It defines sludge as soft, loose precipitates that can be easily scraped off, formed from more soluble substances at cooler portions of the boiler. Scale is described as hard deposits that firmly stick to boiler surfaces and are difficult to remove. The document outlines several methods of scale and sludge formation and prevention, including water treatment methods like phosphate conditioning, carbonate conditioning, and use of sodium aluminate or EDTA to form soluble complexes that inhibit precipitation. Frequent blow-down operation can also help remove loose sludge deposits.

Uploaded by

Utsav Chovatia
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SCALE AND SLUDGE

FORMATION IN BOILERS
Concentration Concentrations
Water of the reach Precipitates on
evaporates dissolved salts saturation the inner walls
increase point

If precipitation are loose and slimy – sludge

If precipitation are hard, adhering crust/coating on


the inner walls of boiler - scal
SLUDGE
• Soft,loose and slimy precipitate
• It can easily be scrapped off with a wire brush
• It is formed at comparatively colder portions
• They are formed by substances which have
greater solubilities in hot water
• E.g., MgCO3, MgCl2, MgSO4 etc.
Disadvantages of sludge formation
• Poor conductor of heat
• Disturbs working of the boiler

Prevention of sludge formation


• Using well softened water
• Frequently ‘blow-down operation’
What is scales?
• It is hard deposits
• It is stick very firmly to the inner surfaces of
the boiler
• It is difficult to remove
Formation of scales
1. Decomposition of calcium bicarbonate:

Ca(HCO3)2 CaCO3 + H2O + CO2


scale
• This type of scale is formed in low-pressure
boilers
• But in high-pressure boilers,CaCO3 is soluble

CaCO3 Ca(OH2) +CO2


(soluble)
2. Deposition of calcium sulphate:
• Solubility in water decreases with rise of
temperature
• So CuSO4 gets precipitated as hard scale on the
heated portions of the boiler
• This is the main cause of scales in high pressure
boilers.
3. Hydrolysis of magnesium salts:
• Hydrolysis of magnesium salt forming magnesium
hydroxide precipitate, which forms a soft type of
scale
MgCl2 + 2H2O Mg(OH)2 + 2HCl
4. Presence of silica:
• SiO2 even present in small amount, deposits as
calcium silicate and/or magnesium silicate
Disadvantages of scale formation
1. Wastage of fuel
2. Lowering of boiler safety
3. Decrease in efficiency
4. Danger of explosion
Removal of scales
1. With the help of scraper or piece of wood or
wire brush, if they are loosely adhering
2. By giving thermal shocks, if they are brittlr
3. By dissolving them in chemicalsby frequent
blow-down poeration, if the scales are
loosely adhering
Prevention of scales formation
1. External treatment
2. Internal treatment
a. Colloidal conditioning
b. Phosphate conditioning
c. Carbonate conditioning
d. Calgon conditioning
e. Treatment with sodium aluminate(NaAlO2)
f. Electrical conditioning
g. Radioactive conditioning
h. Complexometric method
Colloidal conditioning
• In low pressure boilers scale formation can be
avoided by adding organic substances like
kerosene, tannin, agar-agar etc.
• Coated over the scale forming precipitates,
thereby yielding non-sticky and loose deposits
which can easily be removable.
Phosphate conditioning
• In high pressure boilers, scale formation can
be avoided by adding sodium phosphate
• Soft sludge of calcium and magnesium
phosphates can be removed by blow-down
operation
3CaCl2 + 2Na3PO4 Ca3(PO4)2 + 6NaCl
Carbonate conditioning
• In low pressure boilers, scale formation can be
avoided by adding sodium carbonate
CaSO4 + Na2CO3 CaCO3 + Na2SO4
Calgon conditioning
• Adding of calgon (NaPO3)6
• The scale and slude formation by forming
soluble complex compound with CaSO4
Treatment with sodium
aluminate(NaAlO2)
• It is hydrolysed yielding NaOH and a
gelatinous precipitate of aluminium hydroxide
NaAlO2 + 2H2O NaOH + Al[OH3]
MgCl2 + 2NaOH Mg(OH2) + 2NaCl
• The flocculent precipitate of Mg(OH)2 plus
Al(OH)3 produced entraps finely suspended
and colloidal impurities, including oil drops
and silica.
Electrical conditioning
• Sealed glass bulbs, containing mercury
connected to a battery, are set rotating in the
boiler.
• When water boils, mercury bulbs emit
electrical discharges, which prevents scale
formation.
Radioactive conditioning
• Tablets containing radioactive salts are placed
inside
• The energy radiations emitted by these salts
prevent scale formation.
Complexometric method
• Adding 1.5% alkaline(pH = 8.5) solution of
EDTA .
• It is binds the scale forming cations to form
stable and soluble complex.
• It is also prevcents the deposition of iron
oxides in the boiler, reduces the carry over of
oxides with steam, proteccts the boiler from
corrosion
Thank you

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