Chemical Cleaning Of Boiler

Just a couple of comments:

1) The Mg, Ca, Fe and P are expected from feedwater and phosphate water treatment, but where did the nickel and copper come from? It can't be in your feedwater and it wouldn't be in your water treatment chemicals. Therefore it must have come from within your boiler system. Do you have any condensate return? If so, it might suggest that you are getting corrosion somewhere else in the pipework, feedwater tank, pump etc.

2) The presence of so much solid Na2SO3 is also mystifying, since it is very water soluble. Perhaps the boiler has been overdosed with sulphite oxygen scavenger? No harm done as far as I can tell.

Your water treatment company should be able to help you on the chemical cleaning aspect. Do not try this yourself - it requires careful monitoring. A strong acid with an inhibitor is required. Make sure your supplier/operator is very experienced in chemical cleaning - there are all sorts of horror stories around. It will need to be monitored by someone with good chemical and engineering knowledge, not just someone who knows how to open drums and pour in chemicals!

Hello ec. Just from a little reading and I do agree with your comments. But there another area the copper and nickel could be from is the Na2S03 "Sodium sulfite" that being used as oxygen scavenger agent with a catalyzed with several metal ions like (CO) Cobalt, (Ni) nickel, (Cu) copper, (Fe) iron. Just saying.

If there is copper in the system and or nickel (stainless steel) there could be corrosion else ware in the system.

For the op, here a quick read on Sulfites for oxygen control.

As to the amount of sodium sulfite could be due to too much added over time, precipitation out of solution at temp. Also improper blow down water makeup.

The op also stated that the boiler tubes were swelled. That sounds like blockage and or over heating with pressure. Could be some corrosion thinning also.

Like you said the op needs someone with boiler water chemistry/engineering knowledge to keep from having future problems. And with help to get things cleaned up now.

Not knowing the use of this boiler there could be damage from the buildup of material. It would not hurt to have the system inspected during cleaning.

Whatever is going on in this boiler, its blowdown regime is not being implemented correctly and its water treatment regime requires a thorough investigation and possibly overhaul.

If there are bulges in the tube metal the boiler might be unsafe to operate without these components being replaced. Consult the Engineer/Surveyor for the company that provides burst indemnity insurance cover, and follow this individual's instructions to the letter. Make sure that any repairs are ionspected before bringing the boiler back into service.

I will only advice you not to perform the chemical cleaning yourself.

Your de-aerator does not seem to be present/ or undersized or working efficiently.

Your condensate controlled Ph is not helping you and your condensate lines corroded.

You should have a boiler inspector check the bulge and reason.

Do you have automatic boiler blowdown system installed?

Well thanks for all your advice! No, no, don't mention it old chap. All in a day's work.