Unit 2 - Chemistry - WWW - Rgpvnotes.in
Unit 2 - Chemistry - WWW - Rgpvnotes.in
Unit 2 - Chemistry - WWW - Rgpvnotes.in
Tech
Subject Name: Engineering Chemistry
Subject Code: BT-101
Semester: 1st
ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY (BT-101) NOTES
Excess of impurities, if present, in boiler feed water generally cause the following problems:
Scale and sludge formation, corrosion, priming and foaming, caustic embrittlement.
BOILER PROBLEM:
1. SLUDGE & SCALE FORMATION
2. PRIMING & FOAMING
3. CARRY OVER
4. BOILER CORROSION
5. CAUSTIC EMBRITTLEMENT
(i) Sludges are poor conductors of heat, so they tend to waste a portion of heat generated and
thus decrease the efficiency of boiler.
(ii) Excessive sludge formation disturbs the working of the boiler. It settles in the regions of poor
water circulation such as pipe connection, plug opening, gauge-glass connection, thereby
causing even choking of the pipes.
Prevention of sludge formation:-
(i) By using softened water
(ii) By frequently ‘blow-down operation’, (i.e. partial removal of concentrated water through a
tap at the bottom of boiler, when extent of hardness in the boiler becomes alarmingly high.
SCALES: Scales are hard deposits firmly sticking to the inner surfaces of the boiler. They are difficult
to remove, even with the help of hammer and chisel, and are the main source of boiler troubles.
(i) Decomposition of calcium bicarbonate:-
Ca(HCO3)2 CaCO3 + H2O + CO2
scale
However, scale composed chiefly of calcium carbonate is soft and is the main cause of scale formation
in low-pressure boilers.
But in high-pressure boilers, CaCO3 is soluble due to the formation of Ca(OH)2
CaCO3 + H2O Ca(OH)2 + CO2
soluble
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ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY (BT-101) NOTES
Removal of Scales:
Scales are removed by mechanical methods (i – iii) and / or by chemical methods (iv)
(i) If the scales are loosely adhering, it can be removed with the help of scraper or piece of wood or
wire brush,
(ii) If the scales are brittle, it can be removed by giving thermal shocks (i.e., heating the boiler and then
suddenly cooling with cold water).
(iii)If the scales are loosely adhering, they can also be removed by frequent blow-down operation.
Blow-down operation is partial removal of hard water through a ‘tap’ at the bottom of the boiler,
when extent of hardness in the boiler becomes alarmingly high. ‘Make-up’ water is addition of fresh
softened water to boiler after blow down operation.
(iv) If the scales are adherent and hard, they can be removed by dissolving them by adding
chemicals e.g., CaCO3 scales can be dissolved by using 5-10% HCl. Calcium sulphate scales
can be removed by adding EDTA, since the Ca – EDTA complex is highly soluble in water.
The essential differences between sludges and scales are summarized as follows:
S.No. Sludges Scales
1. Sludges are soft, loose and slimy Scales are hard deposits.
precipitate.
2. They are non-adherent deposits and They stick very firmly to the inner
can be easily removed. surface of boiler and are very difficult
to remove.
3. Formed by substances like CaCl2, Formed by substance like CaSO4,
MgCl2, MgSO4, MgCO3 etc. Mg(OH)2 etc.
4. Formed at comparatively colder Formed generally at heated positions of
portions of the boiler. the boiler.
5. They decrease the efficiency of boiler Decrease the efficiency of boiler and
but are less dangerous. chances of explosions are also there.
6. Can be removed by blow-down Cannot be removed by blow-down
operation. operation.
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ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY (BT-101) NOTES
Carry Over: The phenomenon of carrying of water along with impurities by steam is called “carry
over”. This is mainly due to priming and foaming.
Priming and foaming usually occur together.
They are objectionable, usually occur together.
(i) Dissolved salts or suspended solids in boiler water are carried by the wet steam to super
heater and turbine blades, where they get deposited as water evaporates. This deposit
decreases the efficiency of boiler.
(ii) Dissolved salts may enter the parts of other machinery, thereby decreasing their life;
(iii) The maintenance of the boiler pressure becomes difficult because of improper judgment of
actual height of water column.
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ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY (BT-101) NOTES
Boiler Corrosion
Boiler corrosion is “decay” or “disintegration” of boiler body material either due to chemical or
electrochemical reaction with its environment.
The disadvantages of corrosion are:
(i) Shortening of boiler life,
(ii) Leakages of the joints and rivets;
(iii) Increased cost of repairs and maintenance
Corrosion in boilers is due to the following reasons:
(1) Dissolved oxygen. This is the most usual corrosion causing factor. In Boilers, oxygen is introduced
through the raw water supply. Water usually contains about 8 ppm of dissolved oxygen at room temp.
As the water is heated, the dissolved oxygen is set free and the boiler starts corroding. Dissolved oxygen
reacts with the iron of boiler in presence of water and under prevailing high temperature to form ferric
oxide (rust).
Na2SO4 also blocks hair-cracks, thereby preventing infiltration of caustic soda solution in these. It
has been observed that caustic cracking can be prevented if Na2SO4 is added to boiler water so that the
ratio:
[Na2SO4 conc.] is kept as 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1 in boilers working respectively at
[NaOH conc.] pressures up to 10, 20 and above 20 atmospheres.
Softening Methods
Zeolite process
Zeolite is micro-porous mineral which is used as catalyst in many industrial purposes such as water
purification and air purification. The zeolites are hydrated alumino silicates and general composition
AlxSiyO2(x+y) (without water molecules). Zeolites are two types natural and synthetic or artificial. The
natural zeolite that is used for water softening is gluconites or greensand. Permutit is the synthetic
zeolite that is most used in water softening and its chemical formula is Na2O, Al2O3, nSiO2, xH2O.
These are used as ion exchanger and odor removal in water softener. Permutit are more porous, glassy,
and have higher softening capacity than greensand.
Zeolites are characteristically soft to moderately hard, light in density, insoluble in water but can act as
base exchangers in contact with water containing cations. Hence these can remove Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions
from water when hard water is passes through.
Zeolite process for water softening
Zeolite process for water softening has become a commercial success for the reason that zeolite can be
easily regenerated. When Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions containing hard water is passes through a bed of sodium
zeolite, the sodium ions are replace by the calcium and magnesium ions.
When all sodium ions are replaced by calcium and magnesium ions, the zeolite becomes inactive. Then
the zeolite needs to be regenerated. Brine solutions are passing through the bed of inactivated zeolite.
The following reactions are taken place and form Na2Ze
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ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY (BT-101) NOTES
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ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY (BT-101) NOTES
(Anion exchanger). H+ and OH- ions released from cation exchanger and anion exchanger
columns get combined to produce water molecule.
H+ + OH- H2O
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ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY (BT-101) NOTES
The columns are washed with deionised water and washing (which contain Ca2+, Mg2+ , SO42-
Na+ ions) are passed to sink or drain. The regenerated resins are again used.
Advantages:
If the output water is passed through de-gassifier, then the gaseous impurities like O2 , CO2 also
get expelled, to get water of distilled water standard.
Disadvantages:
Soda lime is a process used in water treatment to remove Hardness from water. This process is
now obsolete but was very useful for the treatment of large volumes of hard water. Addition of
lime (CaO) and soda (Na2CO3) to the hard water precipitates calcium as the carbonate, and
magnesium as its hydroxide. The amounts of the two chemicals required are easily calculated
from the analysis of the water and stoichiometry of the reactions. The lime‐soda uses lime, Ca
(OH)2 and soda ash, Na2CO3, to precipitate hardness from solution. Carbon dioxide and
carbonate hardness (calcium and Magnesium bicarbonate) are complexed by lime. In this process
Calcium and Magnesium ions are precipitated by the addition of lime (Ca (OH) 2) and soda ash
(Na2CO3).
temporary water hardness the following reactions are take places:
In case of permanent water hardness the following reactions are take places:
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ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY (BT-101) NOTES
There are two type lime-soda process; cold lime soda process and hot lime soda process.
When the chemicals (L Or S) are added to hard water at room temperature, the process is known
as cold lime soda process.
At room temperature, the precipitates are finely divided and do not settle easily, nor can they be
easily filtered.
Cold lime soda process provides water containing a residual hardness of 50-60 ppm.
When the chemicals are added to higher temperature (80o C to 150o C) the process is known as Hot lime
soda process.
Why Hot L-S Method is proffered over the Cold L-S Method
Settling rate and filtration rates are increased. As a result the precipitate and sludge
formed settle rapidly and coagulants and also chemicals needed are in smaller quantities
than that of cold L-S process.
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ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY (BT-101) NOTES
The level of carbon dioxide can also be reduced using hot L-S Process.
The process increases the PH value of the treated water thereby corrosion of the
distribution pipes is reduced.
This can remove hardness only up to 15 ppm, which is not good for boilers.
Careful operations and skilled supervision are required for economical and efficient
softening.
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