Water Analysis

Hard water
The water which does not give lather with soap is called hard water. The
hard water contains dissolved calcium & magnesium salts.

Hardness
The amount of dissolved salts in water is known as its hardness.

Hardness of water is expressed in terms of CaCO3 because of the following

reasons:

1. Molecular weight of CaCO3 is 100 (Equivalent wt. is 50) which makes the
calculation easy.

2. CaCO3 is most insoluble salt that can be precipitated in water treatment.

Units of hardness
(1) Parts per million (ppm)

(2) Milligrams per litre (mg/l)

(3) Degree Clarke (°CI)

(4) Degree French (°Fr)

1 ppm = 1mg/L = 0.1°F = 0.07°CI

TYPES OF HARDNESS
(1) Temporary hardness → Ca2+ Bicarbonates, Mg2+ → Bicarbonates
(2) Permanent hardness → Ca2+ Chloride, Sulphate, Mg2+ → Chloride,
Sulphate

Boiler Troubles:
If the hard water is fed directly to the boilers, following troubles arises

1. Priming or Wet Steam Formation

2. Foaming
3. Scale & sludge formation
4. Caustic embrittlement
5. Boiler Corrosion

1. Priming or Wet Steam Formation: The carrying out of water droplets

with steam in steam drum is called “priming”.

Causes

(i) Large amount of dissolved solids.

(ii) High steam velocities.

(iii) Faulty boiler design.

(vi) Sudden increase in stream production rate.

(v) The high levels of water in boilers.

Prevention of priming
(I) Fitting mechanical steam purifiers.
(II) Maintaining low water levels in boilers.
(III) Using soft water.

2. Foaming: Formation of stable bubbles at the surface of water in the

boiler is calling foaming.

Reason: Due to the presence of oil drops, Alkalies etc.

Prevention of Foaming
(I) Adding antifoaming chemicals.
(II) Oil can be removed by adding sodium aluminates or alum.
(III) Using soft water.

3. Scale & sludge formation

Sludge: The muddy solid deposited at the bottom of the boiler is called
sludge.

Causes of the sludge: - The sludge is caused by MgCO3, MgCl2, CaCl2.

Disadvantages of sludge
1. Wastage of heat and fuel.

2. Chocking of the pipes.

Prevention of sludge formation

1. By using soft water.

2. Blow down operation.

Scale: Scales are hard sticky deposits on the inner walls of boiler. The scales
are very difficult to remove.

Causes: -

Due to presence of Ca (HCO3)2, Mg (HCO3)2, CaSO4 etc. in water.

Disadvantages of Scale
1. Loss of heat of fuel.

2. Weakening of boiler material.

3. May result in explosion of boiler.

1 Soft scale can be removed by scrapper.

2. By giving thermal shocks.

3. Using 5-10% HCI Solution.

4. Caustic embrittlement
The formation of cracks in boilers due to NaOH is called caustic
embrittlement.

Prevention of caustic embrittlement

a) By using sodium phosphate or sodium sulphate for softening instead of
Na2CO3.

b) By adding tannin or lignin to boiler water.

5. Boiler Corrosion
It is the decay of the boiler body material due to environmental factors.

Disadvantages: -
a) Reduced life of boiler.

b) Increased cost of repairs and maintenance.

c) Leakage of joints.

Prevention
1. By removal of oxygen using hydrazine, sodium sulphate etc.

2. By removal of CO2: By adding ammonia.

Treatment of Boiler feed water is of two types:

Internal Treatment

External Treatment

INTERNAL TREATMENT
In this method water in treated inside the boiler. This is a corrective method.

Principle: To convert the scale forming substances into sludge forming

substance:

1. Carbonate Conditioning

2. Calgon Conditioning
3. Phosphate conditioning

Carbonate conditioning
Na2CO3 + CaSO4 → CaCO3

Calgon Conditioning
Sodium hexa-meta phosphate Na2[Na4P6O18] is called Calgon.

Na2[Na4P6O18] → 2Na+ + [Na4P6O18]2-

2CaSO4 + Na2[Na4P6O18] → [Ca2P6O18]2- + 2Na2SO4

Phosphate conditioning: It is applied to high pressure boilers.

3CaCl2 + 2Na3PO4 → Ca3(PO4)2 + 6NaCl

3MgCl2+ 2Na3PO4 → Mg3(PO4)2 + Na2SO4

EXTERNAL TREATMENT
1. Zeolite method of water treatment/ Permutit process

2. Ion Exchange Process

3. Lime soda Process.

ZEOLITE METHOD OF WATER TREATMENT/ PERMUTIT PROCESS

Zeolites are hydrated sodium alumina silicates.

They have porous structure with molecular formula Na2O.Al2O3.xSiO2.yH2O

(x=2 to 10 & y=2 to 6). They are represented as Na2Ze

Principle: They exchange their loosely held sodium ions reversibly with the
hardness producing cations in water (Ca2+ and Mg2+).

Working: -

I. Water softening: -

MgCl2 + Na2Ze → MgZe + 2Na+

CaCl2 + Na2Ze → CaZe + 2Na+

II. Regeneration: -

MgZe + NaCl → Na2Ze + MgCl2

CaZe + NaCl → Na2Ze + CaCl2

Advantages

1. Only 10 ppm hardness left behind.

2. No sludge formation.

3. Requires less time and operation is clean.

4. Automatically adjusts itself according to the hardness of water.

5. Equipment is compact, maintenance and operation are easy.

Disadvantages
1. Removes cationic impurities; anions are left behind in water.

2. Treated water contains more sodium salts.

Limitations

1. Turbid water cannot be feeded.

2. Acidic water cannot be feeded.

3. Hot water cannot be used.

4. If used for heavy metal ions like Fe3+ or Al3+ etc., zeolites cannot be
regenerated.

ION EXCHANGE RESINS FOR WATER SOFTENING

These are high molecular weight, insoluble, cross linked, organic polymers
having porous structure. There are two types of ion exchangers.

(a) Cation Exchange resins: Have loosely held H+ ions which are
reversibly exchanged by hardness producing cations (Ca2+ and Mg2+)
in water.)
(b) Anion Exchange resins: Have loosely held OH-: ions which are
reversibly exchanged by hardness producing anions (Cl- and SO4-2) in
water.)

Principle:

These are capable of exchanging hardness producing ions (cations as well

as anions) in water with their H+ and OH-: tons.

Working: -

Ion exchange process consists of two columns- Cation exchanger column

and anion exchanger column.
Water softening: -

Cation Exchange resins:

2R-H + Ca2+ → R2Ca + 2H+

2R-H + Mg2+ → R2Mg + 2H+

Anion Exchange resins:

R-OH + Cl- → RCl + OH-

2R-OH + SO42- → R2SO4+ 2OH-

Regeneration: -

Caution regeneration: -

R2Mg + 2H+ → 2R-H + Mg2+

Anion regeneration: -

RCl + OH- → R-OH + Cl-

Advantages

1. Gives water of zero hardness and no ionic impurities.

2. Occupies less space.

3. Easy to operate.

4. Negligible running cost.

Limitations:
1. Initial cost is high.

2. Used for small scale treatment of water.

LIME SODA PROCESS FOR WATER SOFTENING

Principle: By adding calculated amounts of lime Ca (OH)2, and soda
Na2CO3.

All the calcium salts are precipitated out as calcium carbonate CaCO 3.

All the magnesium salts are precipitated as magnesium hydroxide Mg(OH) 2

Which can be easily filtered off.

1. Lime removes all the temporary hardness.

2. Lime removes all the permanent hardness of magnesium salts.

3. Lime removes the dissolved gases.

4. Lime removes free mineral acids.

5. Lime removes dissolved iron and aluminium salts.

6. Soda removes all soluble calcium permanent hardness

Advantages of L.S. Process:

1. Economical method.

2. Colloidal impurities can also be removed.

3. Iron and manganese are also removed from the water.

4. Acidic water can be softened.

5. Water with residual hardness of 15-50 ppm is obtained.

6. Bacteria impurities reduce.

Disadvantages of L.S. Process:

1. Careful operation and skilled supervision Is required.

2. Accurate study of water is required before treating.

3. Disposal of large amounts of sludge.

4. Water with residual hardness of 15-50 ppm is obtained, which is not good
for boilers.

Desalination
The removal of dissolved solids (NaCl) from water is known as
desalination process. It can be carried out by Reverse osmosis.

Reverse Osmosis (RO) or Super Filteration

It is a process to demineralize or deionize water by pushing it under

pressure through a semi-permeable membrane (reverse of osmosis).

Osmosis: Solvent from dilute solution passes to the concentrated

solution through a semi permeable membrane to equalize the
concentration of both.

Reverse Osmosis: Pressure higher than osmotic pressure is applied on

the concentrated solution side so that the flow of the solvent is
reversed, i.e., from concentrated solution to dilute solution.

Advantages: -

• Removes up to 99% of the dissolved salts (Ions), particles, colloids,

organics bacteria and pathogens from water.
• Removes both ionic and non-ionic impurities.
• Requires extremely low energy.
• Low cost process.
• Simple to operate.
• Pure water for high pressure boilers can be obtained.
Applications or Uses for Demineralized Water:

1. Industrial uses.
2. Lab application.
3. In lead acid batteries and cooling systems.
4. Cosmetics.
5. Aquariums.
6. Fire extinguishers.