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'948
CHAPTER 43
1954 Guide
Table 4. Plant Wateb Supplied Examination
WATER SUPPLY--
200 feet deep well--average water temperature i>3 Jb~ water is producing a brown stain in plumbing fixtures.
SAMPLE--
The sample was scraped from the surface of the shell and tube condenser of #2 Freon Compressor on the meat chilling room. The sterile sample bottle was filled one-half with deposit and the balance with circulating water. No preservative was added--pH at time of col-
lection was 7.4.
BACTERIOLOGICAL LJ ORGANIC CONTENT |v|
PROBLEM--
A 26-ton Freon--12 Compressor has head pressure about 10 lb higher than during initial operation, without change in water temperature. Deposits have been observed on heat exchanger surfaces. It is desired to know the nature of these deposits and if they are the
cause of this increased head pressure.
MACROSCOPIC EXAMINATION--
MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION--
Heavy brown flocculant material settles rapidly in clear water. pH--7.3 Odor--woody, mouldy.
Inorganic Material--small amount white crystals. Amorphous Material--small amount brown. Iron Bacteria--profuse growth of crenothnx--(Photo
usually included).
CULTURAL NATION--
EXAMI
Sabouraud's Agar
. .,
1. Aerobic gram positive spore-forming rod with mucoia
sheaths. (Photo usually included).
2. Short gram negative coccibacilli (Photo usually in
cluded).
TOTAL COUNT . 100,000 organism/cc.
DISCUSSION--
RECOM MENDATIONS--
The presence of common slime-forming organisms in the deposit combined with high organic content indi cates that the deposit is bacterial in origin. Heat transfer reductions would be caused by such a deposit. These deposits, combined with crenothrix, can cause
corrosion of both ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
It is recommended that the water be treated at the sue tion side of the deep well pump with chlorine in quanti ties sufficient to maintain a free chlorine residual o
1.0 ppm at the discharge of the shell and tube cle7; This treatment can be scheduled on an intermittent
basis.
__
results of such a test are commonly reported in the manner illustrated in
Table 4.
Condensates All condensates' result from the chilling of water vapor. Such chilling
may result from natural causes, thus producing dews, sweats, rain, and
snow, or from artificial causes, as in steam condensing equipment, pro
ducing condensate or return water. " ' 1 11 1 ' 1------:--l
of
Corrosion and Water Formed Deposits, Causes and Prevention
949
as cooling water in recirculating systems. The deleterious gas contents of condensates, however, very often create serious corrosion troubles:
The data in Table 5 typify the chemical composition of the atmosphere in rural and metropolitan areas, and of stack gases when various types of common fuels are used. The curves in Fig. 1 disclose the solubility of the major deleterious gases present in such atmospheres in otherwise pure water, when the partial pressure of the gas is one pound per square inch absolute.
The most common deleterious gases entrained by steam are oxygen and carbon dioxide. In rare instances, hydrogen sulphide, sulphur dioxide, or ammonia are present.
In most steam condensing equipment,7 - 8 the non-condensable gases entrained with steam accumulate so that the amount present in the vapor space is several hundred times higher - than in the incoming steam and
Table 5.; Data Typifying the Deleterious Gas' Content op Dipfeeent Atmospheres
Aib '
; ' Flue Gases
Name of Gas
Chemical Formula
Bubal `
% by Vol
ume.
Partial Pres* sure
psia
Metro politan
Partial % by Pres Vol sure ume
. psia
1mm. Coal
Fuel Oils
%by Vol ume
Partial Pre^ % by sure -. Vol ume
psia.
Partial Pres sure
psia
Natural Gas
% by Vol
ume
Partial Pres sure
psia
Oxygen........................ Carbon Dioxide........ Sulphur Dioxide___
0*. CO* SO*
21 3.143 : 21
3.143 : 2 * 0.299
0.03 0.004 0.08 '0.009 15 7 2.245
None None' 0.003 0.004 0.07 0.010
7 1.048 10
1.497
13 1.946 10 . 1.497
0.03 0.004 0.0001 0.0015
the amount dissolved in the' condensate may therefore approach, or even exceed for short periods, the amount entrained.by the steam.
CAUSES AND PREVENTION OF SCALES AND-SLUDGES
Scales may be formed on surfaces of equipment in contact with water, and sludges in the body of the water, by the separation from the water of dissolved or suspended solids. According to the nature of a particular piece of equipment and the method of its operation, such separation may be promoted by one or more than one, of several factors:
a. The concentration of solids may be increased by the evaporation of water.
b. The dissolved solids may be rendered less soluble in the water by changes in
temperature...
'
c. Conditions may favor, the decomposition of unstable compounds with the formation of less soluble compounds.
Figs. 2 and 3 show that the solubilities of both calcium carbonate and calcium sulphate decrease with the rising temperature within a moderate range of temperatures. Surfaces transferring heat into water, such as condensers and coolers, are more susceptible to scale and sludge formation than'are the cold parts of the same system using the same water.
The most common of the unstable soluble salts are the bicarbonates of calcium, magnesium, and occasionally iron. Under conditions favoring the removal of carbon dioxide, as when the water is strongly aerated or when it is boiled, the bicarbonates are readily converted to the relatively