Case Study from Hydropath Asia
Power plant condenser scale on 1,800 mm cooling lines
Power plant condenser scale had left a Chinese power station heavily dependent on anti-scaling and biocide chemicals to protect its steam condensers. Seasonal river water, with high turbidity in the rainy season, made the problem worse. The dosing contaminated the discharge water and prevented its reuse on site, and steam condensation efficiency needed to improve. In November 2016 two HydroFLOW® Multihead 72 inch units were fitted to the 1,800 mm pipes feeding the condensers, with no shutdown. Hard scale stopped forming, existing limescale loosened and washed through, and the chemicals were eliminated, which also freed the discharge water for reuse.
The Challenge
- Power plant condenser scale demanded heavy anti-scaling and biocide dosing
- Seasonal river water brought high turbidity in the rainy season
- Chemical dosing contaminated discharge water, preventing reuse on site
- Steam condensation efficiency needed improvement
- The 1,800 mm lines could not be shut down for installation
The Solution
- Unit installed: two HydroFLOW® Multihead 72 inch units
- Installation point: pipes feeding the steam condensers
- Pipe size: 1,800 mm
- Installed: November 2016, with no shutdown
- Dosing stopped: anti-scaling and biocide chemicals
At 1,800 mm the Multihead is the only practical format, and both units went on without shutting down the station. The signal disrupts the conditions that bond scale to surfaces, so existing limescale loosens and washes through while new hard scale does not form. With power plant condenser scale under control, the anti-scaling and biocide chemicals were eliminated.
