Exploration & Production
GENERAL SPECIFICATION
CORROSION
GS EP COR 003
Boiler water treatment
00 10/2008 First issue
Rev. Date Notes
This document is the property of Total. It must not be stored, reproduced or disclosed to others without written authorisation from the Company.
Exploration & Production
General Specification Date: 10/2008
GS EP COR 003 Rev: 00
Contents
1. Scope .......................................................................................................................3
2. Reference documents.............................................................................................3
3. Definitions................................................................................................................4
4. Water treatment .......................................................................................................4
5. Chemistry of boiler water .......................................................................................5
6. Steam quality...........................................................................................................5
7. Water chemistry ......................................................................................................5
7.1 Dissolved oxygen...............................................................................................................5
7.2 Iron, copper, hardness and suspended solids ...................................................................5
7.3 pH ......................................................................................................................................6
7.4 Organic compounds...........................................................................................................6
7.5 Silica ..................................................................................................................................6
7.6 Alcalinity.............................................................................................................................6
7.7 Conductivity .......................................................................................................................6
8. Condensates............................................................................................................6
9. Analytical control ....................................................................................................6
10. Hot water loop .........................................................................................................8
Appendix 1 ....................................................................................................................................9
This document is the property of Total. It must not be stored, reproduced or disclosed to others without written authorisation from the Company.
Page 2/12
Exploration & Production
General Specification Date: 10/2008
GS EP COR 003 Rev: 00
1. Scope
This General Specification defines minimal requirements relative to boiler water treatment to
minimize the risks of corrosion and fouling, reduce cleaning, and thus increase the efficiency of
boilers and steam-using equipment.
Two types of natural circulation boilers are considered in this document:
• Water-tube boilers
• Fire-tube boilers.
Steam generation water treatment is a sophisticated water chemistry area and requires an
understanding of the fundamentals of boiler water chemistry.
The requirements given in this document apply to boilers operating continuously. This
specification does not cover conditions relative to particular operations such as start up,
shutdown or fast fluctuation steam production.
This specification doesn’t cover:
• Boilers with copper tubing or other "exotic" materials
• Electric boilers
• Recovery steam generators of specific design.
The particular case of pressurized hot water loop is also considered in this document.
2. Reference documents
The reference documents listed below form an integral part of this General Specification. Unless
otherwise stipulated, the applicable version of these documents, including relevant appendices
and supplements, is the latest revision published at the EFFECTIVE DATE of the CONTRACT.
Standards
Reference Title
NF EN 12952-12 Water-tube Boilers And Auxiliary Installations - Part 12:
Requirements For Boiler Feedwater And Boiler Water Quality
NF EN 12953-10 Requirements for feedwater and boiler water quality.
Professional Documents
Reference Title
Consensus on operating practices for the control of feedwater and
boiler water chemistry in modern industrial boilers. The American
Society of Mechanical Engineers - 1994
This document is the property of Total. It must not be stored, reproduced or disclosed to others without written authorisation from the Company.
Page 3/12
Exploration & Production
General Specification Date: 10/2008
GS EP COR 003 Rev: 00
Regulations
Reference Title
Not applicable
Codes
Reference Title
Not applicable
Other documents
Reference Title
Not applicable
Total General Specifications
Reference Title
GS EP COR 002 Corrosion control on production facilities: Field operations
3. Definitions
Direct conductivity Conductivity directly measured in water
Cationic conductivity Water conductivity measured downstream a strong acid ion
exchange resin
Makeup water Water which compensates water and steam losses of the circuit
Demineralised water Water with a cationic conductivity < 0.2 µS/cm and silica (SiO2) <
0.02 mg/l
T.D.S. Total dissolved solids
4. Water treatment
An appropriate on-site treatment of the water is always needed. This treatment has two main
objectives:
• The prevention of corrosion and fouling of the various elements of the boiler (economizer,
vaporization tubes, superheater)
• The production of vapor of suitable quality following the main criteria below:
- Silica concentration < 0.02 ppm
- pH of condensates > 8.5 and < 9.2.
Whenever possible, a pretreatment of the water external to the circuit must be privileged.
This document is the property of Total. It must not be stored, reproduced or disclosed to others without written authorisation from the Company.
Page 4/12
Exploration & Production
General Specification Date: 10/2008
GS EP COR 003 Rev: 00
5. Chemistry of boiler water
The philosophies of treatment to be implemented are (see Figure 4 in appendix):
• “Controlled phosphate” treatment for operating pressures < 40 bars
• “Low or very low phosphate” treatment for 40 < operating pressures < 110 bars
• “All volatile” treatment for operating pressures > 110 bars.
6. Steam quality
For any boiler, the quality of the steam to be produced is directly dictated by the users. The
criteria of purity of the vapor reflect the ultimate usage that is made: production of electricity
(turbines), superheated steam, etc.
The quality of the vapor is directly related to the quality of the water and to the design of the
boiler (drum, deheater, etc.).
7. Water chemistry
7.1 Dissolved oxygen
The recommended concentrations of oxygen in feedwater are given in appendix. In any case,
an oxygen scavenger injection in the deaerated drum is required.
Measurement of dissolved oxygen can be carried out by means of a standardized method
(ISO 5814) or by polarographic analysis.
Particular case of closed circuit hot water heating loops: Hot water loops are generally treated
using an oxygen scavenger (sulfite) only.
7.2 Iron, copper, hardness and suspended solids
The suspended solids content in the feedwater must be as low as possible and it is important to
take into account the high sensibility of boilers to fouling.
It is thus necessary to limit the concentration in products susceptible to precipitate by an
pretreatment carried out before the introduction of the fluids in the circuit.
Specific circuit treatments (based on dispersing or chelating agents) can tolerate a higher
concentration of iron, copper and hardness in boilers. In normal conditions, water treatment
does not need dispersing agents. In certain cases however, the addition of dispersing or
chelating agents may be necessary. In that case, a dedicated study shall be carried out and
these specific treatments shall be qualified prior to their use.
Verification of the treatment efficiency may include (when fuel is used as combustible) the
extraction of a sample of tube in the zone with high thermal transfer during inspection of the
equipment to determine the on-surface mass of deposit. When the extraction of tubes is
inappropriate, specific non-destructive methods of inspection can be used.
Recommended cleaning frequencies are generally:
• Once per 10 to 15 years for "low pressure" boilers
• Once per 5 to 10 years for "medium pressure" boilers
• Once per 5 years for "high pressure" boilers.
This document is the property of Total. It must not be stored, reproduced or disclosed to others without written authorisation from the Company.
Page 5/12
Exploration & Production
General Specification Date: 10/2008
GS EP COR 003 Rev: 00
7.3 pH
A pH > 8.5 is recommended for the feedwater to protect preheaters against corrosion. This
value is consistent with the water treatment of boiler. At high pressures, pH adjustment shall be
made by means of alkaline volatile agents only.
7.4 Organic compounds
Organic species can be present in boilers’ water with is extremely variable degrees. They can
result from natural water makeup or from process contamination (return of condensates). It is
thus practically impossible to define a best practice for all situations. The organic species
susceptible to pollute condensates are however easily identified (hydrocarbons, organic salts,
etc.).
Organic compounds could cause severe damages in generators as well as in turbines and
facilitate foaming.
7.5 Silica
The limits for silica contents in boiler waters are given in appendix (Figures 3 and 4).
7.6 Alcalinity
The P- and M- alkalinity are selected as basic control criteria because they correlate well to the
pH, corrosion inhibition, and foaming tendency.
7.7 Conductivity
The recommended values are presented in appendix (Figures 1 and 2).
8. Condensates
The quality of the recycled condensates shall be controlled.
At least three parameters shall be controlled: pH, cationic conductivity and a specific parameter
related to the process (e.g. visual control if risk of pollution by hydrocarbons, evaluation of the
quantity of Cl-, etc.).
9. Analytical control
The contents and frequencies of water analyses relative to boilers is presented in tables 1 to 3.
Water samples shall be taken at representative locations of the circuit.
• Feedwater → downstream the admittance valve
• Boiler water → drain
• Makeup water → upstream and downstream the external water treatment
• Condensate → before mixing with treated makeup water.
This document is the property of Total. It must not be stored, reproduced or disclosed to others without written authorisation from the Company.
Page 6/12
Exploration & Production
General Specification Date: 10/2008
GS EP COR 003 Rev: 00
The following parameters shall be controlled:
Table 1 - Content and frequency of feedwater analytical controls
Parameter Feedwater
Pressure (bar) 5 - 20 20 - 40 40 - 100
(1) (1)
pH Continuous Continuous Continuous(1)
Direct conduct. at 25°C Continuous(1) Continuous(1) Continuous(1)
H(Ca+Mg) once/shift once/shift once/shift
HCa once/month once/month once/month
SiO2 once/week once/week Continuous
O2 once/quarter once/quarter once/quarter
(1) Continuous or once/shift
Table 2 - Content and frequency of condensate analytical controls
Parameter Condensate return
Pressure (bar) 5 - 20 20 - 40 40 - 100
(2)
pH once/day Continuous Continuous(2)
Cationic conduct. at once/day Continuous(2) Continuous(2)
25°C
Specific control(1) once/day once/shift once/shift
(1) Specific control connected to the process (visual control, COT, etc.)
(2) Continuous or once/shift
This document is the property of Total. It must not be stored, reproduced or disclosed to others without written authorisation from the Company.
Page 7/12
Exploration & Production
General Specification Date: 10/2008
GS EP COR 003 Rev: 00
Table 3 - Content and frequency of boiler water analytical controls(1)
Parameter Boiler water
Pressure (bar) 5 - 20 20 - 40 40 - 100
pH once/shift Continuous(2) Continuous(2)
Conduct. at 25°C once/shift Continuous(2) Continuous(2)
TA/TAC once/shift once/day once/shift
SiO2 once/day once/day Continuous(2)
PO4(3) once/day once/shift once/shift
Réducteur d’O2 once/week once/day once/day
Fe once/month once/week once/week
Cu once/month once/week once/week
TAOH 2TA - TAC 2TA - TAC 2TA - TAC
(1) For P > 100 bars, analytical control program to be defined specifically
(2) Continuous or once/shift
(3) If phosphate based treatment
10. Hot water loop
A typical water treatment for closed pressurized hot water loops (< 20 bars) is presented in
appendix (Table 5). In order to be efficient, the loop shall be closed (monthly makeup water <
5% the total volume).
This document is the property of Total. It must not be stored, reproduced or disclosed to others without written authorisation from the Company.
Page 8/12
Exploration & Production
General Specification Date: 10/2008
GS EP COR 003 Rev: 00
Appendix 1
Appendix 1
Table 4 - Feedwater and boiler water quality for natural circulation steam
5-20 bars 20-40 bars 50-60 bars 60-100 bars
Feedwater Soft Soft/Demin. Demineralized Demin. + fin.
(2)
O2 dissolved (mg/l) < 0.04 < 0.02 < 0.02 < 0.02
Fe total (mg/l) < 0.2 < 0.2 < 0.05 < 0.02
Cu total (mg/l) < 0.03 < 0.03 < 0.02 < 0.01
TH (°f) < 0.5 < 0.2 < 0.05 ND
PH 8.5 - 10.0 8.5 - 10.0 8.5 - 10.0 8.8 - 9.5
COT (mg/l) <5 <3 < 0.5 < 0.2
Boiler water
pH 10.5 to 12 10.5 to 12 10 to 11 9.5 to 10.5
TAC (°f) < 100 < 60 < 15 <5
TA (°f) TA = 0.7 TAC TA = 0.7/0.5 TAC TA = 0.5 TAC TA = 0.5 TAC
SiO2 (mg/l) see Figure 3 see Figure 3 see Figure 3 see Figure 4
NaOH free (mg/l) < 100 < 50 < 20 <5
3-
PO4 (mg/l) 30 to 100 20 to 80 10 to 60 5 to 20
TDS see Figures 1 & 2 see Figures 1 & 2 see Figures 1 & 2 see Figure 2
(1) For high heat flux (> 230 kW/m2), values of the upper pressure zone shall be used.
(2) After primary deaeration and before O2 scavenger injection
This document is the property of Total. It must not be stored, reproduced or disclosed to others without written authorisation from the Company.
Page 9/12
Exploration & Production
General Specification Date: 10/2008
GS EP COR 003 Rev: 00
Appendix 1
Direct conductivity (µS/cm)
Pressure (MPa)
Figure 1 - Direct conductivity limit in boiler water; direct conductivity of feed water of
feed > 30 μS/cm
Direct conductivity (µS/cm)
Pressure (MPa)
Figure 2 - Direct conductivity limit in the boiler water; direct conductivity of feed water of
feed ≤ 30 μS/cm
This document is the property of Total. It must not be stored, reproduced or disclosed to others without written authorisation from the Company.
Page 10/12
Exploration & Production
General Specification Date: 10/2008
GS EP COR 003 Rev: 00
Appendix 1
Max SI O2 (mg/l)
Pressure (MPa)
Figure 3 - Maximal (SiO2) concentration in boiler water (between 0.05 and 6 MPa)
Max SI O2 (mg/l)
Operating pressure (MPa)
Figure 4 - Maximal (SiO2) concentration in boiler water (between 6 and 18 MPa)
This document is the property of Total. It must not be stored, reproduced or disclosed to others without written authorisation from the Company.
Page 11/12
Exploration & Production
General Specification Date: 10/2008
GS EP COR 003 Rev: 00
Appendix 1
Table 5 - Hot water treatment for pressurized closed loops
Feedwater: Hardness < 10 mg/l (as CaCO3)
[Cl-] < 25 ppm
TDS < 250 mg/l
Operating conditions: T < 150°C
Closed loop
Blanketing gas: Nitrogen (O2 < 2%)
Typical Target
Injection Typical
conditioning Role Periodicity monitoring Comments
mode dosage
product values
Initial + top
Calculated to
up in case No copper
Phosphate pH control reach an in Batch pH > 9.5
of pH alloys
situ pH > 9.5
decrease
Calculated to
Initial + top reach an in
O2 up in case situ excess [SO32-] >
Sulfite Batch
scavenger of [SO32-] sulfite 10 mg/l
decrease concentration
> 10 mg/l
This document is the property of Total. It must not be stored, reproduced or disclosed to others without written authorisation from the Company.
Page 12/12
