A Continuous Blowdown Heat Recovery System maintains the concentration of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) within boiler manufacturer recommended levels, while recovering the heat in the blowdown water, and any flash steam generated by the blowdown operation.
Increasing plant efficiency by elimination of intermittent surface blowdowns, and the recovery of lost heat, a Continuous Blowdown Heat Recovery System often has a payback of less than one year, even in plants with smaller boilers.
Boiler manufacturers recommend boiler water TDS be maintained at certain levels for varying boiler operating conditions. . Continuous blowdown is used to continuously take boiler water from below the water/steam interface where the TDS is at its highest concentration. Continuous blowdown, while the best way of controlling TDS levels generates very high thermal losses. Heat losses over time can be tremendous.
Altair’s Continuous Blowdown Heat Recovery Systems can recover up to 90% of the heat in the continuous blowdown water, by utilizing a flash tank and a heat exchanger The flash tank allows the high pressure/temperature boiler water to flash to a lower pressure. The amount of flash steam generated can then be used in a low pressure steam system for feed water heaters, deaerators, steam spargers, etc. The hot water remaining as a result of the flashing to a lower pressure is directed through a heat exchanger. This heat exchanger lowers the waste water discharge temperature to acceptable levels, to prevent drain/sewer overheating, while transferring it’s heat to the cold boiler make-up water.
User benefits :
- Can recover up to 90% of the heat from blowdown
- Improves overall boiler efficiency
- Reduces expensive treated make-up water by reducing thermal losses
- Fast return on investment
- Reduces temperature of blowdown water for safe disposal
