Deaerator Working Principle and Types

Last updated January 19, 2017

This article we will learn about the deaerator working principle and types of deaeration.

Contents [hide]

 1 What is Deaerators?
 2 Principle of Deaerators
 3 Types of deaerators
o 3.1 Spray Type Deaerator
o 3.2 Tray Type Deaerator
o 3.3 Vacuum Type Deaerator

What is Deaerators?
The removal of dissolved gasses from boiler feed water is an essential process in a steam system.
The presence of dissolved oxygen in feedwater causes rapid localized corrosion in boiler tubes.
The dissolved Carbon dioxide in water, resulting in low pH levels and the production of
corrosive carbonic acid. Low pH levels in feed water cause severe acid attack throughout the
boiler system. While dissolved gasses and low pH levels in the feed water can be controlled or
removed by the addition of chemicals. This is more economical and thermally efficient to
remove these gasses mechanically. This mechanical process is known as deaeration. Deaeration
is taking place in a vessel is called a deaerator.

By removing of the dissolved gasses in the boiler feed water, increases the life of a steam system
dramatically.

Principle of Deaerators
Deaeration in deaerators is based on two principles. The first principle can be described by
Henry’s Law. As per Henry’s Law, the gas solubility in a solution decreases as the gas partial
pressure above the solution decreases. The second principle that governs deaeration is the
relationship between ‘gas solubility’ Vs ‘temperature’.
Now for better understanding, the working principle of deaerator is the gas solubility in a
solution decreases as the temperature of the solution rises and approaches the saturation
temperature. A deaerator utilizes both of these natural processes to remove dissolved oxygen,
carbon dioxide, and other non-condensable gasses from boiler feedwater. The feedwater is
sprayed in thin films into a steam atmosphere allowing it to become quickly heated to saturation.
Spraying feedwater in thin films increases the surface area of the liquid in contact with the
steam, which, in turn, provides more rapid oxygen removal and lower gas concentrations. This
process reduces the solubility of all dissolved gasses and removes it from the feedwater. The
liberated gasses are then vented from the deaerator.
Types of deaerators
Deaerators are classified as three types, they are

 Spray type deaerator

 Tray type deaerator
 Vacuum type deaerator

Spray Type Deaerator

The spray type deaerator is shown in the figure. In which the Pre-deaeration of boiler feedwater
is sprayed in the steam space thereby the boiler feed water i

s contacted with the steam, deaeration takes

place. The pre-deaeration is achieved by the Stork spraying device. Under all kind operating
conditions, the sprayer assures heating up of the condensate to saturation temperature and a very
large area for mass transfer. As the solubility of oxygen in water at saturation conditions is
practically zero, oxygen transfers from the water droplets to the surrounding steam. As the steam
condensates on the water, the concentration of oxygen in the direct vicinity of the sprayer is
increased making it possible to vent a small amount of steam with a relatively high oxygen
concentration.

Final deaeration in the water tank is achieved by injection of steam in the water tank. Depending
on the conditions of the heat source(s) used (steam, pressurized hot water, steam/water mixture)
one (or more) types of steam rake(s) are chosen. A properly designed steam rake, taking into
account the hydrodynamics in the water tank, will result in good contact between water and
steam, allowing the oxygen to move from the water to the steam in accordance with Henry’s law.

Tray Type Deaerator

The typical horizontal tray-type deaerator in Figure has a vertical domed deaeration section
mounted above a horizontal boiler feed water storage vessel. Boiler feedwater enters the vertical
dearation section above the perforated trays and flows downward through the perforations. The
low-pressure dearation steam enters below the perforated trays and flows upward through the
perforations and had a good contact with the feed water. The steam strips the dissolved gas from
the boiler feedwater and exits via the vent at the top of the domed section. The deaerated water
flows down into the horizontal storage vessel from where it is pumped to the steam generating
boiler system. Low-pressure heating steam, which enters the horizontal vessel through a sparger
pipe in the bottom of the vessel, is provided to keep the stored boiler feed water warm.

Vacuum Type Deaerator

The vacuum type deaerator consists of three main components, they are vacuum deaerator, a
vacuum pump unit and a boiler feed water pump unit. Deaerator construction is Normally the
deaeration tank is made up of galvanized steel or stainless steel. Inside the tank is equipped with
an intermediate bottom, under which a reservoir for deaerated water is mounted. Filters are
installed on top of the intermediate bottom. A vacuum pump(liquid ring pump) is connected with
the deaerator for sucking the liberated dissolved gasses. Thereby maintained a negative pressure
in the deaerator system to enhance the liberation of dissolved gasses from the boiler feed water.

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