Progress on Physical Processes for Boiler Feedwater Deoxygenation

Area of Science:

• Boiler feedwater treatment
• Water chemistry
• Membrane technology

Background:

• Increasing thermal power unit expansion and higher operating parameters exacerbate oxygen corrosion in boiler feedwater.
• Traditional deaeration methods (thermal, stripping, vacuum) are energy-intensive, complex, and lack adaptability.
• Dissolved oxygen in feedwater causes significant corrosion issues in power plants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review conventional deaeration methods and their limitations.
• To outline the progress and potential of membrane deaeration technology.
• To identify future research directions for efficient dissolved oxygen removal.

Main Methods:

• Review of mechanisms, equipment, and applications of conventional deaeration.
• Analysis of advancements in membrane materials and module configurations.
• Examination of mass transfer, module design, and process integration in membrane deaeration.

Main Results:

• Membrane deaeration presents a promising alternative with energy efficiency, compact design, and high adaptability.
• Recent membrane advancements allow for dissolved oxygen removal to parts per billion (ppb) levels.
• Mild operating conditions are achievable with current membrane deaeration technologies.

Conclusions:

• Membrane deaeration is a superior alternative to conventional methods for boiler feedwater treatment.
• Continued development in membrane technology is crucial for achieving ultra-low dissolved oxygen levels.
• Future focus on multi-technology coupling, mass transfer intensification, and intelligent control for ppb-level oxygen removal.