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The overall objective of any chemistry regime is a maintain power plant operations at the best
possible level of availability, economy and efficiency. To attain this objective, chemical
control of the water and steam purity is directed to:
- prevention of corrosion in the boiler, steam, condensate and feedwater systems
- prevention of scale and deposit formation on heating surfaces
- maintain of a high level of steam purity
In the achievement of this philosophy, traditional treatment regimes have been based on the All
Volatile Treatment (AVT) incorporating ammonia hydroxide (NH4OH) to establish the
protective metal oxide layer, magnetite (Fe3O4), on water side surfaces, as the key to
prevention of corrosion.
In departure from this traditional chemical treatment regime, Oxygenated Treatment (OT)
methodology sees the application of a prescribed oxygen concentration in water cycles. This
facilitates the formation of the more passive oxide layer, hematite (Fe2O3), on waterside
surfaces, as the basis for corrosion protection.
The principle difference between All Volatile Treatment (AVT) and Oxygenated Treatment
(OT) feedwater treatment is in the morphology of the passivated of steel surfaces and the
increased corrosion protection afforded by OT in lower temperature regions.
Feedwater pH under AVT condition (pH 8.8 – 9.2), contributes the conversion of the mass-
diffused Fe+2 ions to Fe(OH)+2, which transforms in lower temperature regions (relatively
slowly), to Fe3O4 according equation:
As a result of the above oxide/water phase boundary reactions, the ferrous ion concentration in
feedwater is < 1.0 ppb under OT conditions. This relatively directly to a reduction in iron oxide
transport within condensate, feedwater or steam plants cycles.
A detailed “road map” provides step by step procedures for conversion of a unit to OT. Please
find in attached page.
The following phases are recommended by EPRI in retrofitting a unit for OT operations: