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Basic requirements for water quality for heating and steam boilers

This article provides an overview of the main requirements for water quality in various heating and boiler systems, including specific norms for feedwater and nutrient water. It covers water quality standards for hot water systems, steam and energy boilers, and waste heat boilers, with a focus on transparency, hardness, dissolved oxygen content, pH value, and petroleum product content. The guidelines are based on manufacturer instructions, departmental regulations, and safety standards such as DNAS 0.00-1.08-94. It also emphasizes the importance of following specific treatment modes for maintaining optimal water quality for system efficiency and safety.

Basic requirements for water quality for heating and steam boilers
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The norms for boiler water quality, the required mode for its corrective treatment, and the modes for continuous and periodic blow-off are determined based on the manufacturer's instructions, typical instructions for maintaining water chemistry, other departmental regulations, or thermal-chemical testing.

The norms for feedwater quality are adopted based on the boiler’s instructions or DNAS 0.00-1.08-94 "Rules for the Construction and Safe Operation of Steam and Hot Water Boilers."

Main requirements for water quality in hot water systems

With a heating temperature up to 100 °C

Total Heating Power (kW)Total Hardness (mmol/l)
Up to 50Not regulated
50–200Not more than 2.0
200–600Not more than 1.5
Over 600Less than 0.02

With a heating temperature above 100 °C

Quality IndicatorsDemineralized WaterSoftened Water
Electrical Conductivity at 25 °C (μS/cm)10–3030–100
pH at 25 °C9–109–10.5
Oxygen Content (mg/l)Less than 0.1Less than 0.05
Total Hardness (mmol/l)Less than 0.02Less than 0.02

Main requirements for quality of nutrient water used in industrial energy systems

Nutrient water for heating systems

IndicatorHeating System (Open)Heating System (Closed)
Network Water Temperature (°C)115250200115250200
Transparency (cm, minimum)404040303030
Carbonate Hardness (μg-equiv/kg) at pH no more than 1800 / 700750 / 600375 / 300800 / 700750 / 600375 / 300
At pH 8.5Not allowedCalculated according to OST 108.030.47081
Dissolved Oxygen Content (μg/kg)503020503020
Iron Compounds Content (μg/kg)300300/250250/200600/500500/400375/300
pH Value at 25°CFrom 7.0 to 8.5From 7.0 to 11.0
Oil Products Content (μg/kg)1.0 

Steam water tube boilers

IndicatorBoilers working on liquid fuelBoilers working on another type of fuel
Transparency (cm, minimum)4020
Total Hardness (μg-equiv/kg)30100
Dissolved Oxygen Content (μg/kg)50100

Steam and energy-technological boilers and waste heat boilers

IndicatorOperating Pressure, MPa (atm)0.9 (9)1.4 (14)1.8 (18)4 (40)5 (50)
Gas Temperature, °C≤ 1200≤ 1200>1200≤ 1200>1200
Transparency by font, cm, not less than30 / 2040 / 3040  
Total hardness, µg-eq/kg40 / 7020 / 5015105
Content, µg/kg     
Iron compoundsNot regulated15010050 
Dissolved oxygen for boilers:With cast iron economizer150100505030
With steel economizer5030303020
pH value at 25 °CNot less than 8.5    
Petroleum products content, µg/kg53210.3

This table summarizes the key parameters and requirements for various water quality levels for different types of boilers and heating systems. For further calculations, specific instructions provided by relevant standards and regulations should be followed.

Boiler and Heating System Water Quality Standards: Essential Requirements Basic requirements for water quality for heating and steam boilers Learn about the key water quality requirements for various heating and boiler systems, including feedwater, nutrient water, and steam boilers. Explore transparency, hardness, pH value, and more for efficient operation and safety. 2024-09-30 2025-03-29

The norms for boiler water quality, the required mode for its corrective treatment, and the modes for continuous and periodic blow-off are determined based on the manufacturer's instructions, typical instructions for maintaining water chemistry, other departmental regulations, or thermal-chemical testing.

The norms for feedwater quality are adopted based on the boiler’s instructions or DNAS 0.00-1.08-94 "Rules for the Construction and Safe Operation of Steam and Hot Water Boilers."

Main requirements for water quality in hot water systems

With a heating temperature up to 100 °C

Total Heating Power (kW)Total Hardness (mmol/l)
Up to 50Not regulated
50–200Not more than 2.0
200–600Not more than 1.5
Over 600Less than 0.02

With a heating temperature above 100 °C

Quality IndicatorsDemineralized WaterSoftened Water
Electrical Conductivity at 25 °C (μS/cm)10–3030–100
pH at 25 °C9–109–10.5
Oxygen Content (mg/l)Less than 0.1Less than 0.05
Total Hardness (mmol/l)Less than 0.02Less than 0.02

Main requirements for quality of nutrient water used in industrial energy systems

Nutrient water for heating systems

IndicatorHeating System (Open)Heating System (Closed)
Network Water Temperature (°C)115250200115250200
Transparency (cm, minimum)404040303030
Carbonate Hardness (μg-equiv/kg) at pH no more than 1800 / 700750 / 600375 / 300800 / 700750 / 600375 / 300
At pH 8.5Not allowedCalculated according to OST 108.030.47081
Dissolved Oxygen Content (μg/kg)503020503020
Iron Compounds Content (μg/kg)300300/250250/200600/500500/400375/300
pH Value at 25°CFrom 7.0 to 8.5From 7.0 to 11.0
Oil Products Content (μg/kg)1.0 

Steam water tube boilers

IndicatorBoilers working on liquid fuelBoilers working on another type of fuel
Transparency (cm, minimum)4020
Total Hardness (μg-equiv/kg)30100
Dissolved Oxygen Content (μg/kg)50100

Steam and energy-technological boilers and waste heat boilers

IndicatorOperating Pressure, MPa (atm)0.9 (9)1.4 (14)1.8 (18)4 (40)5 (50)
Gas Temperature, °C≤ 1200≤ 1200>1200≤ 1200>1200
Transparency by font, cm, not less than30 / 2040 / 3040  
Total hardness, µg-eq/kg40 / 7020 / 5015105
Content, µg/kg     
Iron compoundsNot regulated15010050 
Dissolved oxygen for boilers:With cast iron economizer150100505030
With steel economizer5030303020
pH value at 25 °CNot less than 8.5    
Petroleum products content, µg/kg53210.3

This table summarizes the key parameters and requirements for various water quality levels for different types of boilers and heating systems. For further calculations, specific instructions provided by relevant standards and regulations should be followed.

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