Use Reverse Osmosis for Reducing Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) from the Boiler Make-up Water

In a closed loop heating system, make-up water needs to be added to the boiler. This make-up water needs to be filtered before it enters the boiler. For filtration purposes, the Reverse Osmosis (RO) filtering process is one of the best market available technologies. Reverse Osmosis (RO) is a water filtering process that uses a semi-permeable membrane to filter out various impurities from water. In the food and beverage industries, it can be used to remove organic matter and inorganic salts like chlorides, bicarbonates, etc. This system seems to be an effective and economic way for reducing Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) from make-up water in a closed loop system. Due to little to no impurities the steam quality will also be enhanced. Even though a higher consumption of water may result, removal of TDS from the water helps to lower the boiler blow down and natural gas usage. Furthermore, Using RO systems can help reduce scale formation in the boiler apparatus by reducing scale forming salts from the water.

In a case study, it was found that using this technology helped a company save 68,100 therms of energy and associated savings of $30,800 per year. Adopting the Reverse Osmosis system for reducing TDS in make-up water for a closed loop system will have both immediate and long term advantages. In the short term, the steam quality will improve, and there will be energy cost savings, in the long run, the boiler blowdown will reduce and the chemicals required to add to prevent scaling will also be reduced. This saving in energy will help reduce pollution related to energy generation and supply.