BFS Industries’ spray type deaerator, or technically a “spray-scrubber” deaerator, utilizes two distinct stages to accomplish the removal of the dissolved gasses from the feedwater:
1. The pre-heater stage
2. The scrubber stage
It is essential that the first stage (pre-heater) heats the feed water to a temperature approaching that of the deaerator operating steam pressure. The heated, partially deaerated water then enters the second stage (scrubber), where it is vigorously boiled and scrubbed with fresh steam. This forces the remaining traces of oxygen and carbon dioxide to be released from the liquid.
Stage One: The Pre-Heater Stage
First, incoming water enters the deaerator through spring loaded spray valves, directed downward into the steam atmosphere in the first stage pre-heater section. There the water is heated to within a few degrees of the steam temperature in the deaerator. This is accomplished by spraying the water in a uniform, thin, continuous film. This process breaks the surface tension of the liquid, which facilitates the heating and the release of most of the non-condensable gases.
Stage Two: The Scrubber Stage
The pre-heated water, containing traces of dissolved gases, then flows into the scrubber section. Here the water is brought into direct contact with an abundance of fresh, gas-free steam. The steam enters this stage at the base of the scrubber and is vigorously mixed with the pre-heated water. This direct physical contact shakes loose the dissolved gases, separating them from the liquid. Very little steam is condensed here, as the incoming pre-heated water has a temperature approaching that of the steam.
The water leaving this stage – now completely deaerated and heated to the steam temperature corresponding to the saturated pressure within the vessel – spills into the storage section, where it remains ready for use.
A reduction in temperature and pressure in the vent condenser area is created as the entering water condenses the steam atmosphere. The steam flows naturally toward the lower pressure area of the vent condenser, carrying with it the liberated gases. Here most of the steam is condensed in the heating process, and the remainder carries the residual gases through the vent to the atmosphere.
Spray Deaerators from BFS Industries
BFS Industries offers spray/scrubber deaerators as part of our ZER-O-PAC line of deaerators. If you’re unsure of the right type of deaerator for your needs, our team can evaluate your system and help you determine if a spray type deaerator is best. Contact us for a custom-designed solution.