Abstract
Synthetic dispersants have been used to control waterside deposition in industrial and commercial boilers for many years. Over the past two decades steady improvements in the cost and performance of reverse osmosis membrane and increased usage of de-ionized water in lower pressure systems have resulted in deposits that are becoming increasingly iron-dominated. This progression has resulted in a need for more complex and robust chemistries that can control iron fouling, as well as the traditional calcium, magnesium, and silica deposition. This paper will discuss changes in deposit matrices seen with higher purity feed water and the need to generate improved ion transport across the boiler system. The correlation between differing polymer functionality and the effect on specific contaminant deposit control and ion transport performance will be discussed in relation to the development of a multifunctional terpolymer chemistry targeted to control iron and a wide range of boiler water contaminants and promote high levels of transport through the boiler system in low to moderate pressure boiler systems. Data will be presented that correlates laboratory performance in research scale test boilers with data generated in commercially operated boiler systems.
