Chapter

39

BOILER FEED PUMPS AND

STANDARD VALUES FOR BOILER
FEED AND CIRCULATING WATER
BOILER FEED PUMPS
Dimensioning in accordance with the "Technical Regulations for Steam Boilers" governing the
equipment and installation of steam generators, edition of September 1964. German regulation.
Every boiler plant must be fitted with at least two feed pumps driven from two mutually
independent power-sources. In the case of steamdriven feed pumps, however, all pumps may be
connected to the same steam supply system. Electric feed pumps may be driven from the same
power source provided that, in the event of power failure, firing is also disconnected.
Where only two feed pumps are used, each pump must be capable of providing: 1.6 times the
total steam output of all boilers to which it is connected, in the case of boilers not fitted with
automatic feed control up to 32 t/h.
1.25 times of this amount in the case of boilers of above 32 t/h or where there is automatic
feed control;
1.0 times the amount stated above in the case of once-through boilers.
Where more than two feed pumps are used, the pumps remaining in operation after the pump
having the highest output has failed must be capable of providing at least the quantity of feed-water
specified above for one of two pumps.
Feed Pressure
The feed pressure of the pumps must be sufficient, not only in delivering the quantities of feed
water required to overcome the maximum safe operating pressure, but also in delivering the feed
water quantity corresponding to the steam output, 1.1 times the maximum safe operating pressure,
the resistances between feed pump and steam generator to be considered in each case.
In the case of once-through boilers, allowance must also be made for the pressure loss in the
steam generator at maximum steam output.
237

238

REFERENCE BOOK ON CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

D.P
Power required at pump shaft N = 2.72 . in kW
where

D = feed water quantity, kg/h

P = feed water pressure, atm. gauge
= density of feed water, kg/m3
= pump efficiency, %, namely:
6080% for direct coupled centrifugal pumps and
8090% for reciprocating pumps.

Select a motor rating approximately 15% greater than N.

Table 1
2. Standard Values Feed water
Constituent

Unit

Fire-tube
boilers

Water-tube drum type

boilers1 atm. g

< 20 atm.g
202)
General
Requirements

402)

642)

80

Once-through-type
boilers and spraywater for superHeated-steam
coolers

clear and colour less

Hardness

mval
1

< 0.04

< 0.02

< 0.01

< 0.01

Total carbondioxide

mg/1

< 20

< 20

< 20

Oxygen

mg/1

< 0.5

Not detectable
< 1

<.1

max. 0.03: for continuous < 0.02

operation

Iron

mg/1

if possible < 0.05

< 0.03

< 0.02

Copper

mg/1

< 0.01

< 0.005

< 0.005

Silicic acid Sio2

mg/1

Potassium permanganate (KMnO4)

consumption

mg/1

Oil

mg/1

ph.value at 20 C

Continuous operation without

blowdown, max. 0.02; otherwise
only as required for boiler water

< 5

< 0.02

If possible < 10

if possible < 5

if possible
< 5

If possible < 1

< 0.5

< 0.3

For all pressures 7.... 9.5

7..... 9.5

Continuous operation without blowdown

Conductivity
at 20 C

< 0.3

cm

<0.2

otherwise only as required for boiler water

(1) Source : VGB Reports 1962. No. 76. pp. 13.

(2) With local heat transfers > 2.105 kcal/m2h, the standard values for pressures 80 atm.g should
be used.

BOILER FEED PUMPS AND STANDARD VALUSES FOR BOILDER FEED....

239

Table 2
3. Standard Values for Boiler Water
Constituent

Unit

P value

mval/1

Fire-tube
boilers
< 20 atm.g
5.25

Water-tube boilers1 atm.g

202|

402|

642|

802|

1252|

160

< 10

< 6

< 3

< 1

< 0.3"

< 0.1

< 15

< 5

< 1.2

< 0.4

= 50mg
CaCo3/lit.

mg/1

No restr3
3
iction if
P value and < 70 + 7p3) < 30 + 3p3)
P2O5 as
specified

Phosphate P2O54)

mg/1

< 25

Conductivity at
20 C

s/cm

< 8000

Silicic acid
SiO2

< 25

< 10

< 8000

< 5000

<10

< 4

< 3
< 2500 < 1500

< 250

< 50

(1) See page 238.

(2) With local heat transfers......>2.105 kcal/m2h it is recommended that the standard values for 160
atm. g (apert from SiO2 and p value) be used in all pressure ranges.
(3) p = p value
(4) May even be entirely omitted where the sudden appearance of hardness is reliably prevented.
(5) 1000 s/cm is equivalent is approx. 500 mg NaC1/1 approximately 0.05 Be'.