Controlling boiler dissolved solids
Boiler water accumulates dissolved and suspended solids as steam leaves the system. Blowdown removes a portion of that concentrated water and helps keep chemistry within the operating envelope.
Excessive blowdown wastes treated hot water and energy; insufficient blowdown can increase carry-over, deposits and corrosion risk. Conductivity is commonly used as one control indicator, alongside the chemistry parameters specified for the boiler and treatment programme.
Optimisation should consider feedwater quality, condensate return, boiler pressure, cycles and the accuracy of the control instrumentation.