Boiler Feed water

Feed water is the water that is fed to the Boiler.  The feed water is a mixture of the condensed water also known as return water and fresh water (makeup water) to compensate for its losses.  The make up water is treated to remove its minerals. 

Chemical treatments are carried out to bring the conductivity, pH and alkalinity within specific limits.  The water is deaerated to remove dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide.

The makeup water that is fed into the boiler depends on the total water losses.  Water leaks from the boiler and the pipelines as steam.  Some of the water is deliberately released via blowdown to remove the impurities which have settled at the bottom of the tank.