Estudo de caso sobre a influência do tratamento de água de uma caldeira flamotubular mista em uma indústria no setor alimentício

Abstract

Quality of products in food industry is deeply determined by the characteristics of the steam applied within the industrial process. In this sense, the adequate water treatment prior to feed a steam boiler may guarantee both the quality of the product and the operational security, once problems related to corrosion might occur unless the water be treated previously. Thus, this current work aims to develop a case study regarding to the water treatment for a Firetube boiler of a dairy industry, located in Colíder MT (Brazil). In order to carry out this study, a report containing chemical analysis of water was conducted during a period of three months, in which a comparative between costs regarding to current treatment and likely additional costs by consequence of a lack or an inadequate treatment. Theses reports indicated that the water contained some out-of-specification values. Thus, some problems in the steam boiler and piping, related to the use, can be found, such as drag of impurities, incrustation and corrosion of them. The identified problems were inadequate pH, alkeli hydroxide, total alkalinity and solids and sulfite index. These problems may provoque the loss of quality of the product, loss of entire bath and, in a critical situation,stop the industrial activities to repair damaged equipments, thus generating waste of time and of financial resources. In this way, the preliminary treatment of the water is imperative in order to make the process safe and of with a good quality. Ultimately, the applied process were not themselves sufficient to solve the problems, thus, some changes were proposed in order to improve the operation of the boiler, such as to add a deaerator to the stem generation process, and t include a suitable method for improve the equipment lifespan. In addition, an adequate method to water collect from boiler in different points, thus ensuring an optimal use of the boiler.