Boiler Blowdown and Blowdown Tanks

Unleash the hidden potential of your boiler system! A well-designed blowdown tank can increase efficiency, promote sustainability and ensure compliance with environmental regulations.

Blowdown is the process of throwing out some of the boiler water in order to reduce the amount of dissolved or suspended solids whose concentration increases in the steam boiler to the limits determined for the boiler.

According to the regulations, the temperature of the blowdown water discharged from the boiler must not exceed 35⁰C before being discharged to the sewer or treatment plant.

For this reason, a blowdown tank is used to cool the water discharged from the boiler by blowdown.

Benefits of a Properly Designed Boiler Blowdown Tank

1. Energy Efficiency: Boiler blowdown tanks play an important role in increasing energy efficiency by recovering heat from blowdown water. The energy here can be used to heat feed water, thus recovering significant amounts of energy.
2. Water Savings: By separating and cooling the blowdown water, some of the water can be recovered and reused. In this case, the overall water consumption of the boiler system is reduced, contributing to sustainable water management practices and reducing water costs.
3. Environmental Protection: Boiler drain tanks help protect the environment:

• Reducing Water Discharge: With the blowdown tank, the volume of wastewater discharged into the sewer system is minimized by recovering and reusing water, reducing the load on treatment plants.
• Preventing Thermal Pollution: Controlled cooling of the discharge water in the blowdown tank prevents thermal pollution of waterways, protecting bacteria, aquatic life and the ecosystem.
• Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Energy savings mean less fuel consumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions, thus contributing to a smaller carbon footprint.

The following points should be taken into consideration in the production of blowdown tanks.

• Sizing
• Material Selection
• Security Features

Compliance with Local Regulations

Boiler blowdown tanks must comply with local environmental regulations and plumbing codes, which may include:

• Discharge Limits: Regulations of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization may set limits on the temperature and chemical content of wastewater discharged into the sewer system.
• Backflow Prevention: Backflow preventers may be required to prevent contamination of the drinking water supply.
• Containment: Secondary containment measures may be required to prevent leaks and spills from impacting the environment.

By complying with these regulations, you can ensure that your steam boiler systems operate safely and responsibly while minimizing their environmental impact.

One final note; it is very important to consult a qualified mechanical engineer or boiler system specialist to ensure that the blowdown tank is properly designed and meets all applicable requirements.