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BASF Lampertheim GmbH: Boiler feed water for steam generation
BASF Lampertheim GmbH uses pure water for steam generation to supply boiler systems. The water is treated using ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis systems from EnviroFALK.
Complex production processes place high demands on industrial parts cleaning. On the one hand, the process and cleaning baths, and on the other, the ongoing operating costs. What are the advantages of membrane technology in the treatment of active and rinsing baths and how can water as a resource be used efficiently?
Magnus Häbel
Ultrafiltration system and reverse osmosis system
Challenge for the customer
According to the boiler manufacturer, the conductivity of the boiler water had to be limited to 3,000 µS/cm. It was therefore necessary to retrofit a desalination stage to the existing boiler feed water treatment system consisting of a filter system, decarbonization and softening.
BASF Lampertheim GmbH was faced with the task of converting its steam generation to waste heat boilers with combined heat and power generation for primary electricity generation and extraction of process heat. According to the boiler manufacturer, the conductivity of the boiler water had to be limited to 3,000 µS/cm. It was therefore necessary to retrofit a desalination stage to the existing boiler feed water treatment system consisting of a filter system, decarbonization and softening.
Since a treated bank filtrate is used as raw water, detailed tests were carried out on site using a pilot plant. In particular, the clogging index of the water was determined. Together with BASF Lampertheim GmbH, the experts at EnviroFALK decided to use an ultrafiltration system for pre-treatment and a reverse osmosis system for post-desalination. For this purpose, two separate processing lines were set up redundantly to ensure a high level of supply reliability. The pure water output is 5 m³/h in normal operation and 10 m³/h in parallel operation.
Reverse osmosis ensures reliable operation in order to be able to supply the downstream boiler system with demineralized water on a permanent basis
Any pilot tests by other water treatment companies with alternative approaches, such as activated carbon filters, were aborted without success. The in-depth consultation in combination with the preliminary tests convinced BASF Lampertheim GmbH from the outset that it had chosen the right partner in EnviroFALK.
