A management firm was contracted to improve efficiencies at this facility.
One of the first cost savings steps was to reduce the amount of time these 1000
kW boilers were being used. Additionally, a water treatment system would allow
the boilers to run more efficiently throughout the season.
The hot water boilers utilized ceramic electrodes to create a resistance type
heating system. Water temperatures were designed to enter the boilers at 170°
and heat to 180°. Conductivity was maintained to insure maximum performance. Up
until this point, the electrodes were pulled annually and dipped into an acid
solution to remove scale that had built up in the system. This was a two-day
process as the scale collected on the electrodes was estimated to increase
thermal resistance by as much as 20%. Over the course of the heating season this
was estimated to increase the energy costs by as much as 35%.
In October 1996 the ED 2000 Anti-Fouling System was installed on the 8"
feed pipe to both electric boilers. During the course of the season only one
boiler was used on an as needed basis. The boiler ran at 100% efficiency. When
the electrodes were pulled in September 1997 there was very little fouling. A
light wash was required and they were placed back into service that day. The
elimination of the scaling on the electrodes reduced thermal resistance and
substantially improved the efficiency of the boiler, thus allowing the
utilization of one boiler instead of two.
