{"id":45480,"date":"2021-12-15T11:47:02","date_gmt":"2021-12-15T10:47:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.matelco.es\/success-story-maintenance-free-acid-conductivity-measurement\/"},"modified":"2024-07-17T10:43:39","modified_gmt":"2024-07-17T08:43:39","slug":"success-story-maintenance-free-acid-conductivity-measurement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matelco.es\/en\/success-story-maintenance-free-acid-conductivity-measurement\/","title":{"rendered":"Success story: maintenance-free acid conductivity measurement"},"content":{"rendered":"

The continuous measurement of specific and acid conductivity is of vital importance. It ensures the quality of the steam generated, the availability of the plant and the prevention of damage during the operation of the power plants.<\/p>\n

As we discussed in detail in the article “COST REDUCTION IN ACID OR CATION CONDUCTIVITY MEASUREMENT”<\/a>, the replacement and regeneration of cation exchange resins has a negative impact on plant costs, measurement availability, worker safety and the environment.<\/p>\n

In order to solve all these problems, SWAN Analytical Instruments developed the AMI CACE analyzer. The equipment has a very innovative system of self-regeneration of resin by EDI electrodeionization.<\/p>\n

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Image 1<\/strong>. Location of the AMI CACE analyzer in the analyzer rack<\/p>\n

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Results with the AMI CACE analyzer<\/h3>\n

As part of its policy of continuous improvement, the Amorebieta Combined Cycle Power Plant (Bizkaia Energ\u00eda) incorporated more than a year ago in its SWAS (Fig. 1) an AMI CACE analyzer for the measurement of acid and specific conductivity in Low Pressure Steam samples. The result, in the words of Plant Chemical Manager Roberto Mart\u00edn:<\/p>\n

“Given the high pH of the sample, the amount of NH4 that must be absorbed by the resins is very high. With the new equipment, it is very nice not to have to be changing them daily, especially in periods when it is produced with the 2 groups at the same time.”<\/p>\n

“We installed the equipment in the most critical sample of the water-steam cycle in terms of NH4 concentration. After one year in use, the equipment adequately fulfills its function.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Operation of the AMI CACE analyzer<\/h3>\n

From a technical point of view, the condition of the resin, which has been regenerated automatically by the analyzer itself, and therefore without the need for human intervention, is still good more than 1 year after its commissioning (Fig. 2).<\/p>\n

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Image 2:<\/strong> it can be seen that the operating time is 1 year and 19 days.<\/p>\n

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This fact is confirmed by the voltage value of the EDI module; 4079 mV, being considered correct between 3000 and 8000 mV (Img.3).<\/p>\n

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Image 3:<\/strong> Current voltage 4079mV.<\/p>\n

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This resin will be able to be self-regenerating for many more cycles without the need for any intervention by plant operators.<\/p>\n

Given the high pH values at the sampling point, the time to depletion of the existing resins was particularly short, with daily resin changes.<\/p>\n

Each resin change involved:<\/p>\n

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  1. Dismantle and accumulate exhausted resin from various equipment (10 liters).<\/li>\n
  2. Regenerate it in the laboratory with acid.<\/li>\n
  3. Rinse it properly and reassemble it in the instrument.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    Advantages of AMI CACE analyzers<\/h3>\n

    The installation of AMI CACE analyzers makes it possible to optimize maintenance operations by about 8 hours per week. This was not the case with traditional acid conductivity. Previously these hours were dedicated to resin regeneration. Operator exposure to the highly hazardous chemicals used during regeneration is also reduced.<\/p>\n

    In each exchange of spent resin for regenerated resin, the traditional analyzer requires an average of 1 hour for adaptation and\/or rinsing of the resin, until actual process measurements are obtained.<\/p>\n

    During all this time, either the plant is operated without real-time control of acid conductivity, or the steam input to turbines is delayed if the changeover coincides with a plant start-up.<\/p>\n

    Measurement availability for the Ami CACE analyzer is total and immediate. Thus, this problem disappears completely with the new analyzer.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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    Coclusions:<\/h3>\n

    1) With traditional analyzers:<\/p>\n