Table 16-1. Recommended water tube boiler water limits and associated steam purity at steady state full load operation.a

  Drum peessure, psig Total dissolved solidsb in boiler water, ppm (max.) Total Alkalinityc in boiler water, ppm Suspended solids in boiler water, ppm (max.) Total dissolved solidsc,e in steam, ppm (max. expected value)
Drum-type boilers 0-300 700-3500 140-700 15 0.2-1.0
  301-450 600-3000 120-600 10 0.2-1.0
  451-600 500-2500 100-500 8 0.2-1.0
  601-750 200-2000 40-400 3 0.1-0.5
  751-900 150-1500 30-300 2 0.1-0.5
  901-1000 125-1250 25-250 1 0.1-0.5
  1001-1800 100 variabled 1 0.1
  1801-2350 50 variabled N/A 0.1
  2351-2600 25 variabled N/A 0.05
  2601-2900 15 variabled N/A 0.05
Once-through boilers 1400 & above 0.05 N/A N/A 0.05

a Reprinted (with permission) from "Boiler Water Limits and Steam Purity Recommendations for Watertube Boilers," American Boiler Manufacturers Association, 1982.

b Actual values within the range reflect the TDS in the feedwater. Higher values are for high solids; lower values are for low solids in the feedwater.

c Actual values within the range are directly proportional to the actual value of TDS of boiler water. Higher values are for high solids; lower values are for low solids in the boiler water.

d Dictated by boiler water treatment.

e These values are exclusive of silica.