 |
| Image on Chemical mixing paddle |
I was standing Reactor Operator and the watch section ELT came into maneuvering with the latest steam generator results. The EOOW asked, "What does the chemistry look like" to which the ELT replied, "What do you want the numbers to be?"
Looking in back in retrospect my thought is, "Why did it need to anything at all?" If the government can design a nuclear reactor and primary coolant system to live through the 30 year life of a submarine why couldn’t a steam generator be designed which didn't need to be baby-sat while steaming?
I am sure, in theory, the possibility exists, in the same way you could believe your experience in A school and Power School would be reflection of what your life was going to be like once you arrived on your boat as a nub.
The sad fact is water which goes into a steam generator which eventually becomes steam which propels the boat and provides electricity contains crap which over time can damage the S/G which would prevent a boat from going underway. As a sailor we would not want that would we?
In case you cared, water is the essential medium for steam generation and conditioning it properly can increase the efficiency of boiler and as well as extend its life. The treatment of boiler water also insures safe and reliable operation: without proper treatment, severe problems can develop, some so severe the Steam generator itself may need to be replaced.
Aboard ship, fresh water is obtained by distilling seawater in evaporators. The portion of the distillate which is set aside for use in the boilers is known as make-up feed-water. The water used within the boiler is called boiler water. Make-up feed-water should be pure distilled water in an ideal situation but as stated earlier it will contain some amount of foreign materials which includes Magnesium and Calcium.
Those of us who really dig this stuff remember the three types of water treatment in a boiler system: 1. Blowdown, which maintains the TDS (total dissolved solids) in the system (one of my favorite duties as a Reactor Technician) 2. External Treatment, which removes hard salts, minerals and oxygen before the water enters the boiler and 3 Internal Treatment, which maintains proper water chemistry by adding chemical additives to the boiler water. (Thanks to ELT's)
This knowledge is all wonderful after EAOS if you planned to work with generators/boilers as a civilian. I was surprised to learn long after I left the Nuclear Navy there are civilian boiler technicians who were involved many of same principles ELT worked.
Which leads me to the question: Any ex-ELT who has worked with steam generator/boiler after they got out? "What did they need their chemistry to be?"
Image courtesy of
No comments:
Post a Comment