Polyamines Water Treatment in Aluminium Production Facilties

Boiler Water Treatment at ALRO Aluminium Plant

ALRO is one of the largest vertically integrated aluminium producers in Europe. The aluminia refinery has been using the FINEAMIN anti-corrosion and anti-scale inhibitors for steam boilers since 2011.

Project Details

About the project

Alum SA, the recently modernized, sole alumina refinery in Romania, with a production capacity of 600.000 tons per year, is part of one of the largest vertically integrated aluminium manufacturers’ group in Europe, ALRO, operating since 1965. ALRO GROUP mainly uses the company’s output, for aluminium production.

After the modernization, the company wanted to replace the old boiler water conditioning regime: hydrazine & ammonia, with a more safe & environmentally friendly product.

Boiler	Projected Steam Capacity	Actual Steam Production	Pressure	Superheated Steam Temperature
Boiler 1	105t/h	100t/h	17 bar	250°C
Boiler 2	120t/h	100t/h	100 bar	540°C

Scenario

FACTORY UPGRADE

Following a complex upgrading program, the alumina refinery needed to increase even more operational performance of their boilers by an efficient anti-corrosion anti-scale program, protect their workers and be in compliance with the European norms on environment protection regarding boiler water chemicals.

Steam used in alumina production resulting in polluted condensate
Low pH
Wish to replace hydrazine

Solution

TESTING FINEAMIN 90

In 2010, the alumina refinery has forwarded a request for FINEAMIN products as an environmentally compatible replacement for hydrazine.

In 2011, one-month FINEAMIN 90 test was started. The treatment proposed was based on all volatile polyamines, without oxygen scavenger. Its other alternative was 88 SCAV 25, also a polyamines mixture, but with a small content of organic oxygen scavenger – DEHA.

Results

9 YEARS WITH FINEAMIN

During the test, FINEAMIN 90 proved its efficiency, without oxygen scavenger, and it has been used inside the alumina refinery for more than 9 years now without issues. By treating the boiler water with a small product quantity, the pH has been maintained within limits, risk of corrosion and scale due to polluted condensate was decreased and residual oxygen was not a reason to worry anymore.

Environmentally compatible & no special health protection measures needed!

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Full Case Study on Polyamines Water Treatment in Alumina Refinery