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TheBlueprintof Water
Operating case

Set the boiler

Steam load, return, and cycles establish the live balance.

lb/hr

50%

Share of the steam that comes back to the feedwater tank. Watch the makeup line answer.

20

Higher cycles reduce blowdown until chemistry reaches its limit.

Advanced assumptionsChemistry, pressure, and fuel
80%
ppm as CaCO3

psig

Sets the saturation temperature the blowdown leaves at.

$8.00per MMBtu
Steam demand20,000 lb/hrSteam and burner respond
Condensate return50%Makeup line answers
Boiler alkalinity1,050 ppm350 ppm over guide
Mass, heat, and chemistryChemistry warning
Boiler mass balance, liveTHE BLUEPRINT OF WATER · BOILER MASS BALANCEPROCESSLOADCONDENSATE RETURN 10,000 lb/hrFEEDWATER TANKPUMPSTEAM DRUM20× concentrated125 psig · 352 °F satFUEL80% fuel to steamHEAT DOWN THE DRAIN138,947 BTU/hr$11,672 of fuel each year
Diagram controlsInspect a live quantity
Live relationship

Current equation

Supporting readoutsSeven measurementsOpen
Blowdown heat138,947BTU/hr$11,672 fuel each year
Annual makeup11,141,053gal
Annual blowdown1,060,204gal

350 ppm over the 700 ppm ABMA guideline for boilers under 300 psi. Dial cycles back, soften the makeup, or return more condensate.

Scenario comparisonCompare a target cycles case20 current → 30 target
Target operating point

The drawing stays on the current 20 cycle case. This target changes the comparison only.

30

Cycle result

20 current30 target

Makeup avoided
365,880 gal
Fuel avoided
$4,025
Target alkalinity
1,550 ppmfrom 1,050 ppm

The target is 850 ppm over the 700 ppm ABMA guideline.

Blowdown fuel cost vs cycles

Drag the plot to set the target. The copper line is where alkalinity hits the ABMA ceiling.

Current20 · $11,672Target30 · $7,647ABMA ceilingpast 13 cycles
Annual blowdown fuel cost versus cycles of concentration. Currently $11,672 per year at 20 cycles. The target is $7,647 per year at 30 cycles. Boiler alkalinity crosses the 700 ppm ABMA ceiling past 13 cycles.

Cycles of concentration