performance evaluation of technos cleaning balls in rdc msf pilot

3.1.3 Al-Jubail Plant Phase II
Al-Jubail Phase II desalination and power plants are also dual purpose plants designed
to produce daily 960,000 m 3 of potable water and 1300 MW of electric power. The
MSF distillers are having cross tube configuration and maximum top brine temperature
of 112.8 o C. The desalination unit where the test was carried out has 19 heat recovery
stages and 3 heat rejection stages. Deaeration is carried out in a separate deaerator
available with each unit. A sponge ball cleaning system is available for on-line cleaning
of brine heater and heat recovery tubes.
3.2 Test Materials
Sponge balls were supplied by PWE Industries Ltd., while other chemicals required in
the operation of plants such as antiscalant, antifoam and sodium sulfite were provided
by SWCC. The specifications of Technos balls are as follows:
Type of sponge balls : High Temperature,
Standard
RDC Pilot Plant Jeddah III Plant Al-Jubail II Plant
High Temperature,
Standard
High Temperature,
Standard
Hardness : Medium/Hard Medium/Hard Medium/Hard
Ball diameter : 15 mm 29 mm 42 mm
Temperature tolerance : 140 o C 140 o C 140 o C
No. of balls required : 100 8000 2100
3.3 Experimental Conditions
The operating conditions of pilot, Jeddah III and Al-Jubail II plants are given in Table 1.
3.4 Performance Evaluation Criteria
Following are the criteria for ball assessment.
3.4.1 Ball Physical Integrity
A fixed quantity of balls was charged in the evaporator. The balls were inspected daily
for the first 3 days and thereafter twice a week to check the following factors
responsible for ineffectiveness of the balls.
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