Iowa Deaerator

A deaerator heats boiler feedwater and strips out dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide before the water enters the boiler. Those dissolved gases are the primary cause of oxygen pitting and corrosion in boilers, economizers, and condensate piping. By removing them mechanically, a deaerator protects the pressure vessel, reduces the amount of oxygen scavenger chemical you have to feed, and preheats feedwater using steam that would otherwise be wasted.

It depends on your steam plant. Smaller, low-pressure heating plants with high condensate return rates often run acceptably on an atmospheric feedwater tank with chemical treatment. Larger plants, high-pressure boilers, process loads, and systems with significant makeup water generally justify a true pressurized deaerator, because the corrosion protection and chemical savings outweigh the added cost. Tri-Tech Sales can help you evaluate which approach fits your boiler capacity, makeup rate, and water chemistry.

Both remove dissolved gases, but they do it differently. Spray-type units atomize incoming water into a steam atmosphere and are common in smaller and mid-sized plants. Tray-type units cascade water over a tray stack for maximum contact with scrubbing steam, and are typically favored for larger capacities, higher makeup rates, and plants that need guaranteed low oxygen levels across wide load swings. The right choice depends on your capacity, load variability, and water quality.

Deaerator sizing begins by calculating your boiler system's total feedwater demand, including steam flow, condensate return rate and temperature, makeup water volume, and the required storage tank capacity—typically expressed in minutes of reserve at full load. Proper sizing ensures effective removal of dissolved oxygen and other non condensable gases to prevent corrosion damage. Undersizing results in remaining oxygen passing to the boiler during load swings, increasing chemical oxygen scavenger use and corrosion risk, while oversizing wastes capital and floor space. When requesting a quote, provide your boiler capacity, steam pressure, water flow, condensate systems details, and storage requirements. Tri-Tech Sales will respond with deaerator section options sized to maintain full saturation temperature and optimal oxygen content for your system.

Cost depends on capacity, deaerator type (tray section or spray section), operating steam pressure, storage volume, and the pump and control package included. A packaged spray-type unit for a small heating plant differs significantly from a tray-type deaerator with duplex feedwater pumps for industrial process loads requiring vacuum deaerators or vent condensers. Pricing also reflects features that help remove oxygen and free carbon dioxide efficiently to reduce chemical oxygen scavenger consumption. Request a quote with your boiler feed, steam flow, and water temperature increases details for accurate pricing.

Lead times vary by manufacturer, deaeration section design, size, and customization level of the pump and control package. Market conditions can also affect availability. Share your project timeline early with Tri-Tech Sales so we can recommend options that meet your schedule. Planning ahead is critical because deaerators, including those designed to handle non condensable gases and maintain partial pressure, are often long-lead items in boiler system projects and can impact overall construction schedules.