Nebraska Deaerator

A Nebraska deaerator heats boiler feedwater and mechanically strips out dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide before the water enters the boiler feed system. These corrosive gases are the primary cause of oxygen pitting and corrosion damage in boilers, economizers, and condensate piping. By removing them, the deaerator prevents corrosion damage, reduces the amount of oxygen scavenger chemical required, and preheats feed water using low pressure steam that would otherwise be wasted. This combined action improves boiler efficiency and extends equipment life by preventing thermal shock and maintaining stable water temperature.

It depends on your steam plant and makeup water quality. 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, power plants, process loads, and systems with significant makeup water generally require a true pressurized deaerator, such as a typical spray type deaerator or a tray-type deaerator with a vertical domed deaeration section. These units provide superior deaeration by ensuring good contact between feed water and low pressure deaeration steam, removing non condensable gases and vented gases efficiently through the vent valve. Proper operation of the vent line is critical to prevent high oxygen content and protect against corrosion. Tri-Tech Sales can help you evaluate which approach fits your boiler capacity, makeup rate, and water chemistry to prevent corrosion and thermal shock effectively.

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 starts with your boiler plant's total feedwater demand, then accounts for condensate return rate and temperature, makeup water volume, and required storage capacity — typically expressed in minutes of reserve at full load. Undersizing passes oxygen to the boiler during load swings; oversizing wastes capital and floor space. Provide your boiler capacities and condensate details when requesting a quote and Tri-Tech Sales will come back with properly sized options.

The cost of a commercial deaerator in Nebraska varies based on several factors including capacity, design type (tray-type or spray-type), operating pressure, storage volume, and the included pump and control package. For example, a packaged spray-type deaerator designed for a small heating plant will have a different price point than a larger tray-type deaerator equipped with duplex boiler feed pumps for an industrial steam generating boiler system.