Manuel Alejandro León Ibarra #
Ingenio Pichichi S.A., Colombia
The implementation of a mixed spray and tray deaerator at the Pichichi sugar mill to mitigate corrosion issues in their boiler systems was investigated. Corrosion, exacerbated by high oxygen content in the feedwater, was identified as the root cause of critical tube failures in boilers 3 and 4. The proposed deaerator aims to reduce corrosion, improve thermal efficiency, and enhance overall system reliability. By removing dissolved oxygen and preheating the feedwater, the deaerator is expected to reduce biomass consumption, extend equipment life, and improve steam quality. A detailed analysis of the current and proposed schemes, including operating conditions, biomass consumption, and expected benefits, is presented. The findings demonstrate that incorporating a deaerator offers significant advantages in terms of efficiency, cost reduction, and sustainability for the Pichichi sugar mill.