Seawater deaeration at very low steam flow rates in the stripping section Original Research Article

The model discussed in a previous work for the simulation of a deaerator to remove the oxygen from seawater in desalination plants has been improved. The conservative character of that model has been revised on the basis of the experimental industrial experience of FISIA Italimpianti S.p.A. In particular, the behaviour of the stripping section packing when very low, or null, steam flow rates are used has been investigated. An interesting interpretation of the stripping efficiencies has been used to demonstrate how the typical technical requirement of 0.02–0.03 ppm as maximum oxygen content in the outlet water stream can often be achieved also operating without steam feeding in the stripping section.