Film-forming amines in your district heating system – efficiency and longevity with the right water treatment

District heating systems in focus: With innovative solutions like film-forming amines, it is possible to effectively prevent corrosion, leaks, and deposits. The results are optimal heat transfer, reduced operating costs, and greater longevity of your system and water circuits. Discover how film-forming amines sustainably improve the efficiency and environmental friendliness of your system.

Challenges in district heating systems

Being built as complex networks of boilers, pipelines, and heat exchangers, district heating systems have very strict requirements on water quality. Without suitable protective measures, they develop problems such as:

• Corrosion: Metal surfaces in contact with water are prone to oxidative damage, which can severely shorten the life of a system and result in loss of both the water in the circuit and the heat energy stored in it.
• Deposits: Iron oxides and boiler scale can build up as deposits that significantly reduce the useful heat transfer.
• Costly maintenance: The objective is to keep maintenance costs as low as possible, and that needs the water-carrying systems to be protected in the first place. To reduce operating costs and unplanned downtimes, it is essential to analyse the water quality at regular intervals and to treat the water whenever necessary.

The solution: Film-forming amines

Film-forming amines (FFAs) are an innovative solution for treating tap water and boiler water, and address many challenges including those mentioned above. They act as corrosion inhibitors, dissolve existing deposits to a certain degree, and thereby optimize system operation.

Learn more

How film-forming amines work

• Surface protection: Film-forming amines form a thin, invisible protective layer on metal surfaces. Thus they form a coherent protective layer that effectively inhibits corrosion.
• Cleaning effect: Existing oxide layers and deposits are mobilized and removed, which ensures optimal heat transfer.

Advantages of use

1. Longer life of the system: Reliable corrosion protection and removal of deposits reduces the destructive effects on pipelines and equipment. The system remains protected even when unused or drained for long periods of time (the protective agent doesn’t just stay dissolved in the water, rather it adsorbs onto the system surfaces).
2. More efficient heat transfer: Reducing the adhesion of iron oxides and boiler scale on surfaces increases the heat transfer capacity. This is especially important in district heating systems, which are expected to transport large amounts of energy.
3. Environmental advantages: The use of film-forming amines reduces water and energy consumption, which improves the carbon footprint of the system. FFAs are also free of nitrites and cyclohexylamines, so they do not come with undesirable side-effects such as the growth of nitrifying bacteria.
4. Greater system safety: Film-forming amines minimize the risk of oxygen entering the system, for example during maintenance or if there are leaks, and continue to protect the system even in emergencies or if the system ever needs to be drained.
5. Optimized operating costs:

• Reduced maintenance costs: The cleaning action of the amines results in longer maintenance cycles.
• Energy savings: Improved heat transfer lowers energy consumption and therefore costs.
• Minimized downtimes: A clean and protected system runs more reliably and efficiently.

Applications for district heating systems

The diversity of film-forming amines allows them to be used in:

• Communal district heating systems for private households and companies: ensuring good availability, less maintenance, and reduced water or energy loss.
• Industrial systems: ensuring efficient energy transfer and longer life of boilers and pipelines.
• Hospitals and public buildings: reducing operating costs and improving operational safety.
• Legacy systems. cleaning and protecting older systems to prolong their service life.

Practical implementation and monitoring

Film-forming amines are easy to integrate into existing systems. A test kit helps to monitor the concentration of the amine compounds, as a way to maintain the degree of protection of the system and to inspect the water quality at any time.

Summary: Technology that pays off for the future of your system

Film-forming amines are a highly effective means of treating water in district heating systems. They provide sustained protection against corrosion and deposits, improve heat transfer, and reduce operating costs. At the same time, their resource-sparing effectiveness contributes to the eco-friendliness of the system.