GEMchem vs Traditional

Standard Water Treatment GEMchem Water Treatment

- Sulphite/Tanin – Oxygen scavenging salt to prevent corrosion. Cetamine – A multi-purpose polyamine product which
operates by creating a layer of protective film on
- Caustic Soda – Sulphite reduces the pH of the boiler which the metal surface to prevent the water or any
Chemical is countered by dosing caustic. dissolved gas from reacting with it thus
preventing any form of corrosion or scaling. Any
- Phosphate – Salt to prevent scaling due to hard water entering existing scale will come off over time provided
the system. the boiler(s) is supplied with a constant source
of soft, treated water.

Feed water temperature must be maintained at a minimum of Cetamine technology allows the treatment to be
80º C. The colder the feed water temperature, the greater the independent of the feed water temperature due to its
dissolved oxygen present and the greater the sulphite dosage filming technology. It is still recommended to maintain a feed
Feed Temperature
required leading to a greater dosage of caustic that is needed to temperature of 80⁰ C or above. However, a lower
tackle the low pH associated with sulphite dosing. temperature does not increase corrosion as any dissolved
gas will be kept separate from any and all metal surfaces due
to the filming action.

Energy to the dosing pump is usually governed by energy to the Dosing is triggered by an electrical impulse sent via water
boiler feed pump. Dosing is constant as long as feed pump is meter situated between the pre-treatment (e.g. Softener/RO)
running. This can result in a high volume of chemical and the feed tank to maintain a dosing which is directly
Dosing consumption. proportional to the make-up water. Once the chemical
enters the system it stays within the entire system unless
lost by leaks or blowdown.
 Traditional sulphite and phosphate treatment are salt based GEMchem Cetamine product is a non-salt based, volatile
Blowdown
chemicals which contribute to the TDS resulting in frequent chemical which does not contribute to the TDS build-up.
blowdown once the boiler limit has been reached. Hence blowdown is reduced, saving energy and water.

Unless a 4th (amine-based) product is dosed alongside the Cetamine technology, due to its additional filming properties,
sulphite, phosphate and caustic, the condensate system as well not only protects the boiler internals but also the steam line,
Condensate System as the feed and steam system remains unprotected and condensate system and the feed tank reducing corrosion
constant iron and copper corrosion might be found, which ends level almost to zero.
up in the boiler. The amine used is a neutralising amine only
which less effective than Cetamine.

Water naturally tends to form bubbles near the hot surface of Cetamine’s filming technology prevents water bubbles from
Heat Transfer the tubes where heat exchange is taking place inside the boiler. adhering to hot surfaces which improves the heat transfer
Coefficient These bubbles act as a form of insulation effecting the heat coefficient greatly. This means target level of steam can be
transfer coefficient. achieved with minimum heat with the GEMchem Water
Treatment.

Generally, but not always site is expected to store chemicals and GEMchem Water Treatment protects the entire steam
even handle the chemicals by transferring them to the tank or system (feed system, boiler(s), steam line, condensate
by mixing them to the correct concentrations. Frequently the system) from corrosion which eliminates the need for
drums must be disposed of by the site. replacing pipes, elbows, nipples, fittings etc. saving the site
labour and material cost associated with this work.
Due to heavy corrosion in the condensate system, site engineers
Site Involvement have to often use up a lot of time changing fittings, nipples, Chemical will be be stored, transferred and empty drums
elbows, pipes etc which cost the site additional labour, material will be disposed of by GEMchem engineer freeing up site
and loss of production/downtime. engineer’s time to carry out other tasks.

The site will only be expected to ensure the softener is