What type of degradation are deaerators used for boiler feed water especially prone to?

Deaerators play a crucial role in boiler feed water treatment by removing dissolved gases, particularly oxygen and carbon dioxide, which are key contributors to corrosion in boiler systems. The primary type of degradation that deaerators help mitigate is corrosion, making them particularly important in maintaining the integrity of the boiler and associated piping systems.

Cracking, specifically stress corrosion cracking (SCC), can occur in certain materials under specific conditions, but its prevalence relates more to material selection and environmental factors such as temperature, stress, and presence of chlorides or other aggressive agents. Deaerators directly address the prevention of corrosion by removing oxygen and minimizing the formation of acids (from carbon dioxide), but they do not specifically target or induce cracking as a primary degradation mechanism.

Erosion pertains to the mechanical wear and damage caused by flowing liquids or gases, which is not the direct result of the function of a deaerator. Similarly, fatigue refers to the weakening of materials due to repeated load cycles, which is also not a primary concern associated with the operation of a deaerator.

In summary, while cracking, erosion, and fatigue are important forms of degradation that can occur in various industrial contexts, the primary degradation type that deaerators are specifically designed