GE's New Solus* AP All-Polymer Boiler Water Treatment Technology Enables Increased Boiler Reliability And Performance

• Offers Superior Control of Deposits and Transport of Contaminants Versus Conventional Technology
• Reduces Scale Leading to Cleaner, Heat Transfer Surfaces within Boilers
• Operator-Friendly, Easy to Handle and Store, Available in a Variety of Delivery Options

GE Recently introduced the Solus* AP line of all-polymer dispersants for control of deposits in mid- to low-pressure boilers in a variety of industries. Solus AP technology offers users increased boiler reliability and performance because it enables greater control of iron oxide deposition and enhanced rejection of iron and hardness contaminants versus standard water treatment polymers and all-organic solutions. It delivers this performance at comparable overall costs and ease of use.

Solus AP products are based on GE’s patented boiler terpolymer (BTP) chemistry and are designed for use in boilers operating at pressures up to 900 psig. Given the widespread and growing use of membrane-based reverse osmosis water pre-treatment systems, iron corrosion products are quickly becoming the dominant contaminant entering boilers. Until recently, water hardness resulting from sodium zeolite-softened make-up water was the major issue. Solus AP technology provides outstanding control of iron and hardness-based deposits and significantly more effective transport of troublesome iron, magnesium and silica contaminants through the boiler.

Solus AP technology helps maintain cleaner, scale-free heat transfer surfaces within boilers, especially under stressed conditions, which can result in high-contaminant loads from feedwater, such as upsets. The BTP polymer helps maintain optimum levels of heat transfer and fuel-to-steam efficiency by preventing the formation of insulating deposits on boiler heat transfer and steam generating surfaces.

The technology helps prevent boiler tube failures by reducing potential for overheating, under-deposit corrosion and flow restrictions. In addition, with older precipitating and polymer treatment technology, iron and hardness deposits can accumulate in the lower circuits of the boiler. Solus AP technology more effectively transports both of these contaminants through the boiler, rejecting them to the blowdown and thereby significantly reducing the potential for flow circuit restriction.

"Solus AP demonstrates GE’s commitment to continually provide enhanced value through investments in new and improved technology," said Ava Drayton-Elder, water services global product management leader—water and process technologies for GE Power & Water. “But not only do Solus AP products deliver in terms of performance, GE has designed them to be operator friendly and environmentally acceptable. Their physical properties make them easy to handle, they are available in a wide variety of customized containers and delivery methods, and they are fully compatible with GE’s TrueSense* for steam generation—feedwater first feed control automation system for improved protection against hardness upsets.”

Unlike certain competitive all-polymer programs, the BTP does not contribute to deposits at extremes of treatment or contaminant concentrations. Solus AP products also contain no ammonia, making them safe for use in copper-bearing feedwater/condensate systems. They have a favorable safety profile and are environmentally preferred, with no associated RCRA, SARA 302, SARA 313, PROP 65 or RQ regulations.

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About GE Power & Water
GE Power & Water provides customers with a broad array of power generation, energy delivery and water process technologies to solve their challenges locally. Power & Water works in all areas of the energy industry including renewable resources such as wind and solar; biogas and alternative fuels; and coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy. The business also develops advanced technologies to help solve the world’s most complex challenges related to water availability and quality. Power & Water’s six business units include Distributed Power, Nuclear Energy, Power Generation Products, Power Generation Services, Renewable Energy and Water & Process Technologies. Headquartered in Schenectady, N.Y., Power & Water is GE’s largest industrial business.