Helamin
Encyclopedia
Helamin is a group of water treatment chemicals. The name is a registered trademark of Filtro, SA, Geneva, Switzerland. Chemically, most of the Helamin types are stated by the manufacturer to be a "mixture of polyamine
s and polycarboxylates in aqueous solution", but some also utilize volatile amines, ammonia
, polyelectrolyte
s, organic polymers, and scavengers of dissolved oxygen.
Helamin is one of the commercial fouling
and corrosion
inhibitors. It uses the characteristics of aliphatic polyamine. In contrast to the conventional method of the water treatment, its action is based on a preventive protection of the surfaces. Helamin forms a film (i.e., is one of numerous available "filming amines"), which prevents corrosion and fouling
on the water-side walls in steam boiler
s and piping systems. It happens because Helamin has an affinity to metal and oxide surfaces. Crystal
s which do form in the presence of Helamine are isolated, so that they do not tend to group themselves. Thus deposit consolidation is inhibited. Already existing oxide
surface deposits are gradually removed. Boiler develops a fine, liquid mud, which is easier to remove from the boiler.
Helamin does not significantly decompose even at high temperature
and pressure
employed in the modern sub-critical -water power-plant boilers. Helamin treatment can be successfully employed in steam generator
s, warm and hot water piping systems, superheater
s, as well as cooling circuits to mitigate some of the difficult problems of the corrosion and fouling. However, cation conductivity
of water tends to increase with the use of Helamin.
Polyamine
A polyamine is an organic compound having two or more primary amino groups .This class of compounds includes several synthetic substances that are important feedstocks for the chemical industry, such as ethylene diamine , 1,3-diaminopropane , and hexamethylenediamine...
s and polycarboxylates in aqueous solution", but some also utilize volatile amines, ammonia
Ammonia
Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . It is a colourless gas with a characteristic pungent odour. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to food and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or...
, polyelectrolyte
Polyelectrolyte
Polyelectrolytes are polymers whose repeating units bear an electrolyte group. These groups will dissociate in aqueous solutions , making the polymers charged. Polyelectrolyte properties are thus similar to both electrolytes and polymers , and are sometimes called polysalts. Like salts, their...
s, organic polymers, and scavengers of dissolved oxygen.
Helamin is one of the commercial fouling
Fouling
Fouling refers to the accumulation of unwanted material on solid surfaces, most often in an aquatic environment. The fouling material can consist of either living organisms or a non-living substance...
and corrosion
Corrosion
Corrosion is the disintegration of an engineered material into its constituent atoms due to chemical reactions with its surroundings. In the most common use of the word, this means electrochemical oxidation of metals in reaction with an oxidant such as oxygen...
inhibitors. It uses the characteristics of aliphatic polyamine. In contrast to the conventional method of the water treatment, its action is based on a preventive protection of the surfaces. Helamin forms a film (i.e., is one of numerous available "filming amines"), which prevents corrosion and fouling
Fouling
Fouling refers to the accumulation of unwanted material on solid surfaces, most often in an aquatic environment. The fouling material can consist of either living organisms or a non-living substance...
on the water-side walls in steam boiler
Boiler
A boiler is a closed vessel in which water or other fluid is heated. The heated or vaporized fluid exits the boiler for use in various processes or heating applications.-Materials:...
s and piping systems. It happens because Helamin has an affinity to metal and oxide surfaces. Crystal
Crystal
A crystal or crystalline solid is a solid material whose constituent atoms, molecules, or ions are arranged in an orderly repeating pattern extending in all three spatial dimensions. The scientific study of crystals and crystal formation is known as crystallography...
s which do form in the presence of Helamine are isolated, so that they do not tend to group themselves. Thus deposit consolidation is inhibited. Already existing oxide
Oxide
An oxide is a chemical compound that contains at least one oxygen atom in its chemical formula. Metal oxides typically contain an anion of oxygen in the oxidation state of −2....
surface deposits are gradually removed. Boiler develops a fine, liquid mud, which is easier to remove from the boiler.
Helamin does not significantly decompose even at high temperature
Temperature
Temperature is a physical property of matter that quantitatively expresses the common notions of hot and cold. Objects of low temperature are cold, while various degrees of higher temperatures are referred to as warm or hot...
and pressure
Pressure
Pressure is the force per unit area applied in a direction perpendicular to the surface of an object. Gauge pressure is the pressure relative to the local atmospheric or ambient pressure.- Definition :...
employed in the modern sub-critical -water power-plant boilers. Helamin treatment can be successfully employed in steam generator
Steam generator
A steam generator is a device used to boil water to create steam. It may refer to:*Boiler , a closed vessel in which water is heated under pressure...
s, warm and hot water piping systems, superheater
Superheater
A superheater is a device used to convert saturated steam or wet steam into dry steam used for power generation or processes. There are three types of superheaters namely: radiant, convection, and separately fired...
s, as well as cooling circuits to mitigate some of the difficult problems of the corrosion and fouling. However, cation conductivity
Conductivity (electrolytic)
The conductivity of an electrolyte solution is a measure of its ability to conduct electricity. The SI unit of conductivity is siemens per meter ....
of water tends to increase with the use of Helamin.