SUBJECT UNIT-I: UTILITIES AND

INSTRUMENTATION IN CHEMICAL
PLANT
GUJARAT TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
Diploma Chemical Engineering
Subject: Fluid flow operations (3350504)
Semester-5

Presented by: Mr. Chirag J Bhalasod (Lecturer, Chemical Department)

Government Polytechnic Valsad

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 WATER AS BASIC UTILITY

List and use of various utilities in chemical plant

 
■ Plant utilities are items that are not directly involved in manufacturing process but are needed facilitate
the process.
■ Water: water is used as a solvent in many industrial process. It finds use in steam generation, coolant in
power plants.
■ Air: air is used as a compressed air, blower air, cooling air, drying air in chemical plant.
■ Steam: steam is used for heating purpose in chemical plant.
■ Electricity: electricity is used for pump, instrument and other plant operating device.
■ Refrigeration: refrigeration is used for cooling and phase change purpose in chemical plant.
■ Fuel: fuel is burn in oxygen or air, produces a large amount of heat that can be utilized for domestic and
industrial purpose.
■ Furnace: furnace are the chamber where heat treatment is carried out.
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 Sources of water

■ Water on the earth is classified as: (1) surface water, (2) underground water.
 Surface water:
■ Rain water: this is the purest form of water.it is obtained by natural process of evaporation and
condensation water. When it reaches earth from atmosphere, it dissolves gases like CO 2, SO2, NO2,
etc.
■ River water: river gathers water mostly from rain and some part from spring water. When water
flows over earth’s surface, it dissolves soluble material from soil. River water thus contains
dissolved salts like chlorides, magnesium, iron, etc. it carries with suspended soil particles and
organic matter derived from decomposition of plant and animal bodies.
■ Lake water: this is the water stored above earth’s surface. It contains lower quantities of dissolved
salts or mineral than well water, but quantity of organic matter suspended is quite high. The lake
may collect some spring water also. Lake water can be directly used for domestic or industrial
purpose.

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 Sources of water

 Sea water: this is the most impure form of natural water. Rivers throws all the impurities
carried with water into sea. This sea water contain about 3.5 % of dissolved impurities, out
of which about 2.5% is sodium chloride thus sea water do not be used directly for domestic
or industrial purpose.
 
 Underground water: a part of rainwater, which reaches earth’s surface or water from rivers
percolates into the earth. This water travels downwards, during the flow of it comes in
contact with various mineral salts present in the soil and dissolves some of them. Water
continuous its downward flow till it meets hard rock. When it retards upward and may come
out in the form of spring.
Spring and well water is generally clear in appearance as it is filtered through soil layers,
but contains considerable quantity of dissolved salts. The water from well and spring
contains more hardness. The underground water is suitable for domestic use. Some spring
water contains colloidal sulphur and shows medicinal value.

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 Hard & Soft water

■ Soft water: water which does not contain any of the calcium or magnesium salt
dissolved in it is called as soft water, soft water may contain salt like sodium or
potassium dissolved in it.
■ Hard water: water containing the dissolved salt of calcium and magnesium is called as
hard water. due to presence of these calcium and magnesium salt, hard water cannot
produce good lather or foam with soap. hardness in water is that characteristic which
prevent the lathering of soap. A soap is generally a sodium salt of long chain fatty acids
such as oleic acid, palmetic acid and stearic acid. The soap consuming capacity of water
is mainly due to reaction of hardness causing calcium and magnesium ions with soap,
sodium salt of long chain fatty acids. They form insoluble salts of calcium and
magnesium soaps which do not have detergent value.

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Boiler Feed water And Demineralized
water
 Boiler Feed water: Boiler feedwater is an essential part of boiler operations. The feed
water is put into the steam drum from a feed pump. In the steam drum the feed water is
then turned into steam from the heat. After the steam is used it is then dumped to the
main condenser. From the condenser it is then pumped to the deaerated feed tank.
From this tank it then goes back to the steam drum to complete its cycle. The feed
water is never open to the atmosphere. This cycle is known as a closed system or 
Rankine cycle.
 Demineralized water: Demineralization is often a term used interchangeably with
deionization. Demineralization is essentially removing all the minerals that can be
found in natural water. This process is usually done when the water will be used for
chemical processes and the minerals present may interfere with the other chemicals.
All chemistic and beauty products have to be made with demineralized water for this
reason. With the demineralization process, the water is "softened" replacing the
undesired minerals with different salts. Demineralized water has a higher conductivity
than deionized water.
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Thank you