The answers so far reflect a ...

Published February 21, 2019 17:42 by Allen Tyner Shifley, P.E.

The answers so far reflect a difference in consideration basis: environmental, safety, capital cost, operating cost, and reliability.

I would start with, what “purity” steam is required. Then answer, what “quality” steam will the boilers make? Finally, at how many cycles do I want to operate the boilers?

Now I can specify the quality of boiler feedwater I require. This combined with the condensate (amount and quality) returned will specify the quality of RO or DM requiired and a basis for proper design (there are many) and operating cost analysis.

I assure you that a poor choice will make you wish that someone else had been assigned to this project. I could have made a career out of retrofitting and redesigning poor initial installations of both RO and DM units.