HygroMatik MiniSteam MS 10, Manual

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Page 13
The concentration of dissolved sa lts increases over time, which
can lead to a rise in the conductivity of the water. If this co ntin-
ues, conductivity may increase until a short circuit occurs. This
could dama ge the unit, but in any case wo uld significan tly
reduce the life span of the electrodes.
For this reason, re gular, perio dic blow-do wns of some of the
concentrated water are very important. Following this procedure
as recommended provides stable cylinder water condu ctivity as
well as minimal water loss for the expected service life of the cyl-
inder.
Water blow-down is performed by a blow-down pump (32). The
functioning of the blow-down pump is contin uously monitored
during operation. If the pump is damaged, the steam humidifier
shuts down.
With normal water quality, the blow-down loss rate is between
7% and 15% of the amount of steam produced. The steam cylin-
der requires co mplete drainage ev ery 3-8 da ys, regardless of
the water quality.
Mineral dep osits settle in the open area belo w the electrodes
and are removed through periodic maintenance. The blow-down
pump itself has wide openings and can flush out smaller pieces
of mineral deposit. This exte nds the service life of the unit and
reduces the required maintenance interval.
During blow-downs, water flows from the pump into the drainage
system.
A sensor electrode (10) monitors the ma ximum
water capacity
of the cylinder. When the wate r level re aches the sensor elec-
trode, the water supply is interrupted. This can occur whe n the
water has low conductivity or when the electrodes are worn out.
In the case of low water conductivity, however, this state usually
lasts only a sh ort time. The built-in control and the large area
electrodes combine to produce a rapid rise in con ductivity by
increasing the concentration of the water.