ASSESSMENT OF WATER TREATMENT QUALITY AT THE WATER TREATMENT COMPLEX OF TPP-1 IN THE CITY OF SEMEY

Reliable and efficient operation of thermal power plants is impossible without high-quality water treatment. This is particularly important for facilities that use natural water sources characterized by high turbidity, suspended solids, and dissolved gases. This study examines the three-stage water treatment system used at the Semey TPP-1. The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of each stage of water purification: mechanical filtration, sodium-cation softening, and thermal degassing. The study included instrumental assessment of water quality before and after each treatment stage, visual inspection of the equipment, and analysis of operational documentation. The results demonstrate a high level of purification: anthracite-loaded mechanical filters reduce turbidity by more than 95%, sodium-cation exchange units lower hardness from 12 mg-eq/L to 0.05 mg-eq/L, and the deaerator reduces dissolved oxygen concentration to ≤ 0.05 mg/L. It is shown that adherence to technological parameters – such as filter loading levels, regeneration regimes, and backwashing intensity – directly affects purification efficiency and equipment durability. The findings confirm that the quality of treated water meets regulatory requirements for boiler feedwater. Based on the measurement results, a quantitative assessment was made of the performance efficiency of each unit in the water treatment system. These results can be used in the design and modernization of water treatment systems at similar thermal power facilities and provide practical value for developing engineering competencies in operating power equipment and water-chemical regimes.

1. Chichirova N., Filimonova A., Vlasov S., Babikov O. Biological pollution of technological equipment and the chemically desalting water treatment plant at a TPP (review) // Thermal Engineering. – 2023. – Vol. 70, No. 9. – P. 665–672. – DOI: 10.1134/S0040601523090021. – URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1134/S0040601523090021 (accessed: 09.06.2025).

2. Romanova L.N. The current status of water treatment systems // International Research Journal. – 2023. – No. 2 (128). – URL: https://research-journal.org/en/archive/2-128-2023-february/10.23670/IRJ.2023.128.49 (accessed: 15.06.2025). – DOI: 10.23670/IRJ.2023.128.49.

3. Su Z., Ma H., Ding X. Research on key technologies for optimization of water systems and efficient utilization of regenerated water in thermal power plants // Academic Journal of Science and Technology. – 2024. – Vol. 9. – P. 111–116. – DOI: 10.54097/rva23p06. – URL: https://doi.org/10.54097/rva23p06 (accessed: 15.06.2025).

4. Stănciulescu D., Zaharia C. Process water treatment in a thermal power plant: characteristics and its sediment/sludge disposal // Environmental Engineering and Management Journal. – 2020. – Vol. 19, No. 2. – P. 255–267. – DOI: 10.30638/eemj.2020.024 (accessed: 23.06.2025).

5. Galligan J. Advanced water treatment solutions for thermopower plants // Fluence Technical Review. – 2025. – URL: https://www.fluencecorp.com/advanced-water-treatment-solutions-for-thermopower-plants/ (accessed: 25.06.2025).

6. Fajri A. A., Rahmatullah T. A., Septano G. D., Nasaruddin. Analysis of Hardness Level in Enim River for Demineralization Water Process in Thermal Power Plant Tanjung Enim. Jurnal Informasi dan Teknologi. 2025, pp. 67–75. DOI: 10.60083/jidt.vi0.632.

7. Zaharia C., Stanciulescu D. Process water treatment in a thermal power plant: characteristics and sediment/sludge disposal. Environmental Engineering and Management Journal. 2020, Vol. 19, No. 2, pp. 255–267. DOI: 10.30638/eemj.2020.024.

8. Tsubakizaki S., Wada T., Tokumoto T., Ichihara T., Kido H., Takahashi S. Water Quality Control Technology for Thermal Power Plants (Current Situation and Future Prospects). Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Technical Review. 2013, Vol. 50, No. 3. Available at: https://www.mhi.co.jp/technology/review/pdf/e503/e503022.pdf

9. ST RK ISO 7027–2007. Water quality. Determination of turbidity. – Astana: Committee for Technical Regulation and Metrology, 2007. – 11 p.

10. ST RK 3865–2023. Industrial waters of thermal power plants. Determination of suspended solids by gravimetric method. – Astana: Committee for Technical Regulation and Metrology, 2023. – 9 p.

11. GOST 31954–2012. Drinking water. Methods for determination of hardness (ISO 6059:1984, NEQ; ISO 7980:1986, NEQ). – Moscow: Standartinform, 2018. – 20 p.

12. ST RK 2518–2014. Water quality. Methods for determination of dissolved oxygen. – Astana: Committee for Technical Regulation and Metrology, 2014. – 14 p.

13. GOST 23268.5–78. Water. Methods for determination of dissolved carbon dioxide. – Moscow: Standards Publishing, 1978. – 7 p.

14. Zhao Y., Wang R., Liu X., Ma H. Study on the performance of mechanical filtration for removal of suspended solids in industrial water treatment // Journal of Water Process Engineering. – 2022. – Vol. 45. – Article 102483. – DOI: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2021.102483 (accessed: 29.06.2025).

15. Brocx R., Kusic H., Spanjers H. Performance of strong acid cation-exchange filters in multi-stage water-treatment systems: removal of hardness and suspended solids // Journal of Water Process Engineering. – 2021. – Vol. 40. – Article 102123. – DOI: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2021.102123 (accessed: 01.07.2025).

16. Powell H., Smith J. Role of strong acid cation exchange in multi-stage water treatment at thermal power plants // Water Science & Technology. – 2022. – Vol. 86, No. 3. – P. 587–597. – DOI: 10.2166/wst.2022.123 (accessed: 05.07.2025).

17. ST RK 2248–2012. Quality standards for feedwater and steam. – Astana: Committee for Technical Regulation and Metrology, 2012. – 28 p.

18. Chen C., Johnson P. Deaerators in industrial steam systems // U.S. Department of Energy. Improving Steam System Performance. – 2025. – (online publication). – URL: https://www.energy.gov/eere/amo/articles/deaerators-industrial-steam-systems (accessed: 10.07.2025).

19. Leduhovsky G.V. An analysis of carbonic acid removal in an atmospheric deaerator // Thermal Engineering. – 2020. – Vol. 67. – P. 320–323. – DOI: 10.1134/S004060152005002X (accessed: 13.07.2025).

20. Sharapov V.I. The vapor of thermal deaerators as a factor of their energy efficiency // Power Technology and Engineering. – 2020. – Vol. 54. – P. 96–100. – DOI: 10.1007/s10749-020-01174-2 (accessed: 13.07.2025).