What indicates proper functioning of a deaerator?

The indication of proper functioning of a deaerator is characterized by low levels of dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide in the water. A deaerator's primary purpose is to remove these dissolved gases from the feedwater, which helps prevent corrosion in the boiler and associated piping systems. When a deaerator is operating effectively, the levels of dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide should be minimal, ideally approaching zero, as these gases can lead to significant issues such as pitting and scaling within the boiler.

High levels of dissolved oxygen would suggest that the deaerator is not functioning properly, as it would indicate that the removal process is inadequate. Frequent equipment failures might imply various operational problems, but they do not provide a direct measure of the deaerator's effectiveness in its function to remove gases. Constant steam pressures may indicate stable operation of the steam system but do not specifically correlate to the deaerator's performance regarding the removal of dissolved gases. Thus, low levels of dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide are the key indicators of the deaerator’s proper functioning.