Packed Column: These are generally used for very small boiler applications
with a product range of 200 #/hr to 11,000 #/hr. This design is particularly efficient at
deaerating very low flow rates. It is the most economically priced unit below 7,000 #/hr flow range.
In the packed column unit, water is sprayed into a pressurized steam atmosphere (first stage
deaeration) in order to preheat and partially deaerate the incoming water. The water then cascades
down through a vertical stainless steel column filled with stainless steel packing material, while
the countercurrent steam flow scrubs the remaining traces of oxygen out of the water. The steam
acts as a carrier gas, to expel the removed oxygen out the vent. The deaerated water then falls
into the horizontal storage section and is ready for use by the boiler, at saturated temperature
and with oxygen levels at .005 cc/liter.