The purpose of chemically treating feedwater is to do what?

The correct response identifies that the purpose of chemically treating feedwater involves converting scale-forming salts into a non-adhering sludge. In steam systems, the presence of impurities can lead to the formation of scale on the boiler tubes, which negatively impacts heat transfer and can cause overheating or even boiler failure. By chemically treating feedwater, operators can facilitate the precipitation of these salts into a sludge form that can be more easily removed from the system during blowdown, thus minimizing scale buildup and maintaining efficient operation of the boiler.

This treatment is crucial for maintaining water quality within the boiler and ensuring that the steam generation process operates safely and efficiently. Other options do not align with the primary objectives of feedwater treatment: increasing water temperature would not address water quality issues, enhancing oxygen levels is not typically a goal of feedwater treatment, and decreasing water pH is not essential for preventing scale formation.