Basics of Power Plant Chemistry

Online Training Course 01

This training course covers the basics of power plant chemistry, including water treatment, corrosion prevention, pH control, and chemical monitoring. Learn how proper chemistry ensures safe, efficient, and reliable plant operation.

Chapter Summary

Michael Rziha, an expert in power plant chemistry since 1983, introduces the course and its goal: to explain essential chemical principles – such as pH, conductivity, contaminants, corrosion, and oxide layers – and how they interact to keep power plants safe, efficient, and reliable.

This chapter shows why chemistry is fundamental for power plant operation. It explains how water chemistry influences safety, efficiency, and reliability and why proper control is key to preventing damage and costly outages.

Here you learn the main objectives of power plant chemistry: minimizing corrosion, avoiding deposits, and meeting environmental standards. The chapter introduces six essential parameters – conductivity, pH, oxygen, silica, sodium, and total iron – and explains their role in plant performance.

This section describes the different types of contaminants found in water, such as mechanical particles, dissolved gases, salts, and organic substances. It explains how these impurities are damaging and why controlling them is vital for protecting equipment and maintaining efficiency.

Here, the concept of pH is explained in simple terms. You will see how pH influences corrosion and why maintaining the right balance is critical for protecting metal surfaces and ensuring stable operation.

This chapter focuses on conductivity as a measure of water purity. It explains the different types of conductivity measurements and their significance, while also pointing out their limitations and the need for complementary monitoring.

You will discover the main forms of corrosion in power plants, including acid corrosion, oxygen corrosion, stress cracking, and flow-accelerated corrosion. The chapter shows how chemistry conditions like pH and oxygen levels affect these processes and why monitoring is essential.

This chapter explains how protective oxide layers form on metal surfaces and why they are important for long-term stability. It shows what conditions support these layers and how to maintain them effectively.

This chapter introduces key treatment strategies such as All Volatile Treatment (AVT) and solid alkalization. It explains their principles, outlines the differences between reducing, oxidizing, and oxygenated approaches, and highlights how treatment strategies relate to plant design and operating conditions.

The final chapter looks at FAC, one of the most dangerous types of corrosion. It explains the factors that contribute to FAC, such as flow velocity, pH, material, and temperature, and emphasizes the importance of continuous monitoring and predictive tools.

The course concludes with thanks to participants, a reminder to complete the short feedback survey, and information about receiving a certificate after completion.

Your Course Expert

Michael Rziha
Chief Key Expert
Power Plant Chemistry

Michael Rziha is the Chief Key Expert for Power Plant Chemistry at PPCHEM AG, where he oversees seminars, lectures, and consultancy services worldwide. As a member of PPCHEM's management, he is responsible for the technical content of all events and consulting activities.

Prior to joining PPCHEM, Michael worked at Siemens Power Generation (1983–2019) in various roles, including chemical commissioning engineer and head of the Power Plant Chemistry and Chemical Cleaning department. In 2013, he became Siemens' Key Principal Expert for Plant Chemistry.

He is an honorary fellow of the International Association for the Properties of Water and Steam (IAPWS), an active member of its Power Cycle Chemistry group, and serves on the International Advisory Board of the PPCHEM® journal. He also contributes to several vgbe committees on chemistry and water treatment.

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