Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:28:24-1:29:15

Why steam boilers depended on fresh water

Salt water rapidly caused scale, blockage, and corrosion, making clean feed water a vital engineering and logistical concern.

Naval LogisticsShip MaintenanceSteam Propulsion
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Question

Could marine steam engines use salt water as well as fresh water?

Short answer

They required fresh water; salt caused rapid scaling, blockage, and corrosion and was suitable only in an emergency.

Notes

Steam machinery needed fresh feed water because salt contamination damaged boilers and associated systems. Salt encouraged rapid scaling, blockage, and corrosion. Seawater was an emergency measure for machinery expected to receive a major refit afterward. Feed-water contamination was therefore both an operational weakness and a possible route for sabotage.