What is the primary purpose of feedwater system filters?

The primary purpose of feedwater system filters is to ensure the quality of water being fed into the system. These filters remove impurities and contaminants from the external water source, which is essential for the efficient operation of boilers and other steam generation equipment. By treating the feedwater before it enters the system, the filters protect equipment from corrosion, scaling, and fouling, which can significantly impair performance and lead to costly maintenance or downtime.

In the context of the other options, while wastewater treatment and chemical mixing are important processes in water management, they do not specifically relate to the feedwater system's function of enhancing the quality of incoming water. Internal water heating is a process that occurs after the water has been treated, making it a subsequent step rather than a primary purpose of the feedwater filters.