Steam drum containing tube ends

Interior of water tube boiler drum

D-type water tube boilers fit in very well in the engine room space

Economizer or Waste Heat Boiler

A steam boiler is a pressure vessel with a difference. The vessel is subjected to heat stress of expansion and contraction, internal and external corrosion, as well as intense heating on some of its surfaces.

If we are not careful, the steam pressure can rise up very high, and it can become a potential bomb!

Because of this, steam boilers have to be built to certain regulatory codes, with regards to materials used in their construction, their design, and their installation.

For the operator of the steam boiler, it is essential that the boiler be operated safely. Although many safety devices are fitted in all the boilers, they are not fail-proof. Humans are still needed to monitor the condition of the boiler all the time the latter is operated, even if it is just to acknowledge an alarm buzzer or flashing light in a control room.

One of the most important ingredients of a boiler is the water inside it. The use of untreated water will lead to scaling, corrosion or foaming. All of these have some detrimental effect on the boiler or steam systems.

So, always treat the water properly.

But however well you treat the water, you will never know the condition inside the boiler until you actually see it.

Waterside boiler inspection is carried out for that purpose. If you are the person who enters the boiler manhole to make the inspection, make sure that all your pockets are empty, and that nothing can fall off. This is a good reason for this. Any object dropped into the waterside can interfere with the heat transfer
process, and can also cause premature failure due to vibration and rubbing effects.

What would you look for?

The presence of scale, corrosion, and distortion. All these will cause problems later on.

But before you enter the boiler, please make sure that there is enough ventilation, enough oxygen for breathing, no presence of remaining steam, no chance of accidental entry of steam, and so on....

Think safety!

Until next time…

Thomas Yoon
Editor, Facworld Ezine
More information can be obtained at 
Facworld Ezine

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