SCHOOL OF MARITIME STUDIES Form no : 08/02
Date : 15/02/2012
VELS UNIVERSITY Issue no : 02/12
THALAMBUR Rev. no : 00
closing up, and then raising steam on a water tube boiler
AIM:
To study about closing up, and then raising steam on a water tube boiler
PROCEDURE:
Before closing up the boiler inspect the internal surfaces to ensure they are clean, all openings to the boiler
mountings clear, and tubes proved to be free of obstruction by means of search balls, flexible wires, air or water
jets. Replace any internal fittings, which have been removed, checking to ensure they are correctly positioned
and secured. The header hand hole plugs and lower manhole doors are now replaced. Operate all boiler
mountings to ensure they work freely, leaving all the valves in a closed position.
Check the gas side of the boiler is clean and in good order. Make sure the soot blowers are correctly fitted, and
operate over their correct traverse. Operate any gas or air control dampers fitted to ensure they move freely for
their full travel. Leave them closed or in mid-position as necessary. The boiler easing doors are now replaced.
Open the direct reading water level gauge isolating cocks, together with all boiler vents, alarm and pressure
gauge connections. The superheater drains are also open-ed. Cheek that all other drains and blow down valves
are closed. Commence to fill the boiler with hot de-aerated water. At this stage the initial dose of chemical
treatment can be added through the top manhole doors, which are then replaced. Continue to fill until water just
shows in the water level gauges. Close any header vents as water issues.
Remove the funnel cover, and ensure that all air cheeks operate correctly and that the forced draught fans are in
working order. If gas air heaters are fitted they should be by-passed. Check the fuel oil system to ascertain it is
in good order. Start up the fuel oil service pumps and check for leaks. The boiler is now ready to commence
raising steam. Heat the fuel oil to the required temperature, using the re-circulating line to get the heated oil
through the system. If no heat is available for this, use gas oil until sufficient steam is available to heat the
residual fuel oil normally used. Start the forced draught fan, and with all the air checks full open purge the
boiler, making sure any gas control dampers are in mid-position so giving a clear air passage. Carry out a final
check to make sure water level gauge cocks are open, water is showing in the glass, and that steam drum and
superheater vents are open.
Now close all the air checks except for the burner to be flashed up, this being done by means of ignition
equipment or a paraffin torch. Use the lowest possible firing rate. Adjust the air supply so as to obtain the best
combustion conditions and check that, as the boiler heats up, the water level in the gauge glass begins to rise.
After about one hour steam should show at the drum and superheater vents and, when issuing strongly, open the
superheater-circulating valve and close the air vents.
When the steam pressure has reached a value of about 300 kN/m2, blow through the water level gauges to
ensure they are working correctly. The isolating valves on the remote reading water level indicator can now be
opened, and the indicator placed in service. With the steam pressure at about 1000kN/m2 follow up the nuts on
all new boiler joints. At a pressure of about 1400kN/m2open the drains on the auxiliary steam lines, crack open
the auxiliary stop valve and warm the Auxiliary line through. Now close the drains and fully open the auxiliary
stop valve.
Various auxiliary equipment such as fuel oil heaters, turbo-feed pumps, etc, can be put into service and,
provided this entails a flow of steam through the superheater, the superheater circulating and drain valves are
closed. Bring the boiler up to working pressure, keeping the firing rate as steady as possible, and avoiding
intermittent flashing up. Check the water level alarms.
Open the main steam line drains, and crack open the main stop valve and warm through the main steam line.
Then close the drains and fully open the main stop valve.
The procedure from flashing up to coupling up at full working pressure should take about four to six hours.
Only in emergency should it he carried out more rapidly. If new refractory material has been installed, carry out
the procedure more slowly. At all times during the raising of steam the superheaters must be circulated with
steam to prevent them overheating. If the temperature of the superheaters goes above the permitted value for the
boiler, reduce the rate of firing.
RESULT:
Thus closing up and then raising steam on a water tube boiler has been studied.
