BOILER OPERATION

The procedure adopted for raising

steam will vary from boiler to
boiler and the manufacturers'
instructions should always be
followed.

A number of aspects are common to

all boilers and a general procedure
might be as follows:
PREPARATIONS

 Check all uptakes are clear to

ensure exhaust gas can flow thro
boiler; dampers operated and in
correct position.
 All vents, alarm, water and
pressure gauge connections
should be opened.
 The superheater circulating
valves or
drains should be opened to ensure
Cont’d

 Check and ensure all other boiler

drains and blow-down valves are
closed.
 Filled the boiler to slightly below
the working level with hot de-
aerated water.
 Close all header vents as water is
seen to flow from them.
 Ensure that economiser is full of
water and all air vented off.
Cont’d

 Check operation of the forced

draught fan and where exhaust
gas air heaters are fitted they
should be bypassed.
 The fuel oil system should be
checked for the correct positioning
of valves,etc. The fuel oil should
then be circulated and heated.
RAISING STEAM

 Start the forced draught fan and

pass air through the furnace for
several minutes to 'purge' it of any
exhaust gas or oil vapors.
 Close air slides at every register
except for the “lighting-up”
burner.
 The operating burner can now be
lit and adjusted to provide a low
firing rate with good combustion.
 Ensure that the fuel oil pressure
and forced draught pressure are
matched to ensure good
combustion with a full steady
flame.
 The superheater header vents may
be closed once steam issues from
them.
 Close the steam drum vent when
the pressure reached 2.1 bar.
Time Taken.

 The boiler must be brought slowly

up to working pressure in order to
ensure gradual expansion and to
avoid overheating the superheater
elements and damaging any
refractory material.
 Boiler
manufacturers usually provide
a steam raising diagram in the
form of a graph of drum pressure
against hours after flashing up.
 Warm thro the main and auxiliary
steam lines and then the drains
closed.
 Blow through water level gauges
and checked for correct reading.
 Safety valves should be lifted and
released using the easing gear
when the pressure is about 3 bar
below normal working pressure.
 Once at operating pressure the
boiler may be put on load and the
superheater circulating valves
closed.
 Close all other vents, drains and
bypasses.
 Check water level in boiler closely
and observe that the automatic
water regulating arrangements
operate correctly.
 Boiler water level control
system
Problems of
“swelling” and
“shrinkage”
overcome by
measuring ‘steam
flow’.
Variations in feed
pressure reduced by
measuring ‘feed flow’