Steam lines are blown prior to starting up a new unit to remove any debris, sand, oil, rust etc. that may be remaining in the equipments prior to plant start-up.
Our steam blowing systems are backed by best quality engineering and quality equipment.
During steam blowing, the piping is blown with enough velocity to ensure it will experience sufficient cleaning force for adequate removal of debris and scale. Thus, any potentially damaging particles will be blown out of the piping prior to plant operation. Excellent coordination and logistics, as well as close involvement with other workers, can prevent space and equipment conflicts and the potential need for re-work. Determining pipe sizing and design, pipe routing, steam conditions, noise level, thermal cycling, water quenching, and condensate generation are all factors that - with our proper planning - will ensure a successful steam blow operation.
Why steam blowing?
During any plant start up, there's a possibility that particles left in the pipe from the construction phase could break loose and travel downstream. These particles can damange instrumentation and impede other plant operations. During a steam blow, the piping is blown with sufficient boiler pressure to ensure that enough dynamic pressure will be experienced in the pipe to provide adequate cleaning.
Ecomaxx® Low Noise Steam Blow Technology
Ecomaxx® LN Steam blows allows power station customers to ensure that during normal operation no adhering material in the superheaters, reheaters and steam pipelines will get dislodged reach turbine blades and damage them.
During the maximum continuous rating load of the turbine the drag force in the pipe line can dislodge particles loosely adhering to the tubes internal surface, causing great damage to the turbine blades. The Ecomaxx® LN steam blowing operation cleans all the debris in the superheater, reheater and the steam pipe line connecting the turbine.
Ecomaxx® LN Steam Blows follows the European Standard VGB R513e to effectively carry out this operation and focuses on creating a drag force created on the inside surface of tubes or pipes which is much higher than that occurring during the maximum continuous rating load of the turbine.
The ratio of the drag created during steam blowing to the drag occurring during the maximum continuous rating load is called the disturbance factor usually limited to a factor of 1.6
In comparison to the normal Huff & Puff Techniques Ecomaxx® makes use of the sliding pressure method the salient features of which are -
- The boiler is operated at 20-40% load as against 40 - 60% for the Huff & Puff Method
- As against the quick release of accumulated pressure as in Huff & Blow Methods that puts huge stresses on the temporary piping the Ecomaxx® LN steam blow makes use of the sliding pressure technique that results in lower operating pressures but significantly higher cleaning velocities
- The Ecomaxx® LN steam blow offers a controlled K-value that extends for minutes as compared to the H & P method that has an uncontrolled K-Value lasting a few seconds.
- The piping that is being steam blown can be completely insulated thus leading to a safer work environment.
- The lower operating pressure of the boiler and the lesser time needed to achieve a clean target plate, normally 7 to 10 blows reduces fuel costs by up to 5 times on account of short blowing durations from 20 to 60 minutes, hence achieving maximum economic efficiency (Ecomaxx®) for plant owners.
- Taking into environmental considerations the Ecomaxx® LN Steam Blows are effectively muzzled to reduce noise levels to < 90 db in a 10 m radius
- Finally a simpler temporary piping design for the steam blow saves on manpower and erection costs.