Steam Blowing / Steam Blowing Procedure

Steam blowing is one of the initial cleaning operations before starting any power plant or steam lines. Steam Blowing of MS lines, CRH, HRH, SH, RH, HP & LP bypass pipelines of the turbine are carried out in order to remove welding slag, weld bead deposits, loose foreign materials, iron pieces, rust, etc. from the system, generated during manufacturing, transportation & erection prior to turbine operation. The cleaning is accomplished by subjecting the piping systems to heating, blowing steam, and cooling cycles in sufficient number and duration until clean steam is obtained.

The effect of Steam Blowing depends on the following factors:

  • Thermal shock
  • Removal force of steam
  • Cleaning force of steam
Removal Force of Steam

Cleaning Force Ratio or CFR of Steam Blowing

The necessity to create in the system, a steam velocity greater than that is possible at MCR condition is obvious. These two velocities are expressed as a ratio “Cleaning factor” or “ Distribution factor” or “Cleaning Force Ratio” denoted by “X” or “K”.

CFR (Cleaning Force Ratio) is also known as Cleaning Factor or CF. CFR is an industry-accepted factor that determines the required dynamic pressure. CFR in steam blowing can be defined as the ratio of required dynamic pressure for cleaning to maximum dynamic pressure experienced during system operation.

Cleaning Force required (CFR) or distribution Factor

Cleaning Force Required

Preconditioning for Steam Blowing

  • Chemical cleaning should be completed.
  • SH primary and secondary de-superheater piping and RH’s emergency de-superheater piping ready for operation
  • All permanent piping & temporary piping insulated and supports/hangers are released with cold setting
  • Silencer should be connected at a temporary pipe exit
  • Soot blowing for APH should be available
  • Makeup for the deaerator made ready
  • Motor-Driven BFP with all controls made ready
  • Hydraulic test of the following lines completed:
    • Feed Lines
    • MS, HRH, CRH Lines
    • MS to Aux. PRDS Line
    • All other auxiliary lines identified for steam blowing
  • The sampling system made ready
  • Boiler auxiliaries proved serviceable and ready after a pilot operation like:
    • Fuel oil system
    • Compressors & Atomizing steam system
    • Start-up system ( for the continuous system)
    • Coal Mill system (for the continuous system)
    • CHP readiness
    • Economizer hopper and bottom ash hopper and its evacuation system (for the continuous system)
  • All safety valve discs installed after removing the hydro-static plugin drum(sub-critical), superheaters, and reheaters
  • Adequate communication between the control room, boiler, and TG are ensured.
  • Flow nozzle, control valves, and NRV flaps wherever applicable should be not erected before steam blowing and suitable spool pieces are erected. Strainers in the path should be removed.
  • Required number of Target Plates and holders made available
Steam Blowing

Chemical Cleaning Process

  • Boiler Front System Alkaline Flushing
  • Mass Flushing
  • Hot water Rinsing
  • Alkaline Flushing
  • Hot DM water Rinsing
READ  Types of Pipe Flanges for Piping and Pipeline Systems

Main Boiler System Acid Cleaning

  • Super Heater Filling
  • Mass Flushing
  • Alkaline Flushing
  • Hot DM water Rinsing
  • Acid Cleaning
  • Passivation
  • ACID CLEANING ( BY CITRIC ACID METHOD )will be done by the circulation method for the effectiveness of the cleaning process.
  • Acid cleaning will be followed by PASSIVATION so that the uniform protective coating of GAMMA FERRIC OXIDE is formed on the metal surface and corrosion/oxidation damage to the metal surface is prevented and continue during normal operation by dosing oxygen. The gamma ferric Oxide formed by using the chemical 1-2 % sodium Nitrite(NaNO2)

Steam Blowing Procedures Techniques

Normally two methods are historically used for steam blowing

  • PUFFING METHOD
  • PURGING METHOD / CONTINUOUS BLOW METHOD

PUFFING Method of Steam Blowing

To give a thermal shock to the contour being purged, to dislodge the scale, etc.

Procedure: Raise the boiler pressure to a pre-determined value (40-60 kg/cm2), shut off firing, and at the same time open the quick opening valve(EOTV), thus allowing the steam to escape to atm. with high velocity carrying with it the loose debris.

Precautions during the puffing method

The Pressure drop allowed in the drum is limited to the corresponding saturation temp. change of 40 OC.

Scheme of puffing method

Steam blowing done in stages

Stage-1(a):

  • SH, MSL, ESV, temporary lines from ESV to EOTV, EOTV to CRH line, CRH lines up to boiler end with the temporary exhaust pipe.
  • Tap-off lines from CRH to deaerator, auxiliary PRDS, HP heater 6a & 6b, gland sealing, etc. shall remain closed/isolated.
  • Stage 1a endpoint will be concluded by observing the indents on the target plate.

Stage- 1(b):

  • SH, MSL, HP bypass interconnection, hand-operated valve mounted in place of HP bypass valve, and CRH lines up to Boiler end with temporary exhaust piping.
  • In this stage, 6 to 8 blows will be given through HP bypass lines to ensure the cleanliness of the limb.
  • The boiler MS stop valve will be used for stage 1b. EOTV will be kept closed. Manually Operated Isolation Valves in HP bypass lines will be kept open fully.
Steam Blowing Scheme

Stage-2(a):

  • 1a plus reheater, HRH lines, Interceptor Valve, and temporary pipe.
  • CRH line along with the attemperator shall be welded with a reheater before the start of stage 2a. LP bypass lines shall be blanked during stage 2a. Stage 2a endpoint will be concluded by observing the indents on target plates

Stage- 2(b):

  • 2a up to IV + LP bypass lines with the temporary exhaust pipe.
  • Stage 2b blowing will be a parallel blow in paths 2a & 2b. LP Bypass blanks shall be removed for stage 2b. 4 blows will be given through the L.P. Bypass line to ensure the cleanliness of the limbs

Stage-3:

READ  Comparison between Piping and Pipeline Engineering : Piping vs Pipeline

Auxiliary Steam Lines covered in steam blowing are listed below.

  • 3a) Main steam line to Aux PRDS
  • 3b) CRH to Deaerator
  • 3c) CRH to HPH-6.

All auxiliary steam lines will be steam blown by the continuous blowing method

Stage-4:

The following Aux steam lines, connected to the deaerator are steam blown using auxiliary steam from the Auxiliary PRDS header.

  • 4a)PRDS to Deaerator.
  • 4b)Extraction 4 to
  • 4c) PRDS to Gland steam header

Continuous Steam Blowing Procedure

  • The initial procedure is the same as the puffing method except:
  • Continuous firing till the completion of steam blowing. No need to shut off the firing during blowing.
  • Maintain constant pressure during the blow

Recommended blowing parameters for continuous steam blowing

  • Dynamic steam pressure = 3.5 MPa
  • MS temp = 420(not to exceed)
  • HRH temp = 480( not to exceed)
  • Steam flow = 845 TPH
  • Corresponding Drum pr. = 40 Ksc
  • Furnace load ≈ 39%

Method of Continuous Steam blowing

  • Set the Temporary purging valve, by-pass valve, drain valve, and granulating device behind the temporary pipes
  • Check the tightness, support, and expansion of the temporary system
  • Section by section rinse of condensate water piping, feedwater piping, and boiler through the start-up system to the CW system
  • Circulation begins when Fe+ in the water of the main feedwater pipe and separator outlet will be less than 100 ppm.
    • Maintain the circulation flow or start-up flow at a minimum set value
  • Start oil firing and raise the temp and press. according to the cold start-up.
  • rise rate of water wall = less than 2OC / min
  • rise rate of main steam = 4 ~ 5 OC / min
  • Before MS press reaches 1.0 Mpa, open the bypass valve of the temporary purging valve to warm the piping with all water drain valves of the system open.

-The blowing system divided into two parts

  1. A) Preliminary Steam Blowing
  2. B) Final Steam Blowing

Preliminary Cleaning

PURPOSE-

  • Primary cleaning out sundries and bulky grain deposited in the RH and main steam system
  • To ensure the fastness of supports and hangers with proper expansion
  • Know well about the operation property of the oil-burning system, condensate water, and feed water systems

Preliminary Steam Blowing Procedure

  • Start the oil firing with max. rating of 15%
  • Control the gas temperature at the furnace outlet below 500 OC (max.538OC )
  • Raise the SH outlet press to 1.6 – 1.8 Mpa with a steam temperature of around 350 OC.
  • Open the temporary purging valve for 15-20 min to blow in the MS system
  • Maintain K around 0.5.
  • SH & RH desuperheater water system also cleaned

Final Steam Blowing Procedure

  • The main steam and reheated steam system are purged in series
  • Start 2-3 coal mills when the oil burner hits the rated firing rate of 15%
  • Increase the SH outlet press. to 3.5 Mpa.
  • Maintain the MS temp < 420 OC.
  • Keep HRH steam temp around 480 OC.
  • When the steam line blowing parameter reaches, open the temporary purging valve gradually and increase the fuel and feed water volume to sustain parameter stability.
  • Establish the MS flow around 40% of the MCR (max.- 50%)
  • Ensure CFR (K) should be 1.25 to 1.3 for MS and 1.05 to 1.1 for reheated steam
  • Blow under this operating condition for 20 to 30 min
  • Gradually reduce coal firing and close the purge valve at 0.5MPa.
  • Remove the target plate and check it
  • By estimation, the target may satisfy the requirements after 15 to 20 times in-series purging
    • When the steam line temp is above the sat. temp of MS press, close all drains and Open the boiler MSSV fully.
  • Maintain the press. through controlled firing
  • Insert a reference target
  • Check the CFR
  • Allow running for 30-60 min
READ  Design of Bolted Connections or Bolted Joints

Target Plate in steam Blowing

  • Generally Stainless steel panel
  • Target plate set at the first, sixth, ninth, and twelfth purging, thereafter set a target for each purging until purging results qualified.
  • Width about 8% of the steam vent tubes inner diameter(ID) and length equal to the ID
  • Brinell hardness < 90
  • Steam velocity – 258 m/sec
  • Target plates are to be introduced just before steam blowing/light up—to be removed soon after blowing is completed.

Online Target Plate Change Arrangement

Debris Filter

Steam Blowing Completion Criteria

  • At least 2 continuous target plates should not have ORIFICE GRANULARITY on the target shall be no larger than 0.8 mm.
  • CFR should be 1.25 to 1.4
  • of an orifice, granularity shall not surpass 08 nos.

Advantages of Steam Blowing

  • Required less time for completion of the total process
  • Less time is required to normalize the system for final light-up to synchronization
  • This reduces the reactionary forces on the temporary pipes
  • Stresses on the boiler system are lower

Comparison between Puffing & Continuous Method of Steam Blowing

PUFFING METHODCONTINUOUS METHOD
—  More time is required for complete steam blowing due to stage-wise blowing(8-10 days)  
—  More time is required for stage-wise temporary pipe erection and shifting of the blowing device
—  No mill required
—  Quality of cleanliness is better than a continuous process
—  Thermal shock is the driving force behind cleaning
—  More thermal stress on tube material and sudden loading on supports
—  Repeated light-up and shutdown
—  There is a time gap between the blows to make up DM water
—  System normalization time after steam blowing is more
—  Silencer use is optional  
—  Less time required for completion (3-4 days)    
—  Less time is required as only valves are to be opened for different systems  
—  Minimum 02 nos. of mill required
—  The quality of cleanliness is slightly less than Puffing.
—  Steam velocity or Removal force is the driving force
—  Less thermal stress on tube material  
—  Light up only once at the beginning of the steam blowing
—  DM water makeup to the system during steam blowing is a challenge
—  System normalization time after steam blowing is less.
—  Silencer use is compulsory.  
Difference Between Puffing and Continuous method of Steam Blowing

Calculation of Steam Blowing Thrust force at the end of Pipe Exit

The thrust force (F) of the jet at the pipe exit is estimated as

Anup Kumar Dey

I am a Mechanical Engineer turned into a Piping Engineer. Currently, I work in a reputed MNC as a Senior Piping Stress Engineer. I am very much passionate about blogging and always tried to do unique things. This website is my first venture into the world of blogging with the aim of connecting with other piping engineers around the world.

7 thoughts on “Steam Blowing / Steam Blowing Procedure

  1. Dear Anup:

    We have a 160 kilometer pipeline (60″) internal Fusion Bonded Epoxy Coated that require cleaning form fin sands and flaked coating. The line is equipped with launcher/receiver pigging provision. However, we don’t prefer to perform foam pigging scraping as it is likely to cause more flaking of the coating. The line transports seawater and it is flange rating class 600.

    We have a steaming plant at the receiving facility and the receiving facility is at higher altitude than the facility upstream of this pipeline. So, what do you consider best for cleaning the line that from the debris , sand and flaked coats which often cause us to do more filters changeout at the receiving facility.

    regards,

    1. Pipe stress load cases are definitely something that needs to be considered. Both for boiler warming leading up to each steam blow and cooling during the blow. A boiler on a project I worked on a few years ago was severely damaged. Multiple tubes buckled because changes to the pressure – temperature profile during steam blowing was not considered. Admittedly, the boiler design was not ideal. It might have survived steady state temperature. However, multiple steam blows soon found the problem.

  2. MCR: Maximum continuous rating, Which is the capability of steam boiler/Generator to produce and provide the required quantity of steam continuously and easily without any unwanted effects.

  3. Hi thanks for your paper about steam pipe lines very good. I working in power plant in fajr in iran. Good willing you are successful in.

  4. Can you share a sample calculation for Calculation of Steam Blowing Thrust force at the end of Pipe Exit considering Upstream pressure before last isolation valve of 80Kgf/cm2(g), Temp. 350 Deg. C and downstream exhaust to atmosphere through 250Nb pipe for puffing method.

Leave a Reply to Ikechukwu Ezeanya Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts