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http://www.powermag.com/issues/cover_stories/TVAs-Paradise-Unit-2-SetsNew-Continuous-Operations-Record_5465.

html Coal-Fired Boiler Layup Procedures


All, Due to the down economy and low cost in natural gas, our plant is ideling one of our units. We are looking at the use of an N2 blanket during layup, which will be tied into one of the steam drum vents (dry layup), also the use of hydrazine/ammonia injection to the steam drum (wet layup). It is quite possible that this unit will be idled for periods >6 months. Can anyone comment on their use of this proess and/or provide a procedure for this? Thanks in advance for any input! -Josh 8 days ago

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TimothyUnfollow Follow Timothy Timothy Photopoulos I think this is a topic covered in one of the last few issues of Power Magazine, http://www.powermag.com/ 7 days ago Unlike Like

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TomUnfollow Follow Tom Tom Bachey There are a lot of utilities that have their own way to do things, and have very good reasons why they do those things for lay-up. I have always been a proponent of using nitrogen only, for a couple of reasons. 1) How do you get rid of the NH3/N2H4 when you decide to start the boiler? With more and more stringent discharge restrictions, you cannot just leave the excess chemicals in the system and fire the boiler. 2) Nitrogen is much cheaper than NH3/N2H4, and, does not need water to be effective. 3) You do not need to have a certain pressure of nitrogen to provide protection, you only need to displace the oxygen. There is no way you can effectively drain the superheater and reheater loops, so you will be putting nitrogen there anyway. So, why not everywhere else? 3) The key step in getting nitrogen into all of the circuits is to provide a positive pressure of nitrogen into the system while the circuits are still warm. Most drum-type boilers open the drum vents when the pressure decays to something less than 20 psig, so introduce the nitrogen as soon as possible after opening the drum vents. 4) Where to introduce the nitrogen? Drum vents, while the boiler is still full. Primary superheater (SH) vent(s), Secondary SH vents, Reheater Vents, Main Steam start-up vent, Reheater Start-up vent, turbine low point drains, 5) As the system cools, and nitrogen is continually introduced, drain the boiler slowly by adding nitrogen into the drum vents under pressure. 6) Other places than the boiler to consider? What about the feedwater heaters? There is a steam side vent that can be filled with nitrogen, as well as on the water side. U-tube feedwater heaters cannot be drained, like pendant loops, so just keep nitrogen blanket on top of the water - while it is still warm. 6) You also have the steam side and water side of the condenser to consider, so try to get it as dry as possible with air movers. The key is to begin introducing nitrogen while the system is still warm, and you have nitrogen everywhere you want. Also, make sure you have plenty of nitrogen!! :-) 7 days ago Unlike Like

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JoshuaUnfollow Follow Joshua Joshua Barlow, EIT Tom and Timothy, thanks for your input. Your comment Tom was very enlightening, and I was able to find a good article in Power Mag to support what I was looking for Timothy. I am new to this industry and am always greatful to get info from those who have more experience. Thanks again! 6 days ago Unlike Like

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TimothyUnfollow Follow Timothy Timothy Photopoulos Josh, if you haven't already, get a subscription to that magazine, it's a good one and it's free to boot! Also look into "Uptime" magazine as it's a good source of conditioned based maintenance practices. 6 days ago

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